Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that is generally caused by asbestos exposure. People who worked around this hazardous substance at some point in their lives may now be at risk. Even if the asbestos exposure was twenty, thirty or even fifty years ago, patients can still develop this disease. It is quite rare, only affecting about 2,000 to 3,000 people in the United States annually.

Mesothelioma develops in the mesothelium which is a membrane that covers and protects some of the body’s vital organs such as the lungs, the abdominal cavity, the heart and the reproductive organs. Pleural mesothelioma develops in the lung area and is the most common form of mesothelioma. Peritoneal mesothelioma develops in the abdominal area and pericardial mesothelioma develops in the heart area. Treatment options for mesothelioma include chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, medication or a combination of therapies. Some of the treatment options can have side effects which could leave the patients feeling very tired or nauseous. Some may require hospital stays. Learning how to prepare for mesothelioma treatment can help patients have an easier experience.

One way to prepare for mesothelioma treatment is to find out everything you can about treatment options before you make a decision. Doctors may recommend patients have surgery to remove built-up fluids for patients with pleural mesothelioma. This fluid build-up impedes a patient’s breathing. A catheter is inserted into the chest of the patient to drain the fluid. As well, medications can be inserted into the chest to decrease or stop the buildup of fluid.

Surgery may also be recommended to remove any cancerous tissue in the lung area or the lung itself for patients with pleural mesothelioma. Patients who have peritoneal mesothelioma may receive intraperitoneal chemotherapy where medication is injected directly into the peritoneum following surgery. Radiation surgery to shrink patients’ tumors may be a treatment option for some patients.

Doctors may also prescribe chemotherapy, radiation therapy or a combination of the two. Clinical trials may also be available for some patients. 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 and if you are able to participate in the trials. http://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma/peritoneal.php

If you are going through treatment for mesothelioma, you may need guidance from those who have gone through treatment before you. Members of support groups can give you advice on how to prepare for the treatment you are about to undergo. Ask questions of other members in the group after meetings. Or bring up the topic of how to prepare for treatment if you are attending an open discussion support group meeting. Support groups are great ways to find out about clinical trials, side effects that accompany some forms of treatment and how to deal with mesothelioma in general. Check out as many support groups as you can find. That way, if one doesn’t suit your needs, you will others that you can fall back on. Bring a friend or family member to the first meeting with you if you feel uncomfortable attending alone.

Ask your health care professional to recommend the name of a local support group. Or check out the web for links to support groups in your area. If you live in a remote area or one where no support groups exist, look for online forums or chat rooms developed specifically for people with mesothelioma. http://www.mesotheliomacenter.org/support/mesothelioma-support.php

If you are going to have surgery as part of your treatment, you may need to prepare for a stay in the hospital. Talk to friends and family members and ask for their help while you are hospitalized and after you get home. You may need someone to take care of your pets or prepare meals for you while you are recovering. Make sure you line this up in advance.

Meals can be prepared and cooked in advance and placed into the freezer so you can easily heat them up when you return home from the hospital.

Make sure you take essentials to the hospital with you. Leave any valuables such as large amounts of cash or jewelry at home. Only keep a small amount of cash in case you need to make a purchase from the gift shop or vending machine. Bring books, magazines, writing paper and pen and your eyeglasses. Bring pajamas or loose fitting clothing to wear if you are allowed and heavy socks and slippers if you will be allowed to get out of bed and walk around. Bring a cardigan sweater to wear in case you get cold. Finally, bring any necessary paperwork such as your insurance card. http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=60418