Mesothelioma
symptom relief is the central focus of care for the mesothelioma patient deemed
incurable. Pain management will vary with each patient. The mesothelioma
patient’s pre-existing conditions and exacerbating conditions are factors in
determining the best mesothelioma symptom relief and palliative care plan
available. However, there are similarities in mesothelioma treatment and
symptomatic relief for pleural mesothelioma, pericardial mesothelioma and
peritoneal mesothelioma.
Almost
every cancer patient, mesothelioma cancer patients included, experiences
painful difficulty breathing during the last stages of cancer. Medical studies
have indicated that as many as 70% of terminal cancer patients experience
painful difficulty breathing. With diseases such as pleural mesothelioma,
pericardial mesothelioma and lung cancer, painful breathing and shortness of
breath occurs during all of the cancer stages, not just the terminal stages.
Difficulty
breathing is frightening for the mesothelioma patient, the caregiver and family
members. The fear of imminent death and helplessness suddenly becomes
unexpectedly more real. Mesothelioma symptom relief for breathing difficulties
should include emotional care as well as physical symptom relief. Relaxation
techniques should be taught, and it should be stressed that there needs to be
adaptations to daily activities to reduce breathing difficulty. Lifestyle
changes will be in order to control mesothelioma breathing difficulties, and
the most stubborn mesothelioma patients need to be convinced that this is the
best mesothelioma treatment for them. Defining a new lifestyle as a “well
deserved vacation” can help instigate a transition.
Mesothelioma
symptom relief for physical pain from breathing difficulties can be provided by
learning, advising and providing for the patient the best position of their
body for proper air flow. A fresh stream of air from a window or a fan can
provide mesothelioma symptom relief during breathing difficulty. Teaching the
patient hyperventilation techniques can be very useful for the patient’s
self-monitoring of their mesothelioma treatment. A mesothelioma patient with
trouble breathing needs to learn how to purse their lips at the first sign of
breathing trouble, stay calm, relax their shoulders, back, neck and arms, then
“flop” themselves into relaxation. Until this technique is mastered, learning
how to breathe out slowly is an important step in breathing management.
Mesothelioma
patients must realize that anxiety breeds anxiety. If a patient is afraid that
they are going to die at the moment they are experiencing breathing difficulty,
their body will respond by producing more anxiety, and more breathlessness.
This is an emotional and physical response, not merely emotional.
Oxygen
is sometimes prescribed for mesothelioma symptom relief; however physicians
report that some patients become unnecessarily dependent on oxygen. For other
patients, oxygen is their lifeline of mesothelioma treatment. Oxygen therapy
also requires a review of whether intermittent or continuous therapy provides
the best relief for their mesothelioma symptoms. Mesothelioma treatment with
oxygen therapy will also consider whether to use oxygen tanks or an oxygen
concentrator.
There
are also medications for mesothelioma symptom relief of breathlessness.
Anxiolytic drugs Lorazepam, Diazepam, Midazolam, and Methotrimeprazine can be
prescribed for mesothelioma treatment of breathlessness. Benzodiazepines are
anxiolytic drugs that have a sedative effect and use muscle relaxation as pain
treatment of breathlessness.
Mesothelioma
symptom relief for breathing requires educating the patient, the caregiver and
the family in palliative care. Mesothelioma treatment for pain also requires
monitoring and adapting mesothelioma pain treatment plans to meet the patient’s
medical needs, as well as their emotional needs. Listening to the patient’s
perception of pain is crucial to determining the appropriate pain management
treatment for mesothelioma symptoms. The patient feels the pain. With
mesothelioma symptom relief and palliative care from knowledgeable and loving
caregivers, the patient can enjoy the last years of their life as pain free as
medical science allows.
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