Mesothelioma Help Cancer News
Mesothelioma Nurse Encourages Patients to Seek Help for Insomnia
Mr. M. had been diagnosed with mesothelioma a month ago, and he was preparing for surgery. An issue that seemed to be effecting his quality of life was insomnia. He had difficulty falling asleep and once he did he woke up several times a night then had difficulty getting back to sleep. As a result, he was “exhausted” all the time, had little energy, and both he and his wife felt he was depressed. What can he do to improve his sleep hygiene?
Insomnia is a common health complaint. It is estimated that insomnia affects up to 50% of people after being diagnosed with cancer. Insomnia is a sleep disorder that is characterized by difficulty falling and/or staying asleep. People who suffer from insomnia usually have difficulty falling asleep, wake up often during the night, have trouble going back to sleep, wake up too early in the morning, or feel tired upon waking.
Insomnia and subsequent sleep disturbances can have undesirable effects on patients diagnosed with mesothelioma. In some cases, it can lead to fatigue and mood disturbances, but of most concern is that it can contribute to immuno-suppression. A mesothelioma patient needs to boost their immune system to help fight the disease. If you are not sleeping, it can lead to feeling fatigued during the day, and if you are fatigued, your immune system is compromised. The key to finding the appropriate treatment for insomnia is to understand what is causing it in the first place. Is pain an issue? Untreated pain can affect a night’s sleep as well as anxiety or depression.
When a mesothelioma patient has insomnia it is important to bring it to the attention of the patient’s care team. Together, they can develop a plan to treat or manage insomnia. Just like there are many causes for insomnia, there are many treatments that include combining medication with other therapies.
Mr. M was depressed and was in pain. Both can be treated once they are identified. Relaxation tapes and seeing a counselor to talk about the impact of the diagnosis on him and his loved ones were both recommended. Pain medication was added to the treatment, and he began to see the results and feel better.
With a diagnosis of mesothelioma it is very important that you don’t minimize the problems that you are facing. If the issue is affecting your health, no matter how small you think it is, tell your medical team. There are therapies that can work. There is help and it can help improve your quality of life.
If you are interested in reading and learning more about this, or if you have any question about any aspect of your mesothelioma care, please email me at [email protected].
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Survivor of Royal Navy Vessel Sunk in WWII Succumbs to Mesothelioma
A former serviceman who survived the sinking of a battleship torpedoed by Germans in the Second World War recently died at his home in Berkshire, England of the asbestos-related disease mesothelioma.
Herbert Pocock was one of 1,200 crewmembers aboard the HMS Royal Oak in October 1939 when it was sunk by a German U-Boat in Scapa Flow, a harbor in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, that served as a deep water anchorage for Royal Navy ships during World War II. More than 800 men died in the nighttime attack.
One of fewer than 400 survivors of the sinking, Mr. Pocock, according to an article in the Scotsman, considered himself to be a very lucky man. But more than 75 years after he narrowly escaped with his life from the Royal Oak, it turns out that Pocock’s service to his country did, in the end, cost him his life, as a coroner ruled that his death was the result of asbestos.
https://www.scotsman.com/news/scapa-flow-torpedo-survivor-killed-by-asbestos-1-3610691
Coroner Peter Bedford found in his post-mortem examination of Pocock that the former Royal Navy engineer had malignant mesothelioma on his right lung as well as asbestos fibers in his tissue.
“As soon as I hear Royal Navy and engineer, that is a known link to asbestos,” Bedford told the Scotsman. “His exposure to asbestos is a result of his employment at some point in the past.”
Navy Veterans Diagnosed With Mesothelioma at a High Rate
Asbestos is the only known cause of mesothelioma, a cancer that’s rare in the general population but not among certain groups of workers, including Navy veterans. In fact, Military.com reports that veterans make up just 8% of the entire U.S. population but represent around one-third of all U.S. mesothelioma deaths. And among veterans, Navy veterans are the highest risk group for asbestos-related diseases.
The reason for this is that virtually all Navy ships commissioned between 1930 and 1980 contained asbestos-containing materials. In Navy vessel engine rooms and boiler rooms, asbestos was used on pumps, valves, boilers and turbines. Valves and pumps also had asbestos gaskets and packing.
If you worked aboard a Navy vessel with asbestos, particularly in the engine or boiler room, there is a very good chance that you inhaled asbestos fibers. Civilian shipyard workers who built and maintained Navy vessels may also have been exposed to asbestos. There is even a risk of exposure among the family members of Navy veterans and shipyard workers because asbestos fibers may have been carried home on clothing.
With a latency period of 15-60 years, mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose, especially because symptoms, such as chest pain and a persistent cough, can mimic those of less-severe respiratory ailments. Herbert Pocock, for example, in recent years suffered with fluid on his lungs—a symptom of mesothelioma—but a diagnosis was never made.
Contact an Experienced Mesothelioma Attorney
If you were diagnosed with mesothelioma, the law firm of Belluck & Fox, LLP, can help. We are a nationally-recognized New York law firm that represents Navy veterans and shipyard workers in cases against asbestos companies that failed to provide warning of their products’ dangers. We’ve obtained substantial compensation for those harmed by asbestos, including a $32 million verdict for a Navy veteran.
