What Is Pallative Treatment?

Aside from surgery, radiotheraphy and chemotheraphy, mesothelioma patients can be be treated also with Palliative treat.

Palliative treatment, which is also called palliative care, is treatment designed to relieve the symptoms of disease and improve quality of life. It can address psychological, social and spiritual needs as well as physical symptoms. With regard to physical symptoms, it aims to treat the symptoms of disease but is not meant to cure the illness. In cases of advanced cancer, palliative treatment may sometimes extend life and help the patient live more comfortably, even if the cancer cannot be cured.

Palliative treatment goes well beyond painkillers and anti-nausea drugs. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone therapy, biological therapy and surgery can all be used as palliative treatments under the right circumstances. Often, the level of pain associated with mesothelioma is quite high. Thus, pain control is usually one of the first symptoms addressed by palliative care, and it is important for the patient to be able to help the doctor accurately assess the pain the patient is experiencing. This may include traditional pain management programs, involving several different pain medications. Palliative care can also focus on behavior modification, managing stress, meditation or massage therapy. Palliative surgery may be performed to reduce pain caused by the tumor or to prevent fluid from building up and causing discomfort. Radiation therapy is also useful in relieving pain caused by mesothelioma. Palliative care plays an important role in maximizing the quality of life for mesothelioma patients.