- Who do you turn when you're losing too much weight, lost all your strength and can not sleep at night?
People with mesothelioma experience a variety of health changes that are not addressed by their oncologist.
It takes a team of health professionals to care for a person with mesothelioma. One doctor can not provide the full range of care required by someone with cancer.
This is where the attendant care comes in.
attendant care is the term for the medical industry to support health care services.
When you can not seem to get your strength back after cancer treatment, your doctor may prescribe physical therapy, a therapeutic kind of attendant care.
If you can not seem to speak the same after a recent intubation, your oncologist may refer you to a speech therapist.
other auxiliary care Examples include lab tests ordered by your doctor, mental health therapy or nursing home.
These services work together to treat the whole person, not just cancer. Auxiliary health care is essential for people with cancer to maintain health and improve quality of life.
Be an advocate for your health
While oncologists are experts in the treatment of cancer, they are not experts nutrition, rehabilitation or mental health.
oncologists are doing their best to control your cancer, and they care about your quality of life. However, this does not make readers or experts mind on how to live a healthy life.
You and your family will have to speak and advocate for comprehensive health care. People with mesothelioma may ask the following types of attendant care:
- If you experience difficulty breathing, request a referral to a respiratory therapist, who can help improve lung function with exercises and breathing techniques.
- If you have shoulder and back pain after surgery, request prescription of physical treatment because insurance may cover part of the cost.
- If your doctor simply told to eat more after expressing concern about losing weight, ask for a referral to a registered dietitian.
- If you feel stressed, ask if your cancer center provides mental health counseling, a support group or meetings with social workers in oncology, which can connect with helpful resources and Support.
In a perfect world, your oncologist will be able to anticipate your needs and preemptive refer to all attendant care you could ever want. Because each person with mesothelioma has medical needs that kind of foresight is simply not possible.
Do not be afraid to defend your own supportive care. It is one of the best steps you can take to improve your quality of life and overall health.
Questions and Answers 2016 Online Support Group in March
Patients and caregivers have asked a number of questions during the latest online support group. Here, we include answers to some of them
. Q: Is it normal to feel tired a year after pleurectomy / decortication (P / D)?
A: No, experience fatigue a year after pleurectomy / decortication is not normal. Most people recover within six months of surgery. Some symptoms, such as pain near the site of the surgery, can last more than six months. Because it is abnormal fatigue to last a year after the surgery, you should bring this to the attention of your oncologist and the surgeon
Q :. Is it okay to eat fatty foods when you have cancer?
a: Yes, some fatty foods are a good source of calories and nutrition for people with cancer. Choose healthy fats, in particular anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids, found in cold water fish, flaxseed and walnuts. Other sources of healthy fats include avocados, eggs, coconut oil and dairy fat.
Consider jumping on fried foods in restaurants because the oils used are usually packed with omega-6 fatty acids, which promote inflammation. Instead, make fried foods at home using coconut oil
Consider the following tips for adding healthy fats to your diet :.
- Cook with coconut oil or grass fed butter to add vitamins and nutrients to meals.
- Snack to eat guacamole or lawyers as a side dish.
- Add the cheese omelets, sandwiches and soups.
- eat bacon or sausage with eggs for breakfast.
- Make smoothies with yogurt, milk or ice cream.
