Mesothelioma Symptom Relief and Palliative Care for Breathlessness

Mesothelioma symptom relief is the central focus of care for the
mesothelioma patient deemed incurable. Pain management will vary with
each patient. The mesothelioma patient's pre-existing conditions and
exacerbating conditions are factors in determining the best
mesothelioma symptom relief and palliative care plan available.
However, there are similarities in mesothelioma treatment and
symptomatic relief for pleural mesothelioma, pericardial mesothelioma
and peritoneal mesothelioma.

Almost every cancer patient, mesothelioma cancer patients included,
experiences painful difficulty breathing during the last stages of
cancer. Medical studies have indicated that as many as 70% of terminal
cancer patients experience painful difficulty breathing. With diseases
such as pleural mesothelioma, pericardial mesothelioma and lung
cancer, painful breathing and shortness of breath occurs during all of
the cancer stages, not just the terminal stages.

Difficulty breathing is frightening for the mesothelioma patient, the
caregiver and family members. The fear of imminent death and
helplessness suddenly becomes unexpectedly more real. Mesothelioma
symptom relief for breathing difficulties should include emotional
care as well as physical symptom relief. Relaxation techniques should
be taught, and it should be stressed that there needs to be
adaptations to daily activities to reduce breathing difficulty.
Lifestyle changes will be in order to control mesothelioma breathing
difficulties, and the most stubborn mesothelioma patients need to be
convinced that this is the best mesothelioma treatment for them.
Defining a new lifestyle as a "well deserved vacation" can help
instigate a transition.

Mesothelioma symptom relief for physical pain from breathing
difficulties can be provided by learning, advising and providing for
the patient the best position of their body for proper air flow. A
fresh stream of air from a window or a fan can provide mesothelioma
symptom relief during breathing difficulty. Teaching the patient
hyperventilation techniques can be very useful for the patient's
self-monitoring of their mesothelioma treatment. A mesothelioma
patient with trouble breathing needs to learn how to purse their lips
at the first sign of breathing trouble, stay calm, relax their
shoulders, back, neck and arms, then "flop" themselves into
relaxation. Until this technique is mastered, learning how to breathe
out slowly is an important step in breathing management.

Mesothelioma patients must realize that anxiety breeds anxiety. If a
patient is afraid that they are going to die at the moment they are
experiencing breathing difficulty, their body will respond by
producing more anxiety, and more breathlessness. This is an emotional
and physical response, not merely emotional.

Oxygen is sometimes prescribed for mesothelioma symptom relief;
however physicians report that some patients become unnecessarily
dependent on oxygen. For other patients, oxygen is their lifeline of
mesothelioma treatment. Oxygen therapy also requires a review of
whether intermittent or continuous therapy provides the best relief
for their mesothelioma symptoms. Mesothelioma treatment with oxygen
therapy will also consider whether to use oxygen tanks or an oxygen
concentrator.

There are also medications for mesothelioma symptom relief of
breathlessness. Anxiolytic drugs Lorazepam, Diazepam, Midazolam, and
Methotrimeprazine can be prescribed for mesothelioma treatment of
breathlessness. Benzodiazepines are anxiolytic drugs that have a
sedative effect and use muscle relaxation as pain treatment of
breathlessness.

Mesothelioma symptom relief for breathing requires educating the
patient, the caregiver and the family in palliative care. Mesothelioma
treatment for pain also requires monitoring and adapting mesothelioma
pain treatment plans to meet the patient's medical needs, as well as
their emotional needs. Listening to the patient's perception of pain
is crucial to determining the appropriate pain management treatment
for mesothelioma symptoms. The patient feels the pain. With
mesothelioma symptom relief and palliative care from knowledgeable and
loving caregivers, the patient can enjoy the last years of their life
as pain free as medical science allows.