Know Your Rights
If you are reading this, you or someone you know is probably suffering from mesothelioma. In the United States, the disease is always universally caused by asbestos. If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, it is important that you take action.
Your Right To Compensation
Victims of asbestos-related mesothelioma and lung cancer are entitled to compensation from the manufacturers of any asbestos containing product to which they were exposed in sufficient quantities to cause disease. The amount of compensation ultimately received varies in each individual case, but it is often a significant amount, depending on the product exposures that can be identified. This compensation is not a windfall. It is, rather, an attempt to make you whole in light of this devastating illness. Liability exists because asbestos product producing companies often covered up the fact that asbestos is hazardous, and made billions of dollars peddling deadly products. You, the unsuspecting user, are severely injured as a result.
Anyone who was injured as a result of their exposure to asbestos has a potential legal claim against the manufacturers of asbestos products. This can be significant for several reasons. The medical costs associated with treating a disease such as mesothelioma can be staggering. Moreover, legal compensation is a means by which many victims of mesothelioma provide enough money to support a spouse or loved one, or to leave behind a legacy (for example, to help put their grandchildren through college).
Why You are Entitled to Compensation: The History of the Asbestos Industry
The asbestos industry has a dirty little secret. For centuries, there has been evidence that asbestos caused respiratory diseases in humans. By the 1930’s, however, the asbestos industry was selling millions of dollars worth of asbestos insulation. Asbestos, a mineral, was plentiful and inexpensive. Best of all, it was a terrific insulating material. It was used in all sorts of products - pipecovering, cement, gaskets, blankets, and the like. It was even used in clothing, joint compound and other building materials, automotive products and other various uses.
There was only one problem-people who worked with it had a habit of dying from respiratory illnesses. The medical literature of the 40’s and 50’s were already developing a wealth of information about the hazards of asbestos. The medical and industrial fields were well aware of the dangerous nature of asbestos by this time.
It was around this time that the asbestos companies began to gather and form trade associations in order to strengthen their industry. Long ago, the asbestos trade associations and industry giants began to fund scientific studies to prove that asbestos was safe. Their scientists, however, came back with a different conclusion. Asbestos, they warned, was a highly toxic carcinogen. It caused respiratory illnesses, including cancer, in laboratory animals and, it was believed, in humans.
Faced with this evidence, some in the asbestos industry did the unthinkable-they covered it up. Scientific reports were edited and modified, test results were altered or destroyed, and funding was stopped. The asbestos industry then embarked on a campaign to keep the information from reaching the general public. All the while, manufacturers continued selling millions of dollars worth of asbestos containing products to the public. It was used in massive amounts in shipyards, commercial construction and residential construction. Manufacturers of safer, non-asbestos insulations were bought out by the asbestos industry giants, stifling competition and safeguarding the cover-up.
Through the tireless efforts of some pioneering scientists, the United States government finally realized the hazards of asbestos, and began a slow campaign to curtail, and ultimately prohibit, its use in the United States.
Treatment Side Effects
Pain Clinics
Cancer-related pain is not uncommon. Nearly all cancer patients report the presence of pain at least some of the time during their struggle with the disease, whether it is caused by the disease itself or by treatments recommended for the control of the disease.
The pain experienced by cancer patients, including those with mesothelioma, varies from case to case and person to person. Some patients report acute pain – an ever-present pain that is mild but annoying and can interfere with everyday activities. Some patients experience much more severe, chronic pain that must be addressed immediately in order to make the patient as comfortable as possible. Pain clinics treat both of these types of pain associated with cancer.
Pain Management Services
Many hospitals, especially the country’s major cancer centers, have onsite pain management clinics. In addition, there are other pain clinics that are not associated with a hospital but may be privately owned or connected to a locally- or federally-funded clinic. Regardless of what kind of clinic it might be, however, most pain clinics offer similar services for cancer patients.
Usually, the first step for any cancer victim who is suffering pain that needs to be addressed is to schedule an initial appointment with a doctor at the clinic. This individual will evaluate the patient’s case, taking into consideration the patient’s medical history, current medical condition, experience with previous pain medications and treatment, and other specifics. From this point on, experts in pain management will devise a program to help alleviate the patient’s pain issues. These professionals may include doctors that specialize in a variety of disciplines including not only oncology but also neurology, psychology, and others.
Most pain centers will offer a combination of pain management strategies for the patient including prescription medicines, over the counter medicines, nerve blocks, and implants. Non-pharmacologic methods of alleviating pain may also be suggested, including massage, acupuncture, and other complementary therapies. As a matter of fact, many hospitals are beginning to grasp the advantages of these complementary treatments and readily offer them at their facilities, especially for those cancer patients who do not wish to add to the already long list of prescription meds they take on a daily basis.
