Patients diagnosed with mesothelioma face a long, arduous battle. When developing the optimal treatment plan, their doctor must determine the most effective treatments based on the disease characteristics, and on the patients' needs and desires. Chemotherapy and radiation, commonly used to treat mesothelioma, however, both come with a set of side effects that must be managed and monitored just as closely as the disease itself.
Thinning or brittle hair, loss of appetite and weight, nausea and vomiting, fatigue and infections are just some of the side effects that are common during chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Most side effects are short term, but others can last throughout your treatment and afterward. Side effects can be uncomfortable and painful, and if severe, can lead patients to question whether to continue the treatment.
According to one study by Columbia University Medical Center, as many as 30 percent of cancer patients stopped their chemotherapy early due to the debilitating side effects. Another study found nearly 80% of patients end treatment prior to completing the prescribed cycles.
Everyone with cancer reacts differently to treatments. Mesothelioma patients struggling with a poor quality of life due to side effects from chemotherapy and radiation treatments should be sure to discuss the issues with their doctor. Doctors have many ways to reduce and even prevent these side effects. Working with your doctor to manage the side effects may not only improve your quality of life, but could also prolong your life by allowing you to continue your treatments.
In addition to pharmaceuticals that your doctor can prescribe, there are products on the market designed specifically to lessen the impact of side effects. For example, a special lotion that can soothe burns and irritation may help ease the discomfort associated with radiation.
The NavigateCancer Foundation, a NC non-profit that provides cancer patients with the ability to understand, navigate and advocate through their illness, points out that products to manage dry mouth, deodorants that are safe to use during radiation, a spray that can halt a hot flash and radiation-safe lotions are all available through specialty companies.
One company, www.maddoxoncology.com, offers a variety of products exclusively for cancer patients. Founded by a cancer patient, Maddox Oncology, Inc., was formed to identify and develop a line of products to address the quality of life issues cancer patients struggle with on a daily basis. Products offered address oral care, skin care and nausea.
Goddess Hair Extensions & Replacement of San Francisco, offer women experiencing hair loss from chemotherapy treatments a hair replacement option that allows them "the freedom of vigorous activity without the fear and discomfort of a conventional, unsecured wig."
CancerCare, a national nonprofit organization that provides free professional support services to anyone affected by cancer, offers an e-booklet entitled "Understanding and Managing Chemotherapy Side Effects." The booklet offers information about side effects including how to manage them and how to cope with them. CancerCare also offers counseling and other support services to help cancer patients cope with cancer and its issues.
Pleural mesothelioma affects the lining around the lungs and is caused by past exposure to asbestos. The disease often takes decades for the symptoms to become present, but once diagnosed, treatment is typically aggressive and focuses on shrinking the tumors and easing the symptoms. Patients are encouraged to partner with their doctors and to provide timely feedback regarding side effects and any treatment concerns to ensure the best of quality of life while battling the cancer.
