Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer that affects about 2,000-3,000 people in the U.S. each year. Mesothelioma develops in the mesothelium which is a membrane that covers some of the body’s vital organs such as the lungs, the heart and the abdominal cavity. Asbestos is generally caused by exposure to asbestos. People who worked around asbestos at some point in their lives, or who lived with a family member who worked around asbestos, may be at risk for mesothelioma.

Because mesothelioma symptoms are non-specific, patients may not be properly diagnosed. Also, the symptoms may not show up for many years; therefore, patients may not realize that they are still at risk because of the amount of time that has lapsed. Because of these reasons, once the patient is properly diagnosed, the cancer may be in advanced stages. Once the cancer enters advanced stages, treatment options may not be available for patients. At that time, life expectancy is quite low. However, there are ways to learn how to improve mesothelioma life expectancy so patients can live longer and have better quality of life.

Patients who receive a diagnosis of mesothelioma may be able to improve their life expectancy by receiving medical treatment for their illness. Doctors may also prescribe chemotherapy, radiation therapy or a combination of the two. Radiation and chemotherapy can target rapidly growing cancer cells and help to kill them off. Radiation can also shrink tumors that are associated with mesothelioma.

Surgeries may be available to remove tumors or to reduce the build-up of fluid in certain areas of the body such as the lungs or abdominal cavity. Sometimes removing part of a certain organ such as a lung or perhaps even the entire lung may slow or stop the development of cancer. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mesothelioma/DS00779/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs

One of the promising areas as far as treatment options for mesothelioma are concerned is the availability of clinical trials. Clinical trials may be available for some mesothelioma patients. These trials are generally created to test the effectiveness of certain drugs. Check with your doctor to see if there are clinical trials available in your area as well as whether you are able to participate in the trials. http://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma/peritoneal.php

While patients who undergo treatment for such as chemotherapy or radiation for mesothelioma may not have much of an appetite, it is very important that they maintain good health by receiving proper nutrition. Patients need to eat to receive vitamins, nutrients and calories. If patients do not eat, their bodies will not be able to fight the disease.

Avoid eating foods that are high in fat or fried as these may be hard to digest. Also, try to eat several small meals throughout the day instead of three larger ones. When you do have an appetite, try to eat more and include foods that are high in vitamins, protein and nutrients.

If you cannot deal with getting the proper nutrition for yourself while you are sick (especially on days that you receive treatment), reach out to others who can help you through this time. Enlist the help of family and friends to bring you meals that you can keep in the freezer and thaw out for meal time.

Government and not-for-profit agencies such as Meals-on-Wheels may be able to provide meals for you during the day. Check with one of these agencies to see if you qualify for meal deliveries to ensure you get proper nutrition throughout the day while you are ill. http://www.maacenter.org/mesothelioma/treatment/nutrition.php

Taking proper care of your body if you have mesothelioma is essential to improving life expectancy. One of the best things you can do for yourself is to stop smoking if you are a smoker. Smoking can drastically decrease the life span of patients with mesothelioma. It’s very important to stop. http://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma/life-expectancy.php

Some patients find that their immune system is boosted if they obtain alternative types of therapy such as acupuncture or massage therapy. Besides immune boosting capabilities, these alternative therapies may help to relax the patient and help them to feel less stress.

Make sure that you drink plenty of water to keep from getting dehydrated. Staying hydrated will help to keep the body’s organs functioning properly and may help keep patients in better health.

Think about joining a support group to help you manage your feelings associated with mesothelioma. Perhaps you have fears or are angry or depressed about your illness. If so, talking with others who share the same experience may be helpful. Talk with your friends and family about what you are going through. If you are a religious person, consider discussing your feelings with a member of the clergy. Sometimes clergy members are trained to help people who were diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses.