Mesothelioma patient care soon could be enhanced by the use of fitness trackers and health apps on phones to monitor patients between visits, according to new media reports. The Mayo Clinic and the University of California San Francisco are among the medical institutions piloting the use of this new technology for patients with chronic health issues and those recovering from surgery. The fitness trackers and phone apps intended purpose is to help people manage their exercise and other health habits. The fitness trackers are wireless-enabled wearable devices like the Fitbit Tracker, that … [Read more...]
mesothelioma patient
Here’s Why Mesothelioma Patients Benefit from Lung Cancer Awareness Month
November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Here’s why mesothelioma patients should know about it. Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that develops, as a result of asbestos exposure, in the mesothelium, the protective lining that covers many of the internal organs of the body. Mesothelioma can affect cells that line the heart or the abdomen. But 70% to 90% of all mesothelioma causes malignancy in the pleural lining of the lungs. So mesothelioma is for most patients a type of lung cancer. Each year there about 2,000 to 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed. Raising Awareness of Lung … [Read more...]
Are You Cut Out to be a Mesothelioma Caregiver?
Being a mesothelioma caregiver can be one of the greatest gifts you can give to someone you love – even though it is a gift you wish you never had to give. At Mesothelioma Circle, we are here for you. We will continue to work to provide you with information to help you through this difficult time. There are no rules about who can become a mesothelioma caregiver or what a mesothelioma caregiver is expected to do. That can make being a mesothelioma caregiver confusing, exhausting and frightening. Here adapted for mesothelioma caregivers are some basic pointers about being a home caregiver … [Read more...]
A Safety Checklist for Mesothelioma Home Care
Home is where the heart is and this is especially true for mesothelioma home care. But providing care at home for a loved one with mesothelioma requires making some adjustments. Safety is a top priority. Comfort and convenience are also important both for the mesothelioma patient and the caregiver. Making a few changes in the home for mesothelioma home care can make things easier for everyone and improve the overall environment for care. Here adapted for mesothelioma home care are some suggestions from the book The Comfort of Home An Illustrated Step-by-Step Guide for Caregivers: (For a list … [Read more...]
A Caregiver’s List of At Home Medical Equipment
At home medical equipment probably wasn’t ever on your shopping list before now. Why would it be? Providing mesothelioma home care is something no one ever foresaw having to do. Mesothelioma is a sneaky disease; it lies dormant for years following the asbestos exposure that caused it. But when mesothelioma emerges, it does so with swift merciless force. As mesothelioma progresses, you may find yourself and your loved one in need of at home medical equipment to make home care easier for you as a caregiver and for your mesothelioma patient. According to the caregiver resource book The Comfort … [Read more...]
Port Implant for Mesothelioma Treatment? How to Decide
Almost every mesothelioma patient needs to decide on whether or not to get a port implant to help make their mesothelioma treatment procedures easier. During your mesothelioma treatment, your health care team frequently needs access to your veins to give you treatments such as chemotherapy, blood transfusions, antibiotics, or intravenous (IV) fluids. They may also need to take samples of your blood for testing. Getting a port implanted takes away the guesswork about where to stick the needle. Mesothelioma caregiver Debbie Clemmons describes in her book about her late husband Randy Brady’s … [Read more...]
A Little Dark Chocolate for a Mesothelioma Diet
With some of life’s pleasures diminished by illness, it’s good to know that an optimal mesothelioma diet could include some dark chocolate – with the doctor’s approval, of course. Food is more than nutrition. It is part of our identity and culture, according to anthropologists. Enjoying a favorite treat can make us feel happy and is nice way to stay connected to fond memories. Dark chocolate also may help improve blood circulation, scientific evidence suggests. Several studies have reported that dark chocolate may improve artery flexibility. Now a new study finds that eating dark chocolate … [Read more...]
Creating a Legacy Video For a Mesothelioma Patient
As a mesothelioma patient, do you still have a lot you want to say to your loved ones? Are there experiences and memories you want to share to help keep your memory and relationships alive? Maybe you could consider making a legacy video as one way that as a mesothelioma patient, you can preserve your thoughts and wishes for your family now and in the future. A video will let your children and grandchildren hear your voice, see your smile and your gestures. It will help them get a sense of your presence in a way that a still photograph can’t express. Such videos convey "a very personal … [Read more...]
Is Juicing Good For Mesothelioma Patients?
Meeting the nutritional needs of a mesothelioma patient can be a challenge. So you’d think that juicing- which is kind of a foodie fad right now –would be perfect for just about any mesothelioma patient. Juicing involves extracting the juice from fresh raw fruits and vegetables or pulverizing the produce into a liquid with pulp. Juices like freshly squeezed orange juice can be a refreshing snack or addition to a meal for a mesothelioma patient, especially on a warm summer day. But the American Cancer Society states that “There is no convincing scientific evidence that extracted juices are … [Read more...]
6 Things a Mesothelioma Patient Should Do Before Leaving the Hospital
What are the best things you can do as a mesothelioma patient to get ready to leave the hospital after surgery? The transition from the hospital back to home can seem abrupt and overwhelming to you as a mesothelioma patient especially if the next steps aren’t clear. More than a third of all hospital patients fail to get needed follow-up care once they get home, according to Consumer Reports. To prevent that from happening to you, here are six steps they recommend to take as you prepare for your hospital discharge: 1. See a discharge planner. Try to do this at least a day before you leave … [Read more...]