Pain clinic personnel will conduct frequent reassessments to determine if changes must be made and can also educate caregivers in the administration of pain medications and treatments so that the patient can rely on some additional help when needed.
Post-Operative Pain
While pain clinics are often used to address daily pain associated with cancer, they can also be used for more specific scenarios, such as to help combat post-operative pain associated with cancer surgeries. These surgeries, including pneumonectomy or pleurectomy for mesothelioma cancer, are usually quite serious and require a long recovery period during which pain is a major issue.
Many pain clinics will offer in-hospital or in-home consultations for those who are recovering from surgery. After an initial consultation and development of a pain management plan, they will check on the patient frequently to determine if or when adjustments need to be made and will help family members or other caregivers learn how to administer pain meds or otherwise manage any post-surgical pain.
Sleep Disorders in People with Mesothelioma
According to the National Cancer Institute, close to 50% of people suffering from cancer also suffer from “sleep disturbance,” characterized by an inability to fall asleep and sleep soundly through the night. There are a number of reasons why cancer patients, including those with mesothelioma, may have trouble sleeping:
Stress/Anxiety: patients with cancer who are undergoing treatment undoubtedly face many stressful and anxiety-producing decisions. Often, patients who feel overwhelmed and tense are unable to fall asleep in a timely manner at night, or even at all. The many worries associated with their diagnosis and treatment dominates their thoughts, making it nearly impossible to relax and fall asleep.
Pain: patients undergoing cancer treatment may experience chronic pain due to chemotherapy, radiation, surgery and other procedures, like frequent drawing of blood. Sometimes, a patient who is confined to bed for an extended period of time may also experience aches, sore muscles, or headaches, not to mention the often painful side effects of chemo, including nausea. Pain may prevent a person from being able to get comfortable in preparation for sleep, and may also interrupt sleep.
Medications: certain medications given to cancer patients may disrupt sleep or prevent a patient from falling asleep altogether. Certain medications to treat heart conditions, asthma, depression, high blood pressure, thyroid conditions and more may discourage a cancer patient from falling asleep. Chemo drugs, specifically antimetabolites, are known to cause sleeplessness, as are benzodiazepines and anticonvulsants like phenytoin. Withdrawal from specific medications like tranquilizers, antihistamines and monamine oxidase inhibitor antidepressants also may cause trouble sleeping.
What are the Consequences of Not Getting Enough Sleep?
Cancer patients who are unable to get the sleep they need may find themselves struggling to get through their days. Feeling overtired and sluggish prevents those with cancer from maintaining a positive outlook throughout their treatment, may cause depression and mood swings, and may discourage them from actively participating in certain aspects of their treatment, such as occupational therapy or counseling sessions with a physician. They may feel withdrawn, frustrated and antisocial.
Sleep Disorder Symptoms Commonly Experienced by Cancer Patients
The most common indicators of sleep issues in cancer patients include night sweats and extreme temperature changes, respiratory troubles, pain, constipation, and feelings of anxiousness during the night.
How are Cancer Patients with Sleep Issues Treated?
Studies have shown that patients undergoing cancer treatment must be rested in order to endure the rigors of treatment, and most importantly, keep up a positive attitude. Patients dealing with cancer and subsequently suffering from a lack of sleep may consider discussing the following measures with their oncologist and treatment staff in an effort to promote nightly sleep:
Avoiding caffeine and other stimulants
Having a high-protein snack a couple of hours before bedtime
Receiving a back rub or massage before bedtime to promote relaxation and alleviate pain and aches
Wearing comfortable clothing to sleep, especially pajamas or lounge clothes brought from home
Sleeping on the patient’s own sheets, blankets and pillows
Establishing a routine for bedtime and wake-up time to “train” the body
Coordinating with treatment staff and minimizing overnight disturbances if possible, i.e. limiting the number of times a nurse checks the patient’s blood pressure and preventing nighttime visitors
Cancer patients who engage in the above have reported a better night of sleep, and more productive days.
Other Treatments for Cancer Patients with Sleep Issues
Other therapies, such as hypnosis and yoga, may also help a patient fall asleep. Some people also believe that arranging a patient’s room according to the principles of Feng Shui may also lead to less geopathic stress. Music therapy, especially when it involves the playing of soft, relaxing music, is also helpful, as is encouraging a patient to keep a journal where they can write down all of the stresses of their day in preparation for sleep. Other quiet activities, like reading, knitting, or drawing can also help a cancer sufferer prepare for sleep. Activities like using a computer to surf the Internet, watching TV or playing video games are discouraged a few hours prior to bedtime, as they may prevent the brain and body from getting into “sleep mode.” Patients should also have a plan for how to handle sleep disturbance during the night. If a patient wakes up, sleep disorder experts recommend activities that do not highly stimulate the mind and body, such as taking deep, relaxing breaths, listening to quiet, instrumental music or drinking warm tea to gently urge the body back to sleep.
