Mesothelioma is a major challenge and keeping up with activities involving your treatment and Doctor visits can be overwhelming. The patient, the family, and close friends are faced with new and unfamiliar experiences. A methodological approach to your care can often make life easier for everyone.
The concept of a Personal Medical File is becoming more popular, and these files can be especially useful for cancer patients who see multiple doctors and receive treatment at more than one location. The personal medical file helps ensure that you always have access to critical data (even when your doctor’s office is closed) and there is a backup of the most important documents. When you visit a new health care provider, you will have comprehensive access to the information they need. More on personal medical files.
Keeping track of the medications you are taking can be a hassle, especially given the amount of prescriptions the typical mesothelioma patient takes. You need to know what medicines you are taking, which doctor prescribed them, what the dosage is and how many pills a day you take. A formal file and notebook organizer can help here. More tips on managing your medications.
Keeping track of your expenses is important. Everyone has different financial resources, insurance coverage, and Medicare eligibility. Many mesothelioma patients can get compensation from the asbestos industry, which can help with medical costs. Whatever the source of your funding, you need to keep track of all bills from hospitals and clinics, bills from drugs stores, and insurance claims and payments. Tips on managing your expenses.
Because mesothelioma is a rare cancer, your doctor may not have much experience dealing with it. There is nothing wrong with getting a second opinion from another physician. Here are some ideas on second opinions. You may wish to look at our list of mesothelioma specialists. Contact us if you are interested in reaching these doctors. Note that the type of doctor that specializes in cancer treatment is called oncologists. However, because mesothelioma is so rare, even most oncologists have seen a limited number of cases. Also you may wish to look into the community clinical oncology program, sponsored by the federal government, which offer access to clinical trials to patients at cancer centers around the country.
