When mesothelioma develops in a patient, the pain can typically increase over time, requiring prescription narcotics to manage it. Even with the potent drugs, pain often persists for the patients. A new report in the Journal of Clinical Oncology discusses a supplementary option in pain management for patients: psychosocial interventions. Researchers found that psychosocial interventions for patients had “medium-size effects” on both pain severity and pain interference in adults with cancer. Reviewing studies published between 1966 and 2010 of cancer patients, researchers from Columbia University in New York City found 37 papers for which measures of pain severity and pain interference could be assessed. Speaking of their findings, the authors said, “These robust findings support the systematic implementation of quality-controlled psychosocial interventions as part of a multimodal approach to the management of pain in patients with cancer.” According to the International Association for the Study of Pain, the primary psychosocial…
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Asbestos Exposure and Mesothelioma Attorneys
Therapy Promises Some Help for Cancer Pain
February 9th, 2012The Need for a Mesothelioma Lawyer
February 7th, 2012If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, chances are you were exposed to asbestos earlier in your life. Whether you worked in manufacturing or mining, or if you simply came in contact through materials used to renovate your home, asbestos exposure can affect your health many years down the line. Many companies were aware of the hazards of asbestos long before government regulations were implemented. If you were exposed to asbestos by a party that knew of its dangers, you deserve compensation. The poor prognosis and high cost of treatment for mesothelioma makes legal representation important for some patients. Often, compensation is necessary to cover the various treatments needed for this deadly disease and to help the victim’s family after death. Higher awards generally go to victims and families represented by experienced counsel. Beyond help with medical bills, there is also the issue of justice. If you were knowingly exposed…
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Early Detection is Key in Mesothelioma
February 2nd, 2012The key to increased life expectancy when battling extremely aggressive cancers like mesothelioma is early detection. Unfortunately, researchers have yet to develop an effective lung cancer screening tool. While breast cancer has the mammogram and prostate cancer has the PSA, lung cancer does not have an equivalent test for detection. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) identifies chest x-rays, CT scans, PET scans and the bronchoscopy as tests used to diagnose lung cancer, but these tests are only effective after a patient has presented worsening respiratory symptoms. Patients with mesothelioma often have symptoms such as a persistent cough, shortness of breath, fatigue and wheezing, similar to other respiratory illnesses. Typically, when a patient first exhibits these symptoms, doctors first treat them for a respiratory infection. They only test for cancer later. This leads to a late diagnosis, when the disease is already causing life-threatening complications. Studies are underway to find an…
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Gene Sequencing Allows for Targeted Cancer Treatments
January 30th, 2012Genome sequencing may offer mesothelioma sufferers new hope, giving doctors a much better understanding of an individual’s disease profile and allowing for targeted treatments. The mapping of the human genome is considered by many to be one of the major scientific breakthroughs of all time. Some researchers are taking this new ability and using it in a very specific way: mapping specific diseases. Cancer genomes are showing to be particularly good candidates for such genome sequencing. According to Barrett Rollins of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, cancer “is among the most promising targets because it is essentially a disease in which damaged genes let cells grow without restraint.” The cost of gene sequencing has gone down dramatically, and while many insurance companies do not offer coverage for the procedure, the out-of-pocket expense for the average patient is now less than $1,000. Sequencing cancer genes can give an enormous amount of…
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