Karen Huffman’s husband Danny was diagnosed with mesothelioma in March 2006, a rare form of cancer that is caused by asbestos exposure. He died four months later on July 31. Because her husband loved running and walking so much, Karen made a $3,000 memorial contribution for a new walking trail at the Kiwanis-Jaycees Community Park in Malta, Ohio. The ribbon cutting ceremony for the opening of the walking trail took place on August 18.
When making her contribution to the park, Karen submitted a story to a member of the park committee. Karen explained that Danny had loved to take a run every day until he suffered a knee injury; then he began walking two to three miles every day.
One morning in March 2006, Karen said that Danny was unable to finish his walk because he was out of breath. He told her to call the doctor to find out why he couldn’t breathe when he was walking. That was when he received his mesothelioma diagnosis. Two days before he died, Karen remembered walking with him when he turned to her to say that, if he couldn’t get out walking and talking with God, he didn’t think his life would be worth living. It was the last walk he ever took.
Karen felt that the walking trail was very important to the area, and she knew that Danny would have been the first person to walk on the trail if he’d been alive today. That is why she made her contribution in her husband’s memory.
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Monday, September 28, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Mesothelioma Doctors & Specialists
Doctors will typically refer suspected mesothelioma patients to a cancer specialist, known as an oncologist. The oncologist will diagnosis the type and stage of mesothelioma and determine the best therapy. Please see "Oncologist" for more information on this tpye of doctor.
If radiation is indicated, the oncologist will refer patients to a radiation oncologist. While some radiologists read x-rays to diagnose broken limbs and other injuries, mesothelioma patients see a therapeutic radiologist or a radiation oncologist. These are specialists in delivering radiation (or high doses of x-rays) to patients to kill the tumor cells.
Patients undergoing surgery to remove a tumor, which can be a very aggressive surgery, may have to see a pulmonary therapist as part of follow-up treatment. Pulmonary therapists work with a wide variety of patients, not just cancer patients. Their job is to help recover lost lung function. Patients may also have to see a pulmonologist (neumologist), which is a specialist of the lungs, or may have to see a thoracic surgeon, who specializes in surgeries of the thoracic area.
Mesothelioma is an extremely aggressive cancer with a low success rate for treatment. Patients that are diagnosed with mesothelioma may suffer from a variety of conflicting emotions regarding treatment and prognosis. It is not unusual for a doctor to recommend a visit to a psychologist. It is important to maintain mental health during the treatment process. Patients that feel more positive about their treatment are more likely to respond positively to the treatment.
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If radiation is indicated, the oncologist will refer patients to a radiation oncologist. While some radiologists read x-rays to diagnose broken limbs and other injuries, mesothelioma patients see a therapeutic radiologist or a radiation oncologist. These are specialists in delivering radiation (or high doses of x-rays) to patients to kill the tumor cells.
Patients undergoing surgery to remove a tumor, which can be a very aggressive surgery, may have to see a pulmonary therapist as part of follow-up treatment. Pulmonary therapists work with a wide variety of patients, not just cancer patients. Their job is to help recover lost lung function. Patients may also have to see a pulmonologist (neumologist), which is a specialist of the lungs, or may have to see a thoracic surgeon, who specializes in surgeries of the thoracic area.
Mesothelioma is an extremely aggressive cancer with a low success rate for treatment. Patients that are diagnosed with mesothelioma may suffer from a variety of conflicting emotions regarding treatment and prognosis. It is not unusual for a doctor to recommend a visit to a psychologist. It is important to maintain mental health during the treatment process. Patients that feel more positive about their treatment are more likely to respond positively to the treatment.
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