Posted on May 05th, 2020
It is generally agreed among the scientific community that inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause inflammation and genetic changes that can lead to cancer. If you or a loved one has a potentially life-limiting asbestos-related condition, your GP may bring up palliative or hospice care at some point.
The health hazards of asbestos have been widely discussed and proven by medical professionals around the world, over the last few decades. Asbestos, the excellent insulator that can resist high temperatures, was used in the construction, shipbuilding, and production industries for years, and has been found to cause a variety of serious illnesses, including cancer.
Evidence from studies in both people and lab animals has shown that asbestos exposure can increase the risk for some types of cancer, including:
When breathed in, microscopic asbestos fibers can lie dormant in people's bodies for anywhere between 10 to 40 years, causing slow and steady damage. Simply put, you could get a devastating diagnosis of an advanced form of aggressive cancer, several decades after initial asbestos exposure.
Although hospice care includes palliative care, there are important differences. Palliative care is an approach to care for a person with a terminal illness whose doctor believes he or she has 6 months or less to live and continues to receive curative care. If a patient has a prognosis of six months or less to live, regardless of all available medical treatment, the benefits of hospice care tend to be preferable.
Cancer treatment options depend on the type and the stage of cancer, age, health status, and supplementary characteristics, and last but not least, your preferences. It is important to know that a long, hard, and painful journey is waiting for you. Taking information helps you to know what to expect. Together with your doctor, you may find the method that suits you best for optimal results.
Pioneers in research continue to find methods to improve cancer treatments. Carl O. Helvie is an American Professor Emeritus of Nursing at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, and a lung cancer survivor. As well as other patients diagnosed with cancer, he also experienced the expression that cuts into living flesh: "you have lung cancer, without surgery and chemotherapy you will be dead in six months". During the process, Carl O. Helvie learned that "6 months to live" is not a medical diagnosis. For patients fighting with cancer, this can become like a self-fulfilling prophecy because of the influence of the mind on the body. He found it supportive to pursue in constructing a series of effective natural treatment strategies, including:
While palliative care can be provided along with curative treatment and may begin at the time of diagnosis, hospice care's purpose is to keep terminally ill patients comfortable and provide support for their families and caregivers.
Hospice care is a type of specialized health care for people with terminal conditions aimed at controlling physical and emotional pain and discomfort and is provided to people with life-limiting illnesses and their families. It is provided by a team of specially-trained specialists and is equipped to meet the unique needs of terminally ill patients, including:
Hospice care is most often received in the comfort of a patient's home, but hospice facilities also provide the same services. Hospice includes nursing care, counseling, and physician services specialized in emotional support and symptom control related to advanced, terminal diseases. It also includes personal support in daily activities such as cleaning, grocery shopping, meal prep, laundry, etc. Connecting with dedicated hospice facilities oftentimes results in peace of mind for both patient and family members, as needs can be assessed and important next steps identified.
Being diagnosed with a terminal illness is devastating for you and your family members. We understand this and we also understand that financial compensation will not bring back your health, but it may relieve you and your family of financial hardship. It is important for anyone who developed mesothelioma, lung cancer, or cancer of the esophagus, larynx, pharynx, stomach, colon, or rectum to claim benefits prior to their death and let us start the process sooner, with help from family members.
If your cancer was caused as a result of asbestos exposure you may face a race against the clock to secure the compensation to which you are entitled. If you would like to discuss and learn more, contact our trusted, reputable lawyers at Environmental Litigation Group today.