What to do when you have mesothelioma: empowering patients through acceptance, faith and love

The doctor’s been brutally honest about telling you that you have mesothelioma and that chances are, you may not live that long. Ouch. It’s like you’ve been stabbed at the back. Not once. Not twice. But many times over. A hundred times maybe. But you didn’t bleed to death. You’re still there. In front of Doc. Still sitting on the chair and staring blankly at the realization that your days are numbered. Yes, knowing you are positive of mesothelioma ushers that feeling of fear and hatred. You may ask God, why you? You may curse at the decisions you’ve made in your life. You might even curse the doctor and demand another test. Or you might totally decide to see another doctor for second opinion. And there’s the second opinion. You are positive with mesothelioma. Another slap on your already battered soul.

You have mesothelioma.

But after all has been said and done, it will help you a lot to gather the pieces of yourself and start to move on with life. Much to your desire to deny that you have that illness, sooner or later, you’ll have to accept the fact that you have it. Indeed, denial can only serve to hasten the pain.

Extrapleural Pneumonectomy (EPP) reduces pulmonary function of mesothelioma patients

The Asian Cardiovascular and Thoracic Annals can reveal that patients who opt for pleural/decortication (P/D) has more chances of enjoying a more comfortable life compared to patients who undergo extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP).

Pleural mesothelioma originates from the skinny lining that wraps the lungs. Since it is very near the lungs, there is a high probability that pleural mesothelioma will eventually extend to the lung itself, thus, undermining the latter’s function. In the long run, the diseased mesothelium eventually thickens and hardens, thus, preventing the lungs’ expansion every time a patient breathes.

Pleurectomy/decortication and extrapleural pneumonectomy are the two major types of surgical treatments offered to mesothelioma patients. However, the medical community is divided as to which of the two offers better relief to the patients. While both operations are invasive in nature and aim to eliminate diseased pleural tissue, studies show that only extrapleural pneumonectomy can remove the diseased lung, the lymph nodes, parts of the covering of the heart (pericardium) and part if not all of the diaphragm, too.