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.
Source
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.
Source
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.
Source
Monday, July 20, 2009
Mesothelioma Doctors
Decades ago, doctors were just starting to learn all the facts about mesothelioma. For many years, little was mentioned about the disease and those who developed it often stumped family doctors who just weren't sure why their patients had suddenly become so very ill. Today, much more is known about the disease, why it develops, and what to do to treat it.hough this asbestos-caused cancer is rare in comparison to other types of cancer, as diagnosed cases continued to grow throughout the last 20-30 years, a number of specialists have taken up the cause and have become experts in the diagnosis and treatment of this aggressive disease.
These top mesothelioma doctors won't be the first medical professional that most patients see. Generally, a patient's family doctor is the first to suspect the disease and, after several imaging tests and a definitive diagnosis, he/she passes the meso patient on to an oncologist that may be located in the region where the patient lives. While most oncologists are familiar with mesothelioma, because of the rarity of the disease not all of them have had experience treating this type of cancer.
Because of that, some patients prefer to seek out the country's top mesothelioma experts in order to receive the highest quality of care possible. In most cases, these doctors are located in larger cities at some of the nation's best hospitals, often those associated with top-notch universities and research centers. These doctors have forged a reputation based on their knowledge and exemplary care. Often, many of them are equally as involved in research as they are in patient care, meaning that they are able to provide mesothelioma patients with the latest information on treatment, clinical trials, and other particulars of the disease.
We offer a list of top doctors in our complimentary packet that may be able to help guide you in your journey. The packet also contains information about treatment that many patients wish to review before meeting with a doctor to prepare questions and gain knowledge about the process. To receive your packet overnight, please click here.
In some instances, these mesothelioma doctors are not oncologists at all, though they are well-versed in cancer treatment. Many are pulmonologists - doctors that deal specifically with diseases of the lungs. Others might be thoracic surgeons - health professionals who specialize in performing surgery that addresses conditions of the lungs, chest wall, esophagus, and diaphragm. Which of these individuals a patient sees will largely depend on the individual case, but all can offer the best care possible once they become familiar with the person's disease and its particulars.
Because top mesothelioma doctors aren't located in every small town in the U.S., including some that have been greatly touched by the disease due to local industry, many individuals choose to travel to the closest large hospital and take advantage of the mesothelioma experts there. Usually, that involves additional expenses including travel, lodging, meals, etc., but many deem the extra expense to be well worth the money spent. In many cases, hospitals assist out-of-town patients in finding affordable accommodations during their stay and some hospitals even offer their own lodging options for patients who have traveled a great distance for care. Potential patients should call a hospital social worker for more information on such programs.
Patients should also check with their medical insurance carriers before making decisions about treatment with any of the doctors listed below. All insurance is different and some policies may actually cover travel and other expenses involved in seeing one of these mesothelioma experts. Again, an administrator in the doctor's office or hospital personnel may be able to help determine what is covered and what is not.
Meeting with a doctor before making a definitive choice is often a good idea. Though he/she may be an expert in the field of mesothelioma, patients should strive to choose someone with whom they believe they can work well. Having a good rapport with your doctor is essential in building trust and open lines of communication are certainly a must. Take time to interview a doctor before making a final decision.
Source
These top mesothelioma doctors won't be the first medical professional that most patients see. Generally, a patient's family doctor is the first to suspect the disease and, after several imaging tests and a definitive diagnosis, he/she passes the meso patient on to an oncologist that may be located in the region where the patient lives. While most oncologists are familiar with mesothelioma, because of the rarity of the disease not all of them have had experience treating this type of cancer.
Because of that, some patients prefer to seek out the country's top mesothelioma experts in order to receive the highest quality of care possible. In most cases, these doctors are located in larger cities at some of the nation's best hospitals, often those associated with top-notch universities and research centers. These doctors have forged a reputation based on their knowledge and exemplary care. Often, many of them are equally as involved in research as they are in patient care, meaning that they are able to provide mesothelioma patients with the latest information on treatment, clinical trials, and other particulars of the disease.
We offer a list of top doctors in our complimentary packet that may be able to help guide you in your journey. The packet also contains information about treatment that many patients wish to review before meeting with a doctor to prepare questions and gain knowledge about the process. To receive your packet overnight, please click here.
In some instances, these mesothelioma doctors are not oncologists at all, though they are well-versed in cancer treatment. Many are pulmonologists - doctors that deal specifically with diseases of the lungs. Others might be thoracic surgeons - health professionals who specialize in performing surgery that addresses conditions of the lungs, chest wall, esophagus, and diaphragm. Which of these individuals a patient sees will largely depend on the individual case, but all can offer the best care possible once they become familiar with the person's disease and its particulars.
Because top mesothelioma doctors aren't located in every small town in the U.S., including some that have been greatly touched by the disease due to local industry, many individuals choose to travel to the closest large hospital and take advantage of the mesothelioma experts there. Usually, that involves additional expenses including travel, lodging, meals, etc., but many deem the extra expense to be well worth the money spent. In many cases, hospitals assist out-of-town patients in finding affordable accommodations during their stay and some hospitals even offer their own lodging options for patients who have traveled a great distance for care. Potential patients should call a hospital social worker for more information on such programs.
Patients should also check with their medical insurance carriers before making decisions about treatment with any of the doctors listed below. All insurance is different and some policies may actually cover travel and other expenses involved in seeing one of these mesothelioma experts. Again, an administrator in the doctor's office or hospital personnel may be able to help determine what is covered and what is not.
Meeting with a doctor before making a definitive choice is often a good idea. Though he/she may be an expert in the field of mesothelioma, patients should strive to choose someone with whom they believe they can work well. Having a good rapport with your doctor is essential in building trust and open lines of communication are certainly a must. Take time to interview a doctor before making a final decision.
Source
Monday, July 13, 2009
Thoracic Oncology Specialists
Most cases of mesothelioma are treated by an interdisciplinary team of doctors rather than by a single physician. Following is a list of the types of health care workers you may have contact with and their primary duties.
- Pulmonologist
A doctor specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of lung disorders. - Thoracic Surgeon
A doctor specializing in surgery of the heart, lungs, esophagus, and mediastinum. - Medical Oncologist
A doctor specializing in the care of cancer patients and an expert in the use of chemotherapy to treat cancer. More on oncologists. - Radiation Oncologist
A doctor specializing in the care of cancer patients and an expert in the use of radiation to treat cancer. - Radiologist
A doctor specializing in the interpretation of imaging studies, such as x-rays, CT scans, MRIs, and ultrasound. - Pathologist
A doctor specializing in diagnosing the abnormal changes in tissues removed during biopsy or postmortem examinations. - Thoracic Oncology Nurse Coordinator
A registered nurse responsible for the coordination of the oncology program in collaboration with the surgical director and interdisciplinary team. - Social Worker
A professional trained to help patients learn to cope with their health problems by providing counseling and information about available resources. - Respiratory Therapist
A professional trained to evaluate, treat, and care for patients with breathing disorders.
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