If possible, oncologists and patients agree that promoting better sleep without the use of medication is the best option. But sometimes, patients cannot fall asleep and stay asleep without them. If that becomes the case, a doctor or nurse may administer a drug such as valium or temezepam. With these and other similar drugs, the onset of sleep usually occurs in under an hour. Some patients may stay asleep for the duration of the night with one dose, but if that’s not possible, another dose may be given. Some physicians also believe that administering melatonin, the hormone produced by our bodies to help us sleep can also help cancer patients; however, melatonin may affect the efficacy of chemo treatments on malignancies, so it is sometimes avoided.
Other Related Issues Faced by Cancer Patients
Often, patients with cancer experience other health concerns that may compromise their ability to sleep, including Restless Leg Syndrome, or RLS. RLS is a neurological health condition characterized by a constant urge to move one’s legs. As many as ten percent of the population suffers from RLS, and while it is difficult enough to manage on its own, a patient with RLS who finds themselves diagnosed with mesothelioma or another type of cancer faces an additional struggle.
Patients who are confined to a bed for an extended period of time and suffer from RLS may be very uncomfortable, and treatment is therefore necessary. A patient’s oncologist will be able to ascertain which RLS medication is appropriate so drug interactions are avoided. Two drugs in particular, Pramipexole and Ropinirole, are common drugs prescribed to RLS sufferers.
The American Society of Clinical Oncology, or ASCO, released a report at their 2007 ASCO Annual Meeting that made a connection between RLS and cancer patients. The report indicated that there were a high number of cancer patients also dealing with RLS, but that RLS was diagnosed in cancer sufferers infrequently. Cancer patients with RLS reported higher levels of anxiety, more stress, and more trouble sleeping than cancer patients without RLS.
ASCO also found that patients undergoing chemotherapy were more likely to report the symptoms of RLS.
Patient Hair Loss
For many cancer patients, hair loss is a painful reality. For most who do lose their hair, it’s the most demeaning part of undergoing chemotherapy, and many patients – especially women – experience intense emotions when their hair begins to fall out. Indeed, our hair is part of our identity and losing it is like losing an important piece of ourselves.
After chemo patients come to grips with their hair loss, they usually recognize the fact that – these days – there are many viable options available to address thinning hair or baldness. Wigs are better than ever and more and more hospitals, especially cancer centers, offer consultants and counselors that can help cancer patients better deal with their hair loss and choose quality and sensible alternatives.
Losing Your Hair
Most cancer patients – women especially – often decide that rather than watching their hair fall out little by little or in large clumps they should take fate into their own hands and shave their head. For some people, shaving their head represents the fact that they are in control of their cancer and its outcome.
If, however, you choose not to shave your head, it’s important to treat your hair gently during chemotherapy. Washing only when necessary may slow hair loss and the use of styling tools that involve heat should be avoided. Also avoid sprays and other chemicals that can irritate the scalp as it becomes more exposed.
Choosing a Wig
When it’s time to take the step towards purchasing a wig, you’ll find that there are a few different kinds of wigs from which you can choose when searching for a way to cover baldness or thinning hair. It’s a good idea, however, to visit a wig shop or other facility that is well-versed in addressing the unique needs of the cancer patient. For example, those who regularly deal with cancer victims know that the scalp of a patient undergoing chemo or radiation is usually very sensitive and demands the use of a wig with a lining that will not irritate the skin. Shops that specialize in so-called “medical hair prostheses” are aware of the needs such as this.
Usually, cancer patients shopping for wigs will have a choice between synthetic wigs and those made with real human hair. Synthetic wigs are quite easy to care for and are usually lightweight and comfortable. Generally, they require little maintenance. Human hair wigs can be washed and conditioned like real hair but according to manufacturer’s instructions. Both are viable choices for cancer patients. However, as previously mentioned, they should be lined with a soft material to avoid irritation.
Becoming Accustomed to the Wig
The patient who is wearing a wig for the first time will no doubt be annoyed by the way it feels and may even experience mild pain in the beginning. Therefore, until the patient becomes accustomed it the wig, he/she should wear it for just a few hours at a time, taking time to rest the scalp in between. It’s okay to gently wipe the scalp with a warm cloth when the wig is not on the head. Before long, it will begin to feel more natural and will be able to be worn all day.
Generally, the wig you wear during the day should not be worn at night. Instead, patients can purchase “sleep wigs” made of soft materials if they wish to wear a wig to bed. Other nighttime options are available as well.
