Rectal Cancer My Ass

I was recently contacted by someone from the Mesothelioma Center. I guess they saw my blog and figured I might be interested helping spread the word about Mesothelioma, a form of lung cancer. Well yes! I will help spread the word...anything that may help someone fight cancer. I had rectal cancer, not lung, but to me, cancer is cancer...they all suck! So without further adieu here is some valuable information that might help someone cope with this terrible diagnosis.

How the Mesothelioma Center Helps People with Mesothelioma

The Mesothelioma Center is like one-stop shopping for someone looking for information about the disease of mesothelioma and asbestos exposure.

It's all here.

A diagnosis of mesothelioma – a rare but aggressive cancer – can be overwhelming for a patient, a family and friends, without somewhere to turn for help.

Now we're here to provide it, ready to answer questions, alleviate concerns, offer support and do everything possible to make a difficult journey seem a little-less complex.

There are a wide range of resources at the Mesothelioma Center. There are medical people to talk with, websites to browse, information packets to read, even videos to watch.  And everything is free.

Knowledge will empower you in dealing with this disease.

One of the center's most important services is helping someone in the all-important selection of doctors and explaining various treatment options. There are experienced counselors to specifically help veterans with benefits and claims, patient advocates who can provide much-needed emotional support. You can call the toll free number, or just fill out a form on the website.

The Mesothelioma Center can take out the guesswork that comes with all the questions surrounding a diagnosis. Although the diagnosis once came with a terribly poor prognosis, recent advances in therapies and new drugs have allowed patients to survive for years. The website has stories about many who are surviving with, and still enjoying life, after a mesothelioma diagnosis.

There are clinical trials throughout the country that have helped patients and furthered much-needed research.  A center counselor can explain what trial might be the best for an individual patient.

There also is support for caregivers, providing advice on how to deal with the disease. There are alternative treatment options, health and nutrition aids, often things that an oncologists might not mention.

"This is not just our job, but it's something we're very passionate about," said Kaylen Jackson, medical outreach director at the Mesothelioma Center. "I think we owe the patients a lot more than just what they can find out in an internet search.  We owe them a personal, in-depth understanding of what's out there. We owe them the best possible care they can get."

Mesothelioma is diagnosed in an estimated 3,000 Americans each year. It primarily affects the thin membrane surrounding the lungs, heart or abdomen. It is caused almost exclusively by an exposure to microscopic asbestos fibers, which can be ingested or inhaled and wait up to 50 years before causing obvious symptoms.

Finding reliable, easy-to-understand information about a rare cancer is tough sometimes, which is why the Mesothelioma Center is a valuable resource. Most family physicians don't understand it, because they rarely see it. Often, they don't even know who to recommend. The early symptoms – the dry hacking cough or shortness of breath – often mimic those of less serious illnesses.

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos related disease or you are looking for information about asbestos exposure please visit the Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com. We provide free informational books, packets and a knowledgeable Patient Advocate team that can help you find the resources and answers you need.

....and don't forget to eat your fruits & veggies!

xo  Inge