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Sunday, December 16, 2007
How Do I Find a Good Mesothelioma Doctor?
Just like looking for the best lawyers to handle a serious case, looking for the best doctors for mesothelioma is very important. If you or your loved one has this form of cancer, only the best trained and experienced doctor can give you the accurate diagnosis and can recommend other recuperative approaches. You will need to find a doctor who is knowledgeable about the disease and medication or other treatment options. You need a doctor who can come up with the correct options in care such as chemotherapy, radiation, surgical appraisal, and/or other more focused forms of treatment. It is of paramount significance to broaden your search for doctors who handle mesothelioma successfully. You want the doctor who also keeps himself informed of the latest procedures and studies.
You also need to know who is the backup physician. With a qualified substitute you can feel rest assured that you will be taken care of when you need medical attention. You have to consider the hospital where the doctor has work privileges. Since you will be visiting the clinic or hospital every now and then, it is important that you are comfortable with the location and quality of care that you would receive at that location.
You and your doctor will be partners for the rest of your life. So choosing a doctor should be done painstakingly and with care. Consider recommendations or referrals. Reflect on the credentials of the doctors and verify them. Choose 3 or 4 specialists and study their credentials before finally making appointments with those doctors. Then meet them and evaluate how well you two interact. Second opinions can also be helpful. There are conservative doctors and there are assertive ones. Only you can be the judge as to what kind of doctor is right for you.
You will be telling your doctor important information about your disease ranging from symptoms to how long ago the exposure was and how much time were you exposed to asbestos or asbestos-related substance. After the initial consultation the doctor may feel it necessary for you to undergo some scans like the Chest CT scan or biopsy, contingent on the type of mesothelioma cancer you have. Basically, there are three types of mesothelioma cancer. Pleural lungs, peritoneal (abdominal) and pericardial (heart), any of these can develop within you. As soon as your doctor has arrived at a definite analysis, you will know what type of mesothelioma cancer you have, at what stage and if the cancer has metastasized. Treatments are then scheduled. Whatever the treatments are, your doctor will recommend what is appropriate for you in considering how far along the cancer has progressed.
Having a good effective relationship with your doctor is key to your treatment. Being able to communicate properly with each other makes a big difference in your ability to deal with your cancer. Remember not to leave everything to your doctor. You also have responsibilities. Telling the doctor honestly how you feel, your opinions, and your questions will educate you about your illness. With recent research and discoveries, patients who undergo treatment are experiencing longer remissions than ever before. Mesothelioma patients with proper doctor care are living for longer periods of time.
posted by Andrew at
6:31 PM
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