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Palliative Care for Mesothelioma Patients

What is palliative care, and how does it relate to patients diagnosed with mesothelioma? Palliative care is mainly aimed at the relief of symptoms and the management of pain. It is distinguished from therapeutic care in that it is used once to provide an easing of symptoms rather than the curing of the disease. Once an illness has been deemed incurable, nothing may remain but to keep the patient as comfortable and free of anxiety as possible.

Mesothelioma, a rare, serious form of lung cancer also known as mesothelioma cancer and malignant mesothelioma, is caused by the inhalation or ingestion of asbestos particles. There is often a long period between contact with the carcinogen and the emergence of symptoms; for that reason, mesothelioma cancer is often not caught until has reached a relatively advanced stage. If the standard therapies such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation fail (or a mesothelioma specialist opts not to use them), newer, more experimental measures may be taken, such as gene therapy, immunotherapy, and photodynamic therapy. 

All of these are meant to prolong the life of the patient. Even while administering these therapies, the mesothelioma specialist wants to provide as much relief from symptoms as possible. If the doctor determines that the patient's malignant mesothelioma has metastasized to the point of being incurable, he or she may choose to simply reduce the patient's suffering as much as possible through palliative care.

When a patient's mesothelioma cancer metastasizes, symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, and persistent cough can become acute. In that case, opiate analgesics may be indicated for the relief of pain; doctors may recommend massage therapy for those in the final stages of malignant mesothelioma as well. Anxiety and depression often accompany late-stage mesothelioma, especially as the shortness of breath becomes more and more acute. Specialists may teach their patients relaxation techniques, administer anti-anxiety medication, and use pharmacological means to keep the lungs functioning as well and as long as possible.

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