Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma also known as malignant mesothelioma is one of the least common types of cancer. The cancer develops from protective lining normally known as mesothelium covering most of the internal body organs (Chahinian & Robinson, 2002). This essay looks at what would do if I were diagnosed with the deadly infection as was the case with Rhio.
Mesothelioma is caused by excessive exposure to asbestos, where the asbestos particles are inhaled and reach the body’s respiratory system. This cancer though rare, is very deadly (Chahinian & Robinson, 2002). When Rhio was diagnosed with the disease, the doctors told him that he would not live more than a year before he died. This did not frighten him as is normally the case with many people but he instead decided to disapprove the doctors and live longer than the one year he was given.
Rhio’s condition did not make him lie on the bed and wait for his death but he rather started an intensive research about mesothelioma, possible therapies and their side effects. He consulted scientific libraries and medical professionals regarding the cancer and eventually he was able to come up with a therapeutic protocol with the help of the clinicians he consulted. His courage, determination and optimism made him outlive the one year he was given at diagnosis by more than six years.
Rhio’s story is very inspiring as we learn from it that the profession’s word is not always final and that with efforts, we can do much more beyond what is perceived as possible. If found with such a deadly cancer, the first thing I would do is not to panic, just like Rhio, and consider the cancer prognosis as just an unproven theory. I would immediately begin to research about the cancer, including its cause, the extent and the rate of its damage, and the possible available therapies.
Being told that one will die does not mean the person has died. My first approach would be to look at online material concerning the cancer. I would do a thorough online research studying every page addressing the issue. To avoid panic, I would treat the research as if I was not having the cancer so that any discouraging information and pictures that I would encounter in the research wouldn’t affect me, and hinder my progress.
There are numerous heath care informatics resources on the Internet and I would consult every bit of such and make comparing and contrasting notes according to what I would find. To avoid being confused by the many different advices I would get from these resources, I would take the collected data to an experienced medical practitioners of my choice, of course not the one who had given the prognosis since they would be biased on the basis that they would feel as if I were doubting their competency, and have them help me choose the best therapy to adopt as advised by the online resources.
To determine the truth about the cancer prognosis, I would seek information about any persons who might have contracted the cancer and also know what their fate was. This I would do by discussing with friends and neighbors about the cancer, without telling them my condition as this would influence the answers they would give. I would ask them to explain what the person they say had the cancer went though and how long after diagnosis they died. I would also enquire of any therapies that would have been administered to those persons and their effectiveness. This would help me to estimate the length of my remaining life and what therapies would fit such a duration.
Next, if I arrive at no cure from chemical medicines, I would approach the herbalists, especially the experienced ones. I would interview them on their experience regarding the cancer that I would be suffering from and hear the likelihood of getting a solution from them. If they propose a certain type of herbal drug, I would make a note of it but not adopt it immediately. I would approach several other herbalists and compare their views and strategies. Finally I would present the most suggested herbal drug by the herbalist to a medical laboratory and have it examined for medicinal properties that would cure or reduce the effects of the cancer.
After laboratory assessment of the herbal medicines and evaluation of the side effects associated with it, I would make a choice on the herb to apply and how to apply it.
Should the herbal medicines fail to provide desirable solutions, I would opt to travel to another country for further treatment. This I would do because the methods of treatment for different illnesses are different in different countries, perhaps due to differences in professionalism and technological advancements.
Before choosing the country to go for further treatment, I would first conduct a research on the countries with the most cases of that cancer and how well they have managed to handle it in the future. This is because nations facing particular cases more usually have better experiences of dealing with the cases. If more than one country seems to have the capability to handle the condition, I would consider the cost of medication and travel to that country. At the country, I would narrate my condition and the treatments I would have received in my home country to avoid a negative reaction to the medicines.
Throughout these approaches, I would not ignore the issue of faith in God. I believe God has the ability to heal any sort of sickness being the creator and sustainer of the body. I have seen many people healed from their diseases, some even more deadly than cancer, and my case would not be an exception. With constant personal prayers and devotion, I would visit church ministers well known for their gift of healing and have them pray over my case. This would go along with a high level of faith as religious healing cannot happen without faith.
Sometimes physical health deteriorates due to external factors such as stress and depression. To prevent the effects of cancer from spreading fast in my body, I would avoid anything that would give me stress. This I would do by avoiding conflicts with people and doing my best to live in harmony with everyone.
To keep the body healthy, I would ensure my diet is the best for such conditions and particularly I would eat a lot of fruits and vegetables. I would also engage in physical activities such as sports, competitions and avoid unnecessary bed rests. I would complement the therapies I would be going through by remaining calm, positive and focused. In addition, I would eliminate the fear of death and support my self with the understanding that everyone will someday die.
In conclusion, getting a prognosis that one will soon die of a disease should never be received with negativity. The individual should do as much as they can to lengthen the number of days that they would live before succumbing to the disease. Rhio’s case is a challenging and inspiring one of how such efforts can be used to nullify prognosis.
Reference:
Chahinian & Robinson (2002). Mesothelioma: Informa Health Care, 2002
By: Bennett, Erica
