Understanding Your
Illness - Mesothelioma
Many people, when told they have mesothelioma, feel helpless. But there are
many things you and your family can do.
Understanding Your Illness
Understanding your illness and its treatment will help you and your family to
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Know what to expect |
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Do things to help your treatment |
It is best to talk to someone who really knows about mesothelioma. Doctors,
nurses and social workers at the major mesothelioma centers have extensive knowledge
about mesothelioma. Call us at 1-800-780-2686 or email us below for a list of
mesothelioma doctors, mesothelioma clinical trials and mesotheioma hospitals.
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Before you go to see the doctor it may help
if you make a list of questions. |
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Take someone with you to remind you of what
you wanted to ask and to help remember some of the answers. |
Practical And Positive Tasks
When you are being treated or recovering from treatments, you may not be able
to do things you used to do. But as you begin to feel better
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Have a go at simple tasks |
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Gradually try to do a little more |
Success will give you confidence, but remember be patient and take one step
at a time. All people want to improve the way they feel. Some of the ways this
can be done are
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Following a healthy, well-balanced diet |
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Gradually try to do a little more |
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Learning relaxation techniques |
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Exercising regularly |
But only do these things if you want to and only if it makes you feel better.
Well-meaning friends or relatives may make all sorts of recommendations about
what you should do. You don't, however, have to make any sudden or drastic changes
to your lifestyle. If you recently have been diagnosed or treated, you may feel
you have had enough change for a while.
If you decide to exercise
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Build up slowly |
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Gradually try to do a little more |
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Base the type of exercise, how strenuous it
is and how often you do it, on what you are used to and how well you feel |
Many people strongly recommend joining a support group. While there may not
be a support group specifically for mesothelioma patients in your area, joining
a support group for cancer patients will work.
Following is a list of what patients say really worked for them:
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Making lists of questions to ask at the mesothelioma
hospital. |
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Asking about sources of information and support
when you go to the hospital. You may not be told what is available unless
you do. |
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Not dwelling on your condition. |
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Making the most of what you have - do the things
you've often put off before. |
If you are at home more than you were, you might want to get a dog. You'll
get daily exercise and meet a lot of people when taking it out for walks.
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