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Finding Relief from Mesothelioma - Palliative Care
Palliative care is care given to relieve symptoms, but is not intended to serve as any means of cure. It is generally continued after a case has reached a terminal point.
Palliative surgery refers to surgery that is done for the alleviation of some pain or discomfort at an advanced degree of the cancer. The mesothelioma would have spread at this point to an irreversible state and the comfort of the patient during this difficult time is of primary importance. At this point, virtually any chance of cure is considered out the question and a pleurectomy (removal of the lung) may be considered a viable option.
An aid in breathing for the patient can be achieved in some cases by removing fluid from the lungs. Such a procedure, known as thoracentesis, is done through the insertion of a needle into the saturated area and removing excess liquid that has accumulated in the lungs. This can ease pain and restore greater breathing ability for the patient.
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