100 Questions & Answers About Mesothelioma

by Pass, Harvey I.; Roy, Laura; Vento, Susan

• ISBN13: 9780763748395
• ISBN10: 0763748390
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-11-30
• Publisher: Jones & Bartlett

Summary

Whether you're a newly diagnosed Mesothelioma patient, a survivor,or a friend or relative of either, this book offers help. The only book to provide the doctor's and patient's views, 100 Questions & A

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
Part 1: The Basics	1	(8)
Questions 1-7 address fundamental questions about mesothelioma, including the following:
What is mesothelioma, and where does it come from?
What are the risk factors, or who gets mesothelioma?
Can mesothelioma be prevented?
Part 2: Diagnosis	9	(18)
Questions 8-19 explain the methods used to detect and identify mesothelioma and the healthcare professionals involved in your diagnosis:
What are the symptoms of mesothelioma and how is it diagnosed?
Who should I see to advise me about treatment?
Should I get a second opinion?
Part 3: Coping	27	(6)
Questions 20-23 provide practical advice for dealing with the physical, emotional, and financial issues raised by a diagnosis of mesothelioma:
How can I cope, regroup, and start battling?
What should my family know about mesothelioma in order to assist me?
What about financial concerns and medical records?
Part 4: The Politics of Mesothelioma	33	(8)
Questions 24-32 discuss legal dimensions of the disease:
Why all the uproar about this disease and what are the legal implications of having mesothelioma?
How do I learn more about my rights?
Do I need to have a will?
Part 5: Treatment	41	(34)
Questions 33-61 provide an extensive description of therapy currently employed to treat mesothelioma:
What is the importance of staging?
How are surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy used for mesothelioma?
What is supportive care in mesothelioma?
Is surgery needed?
Part 6: Decision Making	75	(12)
Questions 62-71 try to help guide you toward the best decisions for your circumstance:
What is standard therapy?
What are clinical trials?
What are the new, experimental therapies for mesothelioma?
Part 7: Side Effects of Therapy	87	(20)
Questions 72-86 advise what to expect with regard to treatment side effects and what to do about them:
What can I do about depression, nausea, pain, constipation, and other side effects of therapy?
How should I change my diet following a mesothelioma diagnosis?
What are the benefits of exercise and other activities?
Part 8: Recurrence of the Disease	107	(6)
Questions 87-89 offer strategies for facing recurrence:
What are my options now?
What happens if my disease recurs?
How is recurrence treated?
Part 9: Sue Vento's Insights for Care Providers	113	(6)
Questions 90-97, written by the wife of a mesothelioma patient, provide an "insider's" perspective on coping as a caregiver:
Where do I turn for support in dealing with my own stress and anxiety?
How do I balance all of the responsibilities?
What specific things can family and friends do to assist?
Part 10: The Unspeakable Which Must Be Spoken	119	(6)
Questions 98-100 address end of life care:
How do I decide when it is time to stop treatment?
What is hospice?
What are my resources?
Appendix	125	(4)
Glossary	129	(10)
Index	139