Wig Alternatives
Many cancer patients choose not to wear a wig but still wish to cover their thinning hair or bald scalp. Not everyone feels comfortable in a wig and some may feel as if a wig makes them look unnatural. Therefore, it’s okay to opt for some other kind of head covering including a soft turban, a silk or cotton scarf, or a hat of some sort. Again, as with a wig, it’s a good idea that the part that touches the head be of a soft cotton material. Most wig companies sell special cotton caps that can be worn under all sorts of head gear in order to achieve extra comfort.
Cachexia and Anorexia
Cachexia, or “Wasting Disorder,” is a problem faced by many patients with cancer, including those with mesothelioma. It is characterized by weight loss, the loss of muscle tone, and the onset of anorexia in people with cancer. Both a patient’s Adipose and skeletal muscle is compromised. Sometimes, a patient experiences the aforementioned symptoms, visits their doctor, and is then diagnosed with cancer; in other instances, cachexia begins after a person has been diagnosed. Most doctors report signs of cachexia in patients who have been in remission, but learn that their cancer has returned, and in cancers that are not responding to treatments like chemotherapy.
Cachexia is one of the ways that a person’s body reacts to the growth of a malignant tumor somewhere in the body. It is not, however, affected by the size of a cancerous tumor. People with small tumors can also develop the disorder.
What Causes Cachexia?
There are, in a sense, two types of cachexia. Some patients continue to eat normally, per their doctor’s orders, but their body simply refuses to utilize the nutrients that the body is ingesting. On the other hand, some cancer patients stop eating because their illness has caused them to lose their appetite, and the body develops cachexia as a result. When a person begins to starve themselves deliberately, this is known as anorexia.
Researchers note that anorexia is typically not the primary cause of wasting disorder. Cachexia is connected to the patient’s metabolism and tissue catabolism. When a patient has cancer, the synthesis of proteins decreases, and the abasement of proteins increase, and thusly the body cannot properly metabolize the nutrients that it is provided with. Patients may lose up to 20% of their body weight when suffering from cachexia. Patients with cachexia and anorexia may lose far more.
How is Cachexia Treated?
The only way to manage a patient’s cachexia is to control their cancer. A patient suffering from wasting disorder that begins to respond to conventional cancer management methods, such as radiation, will eventually see the symptoms of cachexia diminish. Increased caloric intake is not a solution for cachexia, as weight gain will generally be too minimal and occur in the Adipose tissue, and not the muscles. Weight gain and increased muscle tone is the only way to diminish the symptoms of wasting disorder.
Sometimes, though, doctors recommend the use of Corticosteroids, which increase a patient’s appetite and may also improve their mood. While this does not alleviate cachexia entirely, it may make a noticeable difference in some patients. The use of medical marijuana may also be implemented in cancer sufferers with cachexia, although it will not increase their weight gain.
Some physicians work with a nutritionist to determine what type of foods a patient with cachexia should be eating. They may maximize protein intake and suggest vitamins.
Anorexia and Cancer Patients
Many people may not know that a large number of people suffering from cancers such as malignant mesothelioma may develop anorexia, an eating disorder that occurs when a person begins to restrict their food intake. Anorexia usually stems from distorted body image, low self-esteem, and other emotional and mental disorders. Anorexic people begin to lose weight and go so far as to starve completely in an attempt to avoid gaining weight.
In many cancer sufferers, depression due to their illness leads to the adoption of anorexic behaviors. Sometimes, other factors, such as the treatment they are enduring or the medication they are taking, results in the patient losing their appetite and simply refusing to eat. The National Cancer Institute reports that “almost all” people with advanced cancer develop anorexia. Patients with cancer of the lung, pancreas, and upper gastrointestinal cancers are more likely to develop anorexia, but it remains the most commonly diagnosed cause of cancer patient malnutrition.
How is Anorexia Treated in Patients with Cancer?
The most important way to avoid anorexia is to establish proper nutrition and eating habits at the onset of a patient’s cancer diagnosis. A patient may undergo nutritional therapy, be ordered to follow a strict diet and be monitored by a nutritionist or nurse during mealtime. In addition, anorexics typically undergo serious psychotherapy, may be prescribed antidepressants, and may also attend mandatory support group meetings with other people who suffer from anorexia.
Supporting Cancer Patients with Anorexia
A patient who develops an eating disorder like anorexia requires special care and support. An oncologist who is treating a cancer patient with anorexia will probably enlist the assistance of a counselor or psychotherapist, as well as a nutritionist. While the patient may be resistant at first, the oncologist may recommend group meetings for the patient, and the patient’s family and friends may also be ordered to attend. It is important to stress to the patient that proper nutrition is an essential part of managing their cancer, but to avoid being judgmental or harsh with the individual who is suffering.
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