Talking to Your Mesothelioma Doctor

An open line of communication with your doctor is essential in receiving care and dealing with pain. Many mesothelioma patients have a fear of their doctor perceiving them as a complainer, and do no receive an adequate dose of pain medication as a result. Consult with your doctor immediately upon noticing any pain as a result of treatment or otherwise. This is important, because as the pain intensifies it can become difficult to control. Remember, it is your right to obtain the best care possible, which includes adequate pain relief.

Here is a checklist of things to discuss with your mesothelioma doctor or nurse:

• Tell them where it hurts, when it hurts, and how intense the pain is.
• Tell them what makes the pain feel worse and what makes it feel better.
• Tell them how quickly your pain comes on, how long it lasts and how often it occurs.
• If you are taking pain medications, be sure to discuss how much relief you get.
• Discuss how the pain is affecting your life and what activities you are unable to perform because you are in pain. Include information about your appetite, your ability to sleep, and whether you can perform your normal daily functions.

Questions to ask your mesothelioma doctor or nurse include:

• What types of medication(s) are available for my pain? What are the side effects of each type of drug?
• How should this medicine be taken?
• How long should I take it?
• Are there drug interactions with other drugs I am taking?
• Can you suggest any non-drug methods to relieve my pain? (Medical professionals, however, are not always the best source for non-drug or alternate therapies for pain control. Many doctors and nurses are not aware of alternative therapies for mesothelioma, or they may not believe that they work. We have included a section on alternative/complementary methods of pain control based on the literature (both printed and electronic) and anecdotal reports from patients about what has worked for them. Click on to the alternative therapy section to learn more about these approaches.)

Assessing Mesothelioma Cancer Pain

An accurate assessment of pain caused by malignant mesothelioma is essential to determining the appropriate treatments. Due to the fact that pain is invisible to others, it is easy to understand that the role of the patient is extremely important is the treatment process.

Below are a number of guidelines designed to assist you in working with your physician and health care providers in determining the extent of your pain:

• Take notes about your pain--its location, intensity, etc.
• Ask questions--this is important in fully understanding treatment options.
• Have a note taker--have a friend of family member take notes during conversations with your physician.
• Don't be afraid to tell your physician your own opinion . sometimes this is important in receiving the best treatment.

These are points to consider as you prepare to discuss your mesothelioma pain and its management with your health care providers:

• The location of all of your pains.
• How the pain feels (use descriptive words such as dull, aching, throbbing, stabbing, piercing, pinching, sharp, aching, burning, tingling).
• The intensity of your pain, and its level during different points of the day.
• Whether the pain is occasional or continuing.
• How quickly the pain comes on (suddenly or intermittently), how long it lasts (a few minutes or several hours), and how often it occurs.
• Conditions that intensify the pain
• Conditions/medications that ease the pain.
• Current medications you are taking
• Side effects of medications
• Impact the pain is having on your life
• Your quality of life goals

Emotional Support to Help Ease the Pain

Family emotional support is just as important as treatment and medication in dealing with pain. Fear, anxiety and depression can magnify pain felt by a mesothelioma patient, and by improving overall mental health these symptoms can be minimized.

In order to to do this, care should focus on:

• Helping the patient accept and understand the diagnosis
• Deal with end of life issues
• Understand the effects of the diagnosis on his/her family
• Make informed decisions on treatment options