Millcreek Home Health and Hospice is pleased to present our first in a series of guest authored articles on health issues that we treat every day. The following is contributed by Rachel Gilner of The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com
Cancer has become a household name in current times. More and more people are being affected by cancer, either on a personal level or by someone they know. There are now so many different forms of cancer, many of which go unrecognized due to their rarity. One of these rare forms of cancer is mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma can develop after asbestos fibers are inhaled and attach to the mesothelial lining of the lungs. It is considered a silent but deadly cancer because of how it presents itself. The latency period can take between 20 to 50 years for symptoms to develop. By the time symptoms are present and the diagnosis has been made, mesothelioma is often in an advanced stage. Currently, there is no proven cure for mesothelioma.
There are options that are available to help make those affected more comfortable in the process.
As there is no cure for mesothelioma, and it is extremely aggressive, hospice and palliative care have become important for these patients. There are therapies that can help improve the life quality of mesothelioma patients. A few of these therapies include:
Hospice and palliative care are there to help ease and improve patient comfort level. Mesothelioma is associated with abdominal pain, chest pain, and shortness of breath. As a result, keeping the patient comfortable is crucial. Hospice not only cares for the physical ailments patients have, they also tend to the emotional, social, and spiritual state of the person. Family and peer support is also offered through counseling, and group therapy. Hospice also is able to help with the final wishes of their patients, including last will and testaments, power of attorney, and do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders. Hospice and other palliative care programs create a comfortable transition to end of life care for suffering patients.
For more information on mesothelioma and asbestos related disease, visit our website.
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Millcreek Home Health and Hospice in the top 3% hospice care facilities nationwide. We provide home health and hospice care services in Salt Lake City, UT. Follow our blog for information on elder care, hospice care and home health care.
