Benefits of Hospice Care for Mesothelioma Patients

The Average Mesothelioma Prognosis is Less Than a Year From the Time of Diagnosis.

While roughly 10 percent of pleural mesothelioma patients achieve five-year survival, most patients find themselves facing a short life expectancy – and trying to determine what to do about it. Hospice Care for Mesothelioma Patients can help with some of these decisions in certain situations.

Patients diagnosed with an earlier stage of the cancer may pursue curative treatments, but the patients who are diagnosed with stage III or IV disease often turn to palliative therapies instead. For mesothelioma patients who have a prognosis of less than six months, hospice may be an ideal route for obtaining this quality of life-focused care.

Entering hospice is not giving up. It does require patients to confront a terminal diagnosis, but it is often one of the most compassionate and effective palliative care programs available.

Hospices vs. Other Types of Palliative Mesothelioma Care

Hospice Care for Mesothelioma Patients incorporates a number of different types of care. Specially trained health workers can administer medications (including pain medications and anti-anxiety medications), and nurses at inpatient facilities can monitor the patient’s condition round-the-clock.

Hospice also offers emotional and spiritual care benefits. Patients can participate in support groups, as can their families. Furthermore, hospice patients have access to social workers who can help them with end-of-life arrangements and wills.

Some patients can receive hospice care in their own home. This is especially beneficial for patients who are too ill to pack their belongings and adjust to a new living environment. In-home hospice also allows patients to spend this essential time with their loved ones in a familiar setting.

Author bio: Faith Franz has spent nearly two years researching and writing for The Mesothelioma Center. As an advocate for alternative medicine, she encourages patients to explore all of the treatment options that could potentially save their life.