For help with your claim, contact Belluck & Fox, LLP, today for a free consultation.
Gift Suggestions for Mesothelioma Patients
What do you get for the person who has everything? This is a common question, usually displayed in stores and commercials during the Christmas season. Some people ask the question in a different way: What do you get for the person who has mesothelioma?
This can be answered in a lot of different ways and it could depend on what they have going on in their lives as well. For someone who is currently undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatments, it might be nice to give them a basket of foods that are easy on their stomach. Or maybe movies, books, or magazines to occupy them during their treatments, and while they are at home recuperating.
For someone who travels a lot for appointments, etc., maybe think of a nice travel bag or something to keep them busy during the trip. Comfortable clothing might also be something that they would enjoy. Religious gifts like prayer books or inspirational stories could also be a good idea. Homemade gifts are always wonderful and can become treasured keepsakes for years to come.
Whatever you decide, remember that your loved one is still the same person that they were before they were diagnosed. Even if you purchase some items that I suggested, remember the real person underneath the mesothelioma. Cater your gift to what they enjoy, not to the disease itself. If in doubt, you can always ask the mesothelioma warrior themselves what they would like, or talk to a close family member about it! They are sure to have some useful yet thoughtful ideas to share. Happy shopping!
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Giving Thanks to the Researchers and All the Breakthroughs in Mesothelioma Research
Although Thanksgiving has just passed, we can still give thanks for the research advancements made for patients with mesothelioma. Here are three promising studies in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment phases of mesothelioma.
The time between exposure to asbestos and the development of mesothelioma, it can be decades, has long presented challenges for the diagnosis and treatment of mesothelioma. In an October 22 article by Sandy Bauers in The Philadelphia Inquirer, she describes a four year study that involves researchers from genetics to chemistry who will study people exposed to asbestos. Why do some people get mesothelioma and others do not, can it be prevented? The study will take place in Ambler, Pennsylvania, a site of closed asbestos factories. The study is funded by a federal grant of $10 million to The University of Pennsylvania’s Center of Excellence in Environmental Toxicology.
Diagnosing mesothelioma and presenting the best treatment options for each patient has been the focus of many research projects. Does the volume of disease as measured on a Cat Scan help in the clinical staging of mesothelioma? View a presentation on YouTube by Dr. Ritu Gill from last month’s IMIG conference in South Africa to find out. In the short video, she describes a multi-center clinical trial and the promising results.
Another promising clinical trial reported at October’s IMIG conference is being led by Dr. Raphael Bueno, Chief of Thoracic Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston. According to an Oct. 24 press release, from Verastem, “Results from a Window of Opportunity study in surgically-eligible patients demonstrate a reduction in pFAK, cancer stem cell markers, and tumor size following 12 days of treatment with VS-6063.”
For all the researchers and all the discoveries that help ease the suffering of the mesothelioma patients and their families, we give thanks!
If you have any questions about any aspect of your mesothelioma care, please email me at [email protected].
Sources:
- The Philadelphia Inquirer
http://articles.philly.com/2014-10-20/news/55201486_1_asbestos-waste-ambler-superfund - (Oct. 24 press release, from) Verastem
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=250749&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1981229 - (YouTube by) Dr. Ritu Gill
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whug_4C5UVA
Holiday Season Is a Time of Hope for Mesothelioma Community
With the holiday season upon us, it is a bittersweet time for many people in the mesothelioma community. Having lived as a part of this community for almost three years now, I have experienced every holiday with my Dad having this disease and every holiday without my father since his passing in October 2013.
I remember the difference in my Dad between Christmas 2011 and Christmas 2012. In 2011, he was very sick, but had not yet been diagnosed. We were in a state of flux, waiting to hear what the next steps would be to help him. He was having a lot of trouble breathing, losing weight quickly, and was completely exhausted all the time. The sparkle in his eyes that was sort of his trademark wasn’t there anymore, and his happy-go-lucky attitude had given way to doing his best to make it through another day.
As we opened our gifts and shared our time with family, I remember wondering to myself if this might be the last Christmas I would have with him. Even not knowing what was wrong, I knew that he was just going through the motions to try to keep everyone happy; that was not him at all. The following month, Dad was diagnosed and we were sent on a whirlwind ride throughout 2012.
Christmas that year was completely different. Dad was back to being himself again. He felt great, even taking some time to ride his new exercise bike that was given to him for a gift. He was Mr. Social, taking charge of getting the table ready for dinner, laughing and talking with everyone, and enjoying every single second. It was as though he had a new lease on life. I never expected that this would, in fact, be his last Christmas. Even so, it was a beautiful one that I will treasure forever.
No matter what the situation, dealing with an illness for yourself or your loved ones is difficult. The holidays seem to make it even harder for some reason. Last year, our first Christmas without Dad, was bittersweet. We did our best to carry on our traditions just like he would have wanted. It was his favorite time of the year, and we knew that the best way to honor his memory was to smile through the pain and enjoy the time we had with those who were here.
This time of year is a time of hope. Hold onto that hope and believe that miracles do happen every day; many times, we just don’t see them until later! Make every moment count and enjoy this season with your loved ones. God bless you and your families!
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