No matter what phase of mesothelioma treatment you’re in there are probably times when you don’t feel like eating very much. But at the same time you may also be concerned about maintaining good nutrition and obtaining all the nutrients you need to so you can feel as well as you possibly can. Should you consider taking a multi-vitamin? Maybe but proceed with caution. The American Cancer Society takes an overall dim view of nutrition supplements. “Regardless of what they claim, dietary supplements are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure, or relieve the effects of diseases,” they state … [Read more...]
American Cancer Society
What Types of Doctors Will You Need to See For Your Mesothelioma Diagnosis?
Receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis is a crushing experience. It is very understandable that you and your family members would feel devastated and overwhelmed. But as with any overwhelming task one of the best ways to confront it is by breaking it down into smaller more manageable pieces. Perhaps this might be a good way to try to cope with your mesothelioma diagnosis. Learn all you can about it. Becoming informed about your mesothelioma diagnosis can help you and your family members get through initial feelings of denial or shock. It can soothe your fears, refocus your attention on staying … [Read more...]
How Massage Therapy Can Benefit Mesothelioma Patients
Living with malignant mesothelioma shouldn’t mean living without the simple pleasures life still can offer. If anything, living with malignant mesothelioma can make those simple pleasures all the more meaningful. And how very nice it is when medical science affirms that one of those pleasures – massage therapy - may actually be good for those living with cancer including malignant mesothelioma. Massage therapy used to be considered just a New Age touchy-feely indulgence but scientific research shows massage produces measurable health benefits. Some of these have just been assumed to carry … [Read more...]
Should Mesothelioma Patients Get Flu Shots?
Winter brings health challenges with it for everyone. But it can be especially difficult for mesothelioma patients and others who are coping with a compromised immune system due to illness. It doesn’t seem to matter whether it is actually freezing cold and wet outside. Here in California we are having one of the warmest driest winters in our history and yet our state is still being hit hard by the flu. In just the San Francisco Bay Area counties, 18 flu-related deaths have been reported. All fatalities involved the influenza A strain H1N1, which the federal Centers for Disease Control and … [Read more...]
American Cancer Society Releases New US Cancer Statistics
Malignant mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is 100% attributable to exposure to asbestos, a toxic material in industrial products. This year between 2,500 and 3,000 US citizens will be diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma. However, malignant mesothelioma, an unjust and devastating disease, is part of the big picture of cancer statistics in the United States. The American Cancer Society has just released its annual review of cancer statistics. Overall, they state that the death rate from cancer in the US has declined steadily during the past two decades. The cancer death rate for men … [Read more...]
How to Enjoy Holiday Dining – Top Tips for Mesothelioma Patients
Caring for a loved one who is a mesothelioma patient is never easy. But it is especially challenging during the holiday season. It’s the most wonderful time of the year. And yet it can be a poignant time of year for the mesothelioma patient and the whole family. Added to a very normal and understandable sense of sadness mingled with the joys of the season are the practical matters of wanting to enjoy each moment but facing physical limitations. Take food, for example. Food at this time of year is about much more than nutrition. It is about celebration, indulging and sharing festive meals … [Read more...]
5 More Great Mesothelioma Support Websites for Patients and Their Families
Because when you are facing the challenges of mesothelioma, more information and support is always better than less. So I’m giving you links to five more helpful websites that offer excellent mesothelioma support although the content is geared to cancer in general. In case you missed it, please take a look at our first batch of websites. And here are two points worth repeating: Always start with your doctor. He or she is your best information source for mesothelioma support because of their training, experience and knowledge of your condition. Not all specific mesothelioma support … [Read more...]
5 Surprisingly Great Mesothelioma Websites for Patients and Their Families
When you or a family member is coping with mesothelioma resulting from asbestos exposure, you will have lots of questions that change with your situation. The good news is that thanks to the internet, there are a lot of mesothelioma websites out there. But the bad news is that not all the mesothelioma websites out there are good, and you have to be careful because often what looks like a public service non-profit organization is really a law firm trying to disguise who they are while looking for clients. Always start with your doctor. He or she is your best information source because of … [Read more...]