Generally, mesothelioma is already at an advanced stage when diagnosed. This situation may make it more challenging for patients to come to terms with the diagnosis.
Moreover, patients can experience varying degrees of discomfort depending on the disease’s progression.
For example, advance-stage mesothelioma can induce higher levels of fatigue than early-stage. You may want to learn more about mesothelioma stages to understand better what life is like for individuals with this condition. You may also visit The Mesothelioma Group Site for more information.
Still, regardless of the stage, there are several ways patients can manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.
This article suggests various ways that can help improve the quality of life of individuals with mesothelioma.
Tips For Mesothelioma Patients: Improving Your Quality of Life
Although mesothelioma is potentially life-threatening, preventive measures can help patients live better while receiving treatment.
A patient’s improved quality of life may also help improve the outlook for their condition (prognosis).
Focusing on essential aspects of health may help enhance the patient’s overall quality of life.
Below are some areas you may want to address to help alleviate your mesothelioma-related discomforts.
Stress Reduction
Battling cancer is one of life’s most trying experiences. However, stress strains a patient’s body and mind, turning an already bad situation into a more demanding one.
Mental or emotional distress may significantly reduce a patient’s quality of life. Some studies even indicate that severe distress may correlate with poorer clinical outcomes.
On the other hand, you may adopt strategies that can reduce stress to improve your quality of life.
Below are several practices patients can use to manage their health condition better.
- Reduce the impact of stressors by preparing for and avoiding them.
- Learn about the latest current therapies and treatments based on your condition diagnosis.
- Get information regarding mesothelioma and take responsibility for your health.
- Practice relaxation techniques like deep breathing and awareness.
- Work with the top mesothelioma experts you can find.
Patients may help minimize their stressors by doing the following:
- Seek assistance
- Know your limitations.
- Schedule appointments in a planner.
- Avoid having too many obligations.
- Identify your priorities, especially when it comes to daily activities.
- Learn to accept that you cannot change some circumstances.
Nutrition and Diet
Healthy living and wellness begin with eating the right food. Patients who take care of themselves with a healthy diet full of nutritious foods are more likely to enjoy life and continue to do their favorite activities.
A study showed that malnutrition correlates with a poor quality of life.
Malnourished individuals tend to have lower energy levels, experience fatigue and irritability, are more prone to illness, and struggle more with recovery after becoming ill.
Additionally, the effects of a bad diet have a detrimental effect on a person’s quality of life and make it more difficult for patients to recover from their disease.
Patients may consider the following tips to enhance their diet:
- Reducing consumption of alcohol, harmful fats, and red meat
- Selecting whole-grain products with a lot of fiber
- Being healthy in terms of weight
- Requesting nutritional assistance from medical professionals
- Consumption of a lot of fruit and veggies
Seeking Specialized Mesothelioma Treatment
Specialists who are knowledgeable about the condition can work with patients to create a strategy to increase their quality of life and life expectancy.
An expert professional will consider diet, exercise, stress and pain management, community support, and education.
Pain Management
Many people ignore the disease when they can lessen or remove their feelings of pain.
Patients who adopt pain management techniques can reduce the discomfort brought on by their illness and the adverse effects of treatment.
Natural and medical pain management options are available to patients, including:
- Acupuncture
- Mindfulness
- Stress reduction therapies, such as massage, yoga, and music therapy
- Pharmaceuticals
- Nerve blocks
- Exercise
- Epidurals
- Radiation therapy
Pain relief and pain management alternatives for mesothelioma patients are available. However, patients should seek assistance and research their choices.
Final Statement
You may adopt various strategies to help you overcome obstacles and adjust well to life’s hardships.
Several options are available to help ease mesothelioma-caused pain.
Moreover, working with a physiotherapist can teach you how to prevent discomfort and make life more comfortable. This move is an excellent one for pain management.
The step above may be as significant as taking medication orally, through a patch, or intravenously.
Also, you might experience pain in many different ways. It is crucial to discuss any discomfort you encounter with your doctor because it might lead to inadequate nourishment, poor sleep, and exhaustion.
Additionally, palliative care, which helps you manage your symptoms, is crucial to managing mesothelioma.
You may be able to lessen symptoms’ psychological consequences with the aid of palliative care from medical professionals trained in treating mesothelioma patients.
Lastly, your palliative care provider will typically concentrate on your unique needs rather than your prognosis.
References:
- Mesothelioma Stages
https://www.mesotheliomagroup.com/mesothelioma/stages/
2. Psychological Stress and Cancer
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/coping/feelings/stress-fact-sheet
- Body composition and nutritional status in malignant pleural mesothelioma: implications for activity levels and quality of life
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41430-019-0418-9
