If you or a loved one is suffering from mesothelioma, you have come to the right place. This three-part series, entitled ‘Life After Meso,’ answers some of the most pressing and pertinent questions on the minds of those who have been recently diagnosed with mesothelioma, while also providing helpful information for loved ones.
Part II offers advice for improving the life expectancy of mesothelioma victims.
For those suffering from mesothelioma, life expectancy is not generally very promising. As reported in Part I of our series, the survival rate for two years after diagnosis is approximately 20 percent—and that figure is cut in half with the passing of another year. With no cure yet developed, it is often easy for mesothelioma victims to see their future as bleak. But experts and so-called “survivors” alike warn against this mentality—maintaining that hope is always alive and that a positive outlook and healthy lifestyle may just have the most promising healing power of all.
Indeed, an optimistic perspective is often touted as the most important tool used to improve a patient’s mesothelioma life expectancy. The old adage says that beauty is in the eye of the beholder—and many believe that the same rings true for hope. Many spiritual gurus and even some medical professionals speak often of the powerful mind-body connection that is thought to play a significant role in the healing process—even (and perhaps, especially) in cases of terminal illness, like mesothelioma cancer.
Just as one must keep the mind healthy to improve the health of the body, a healthy body contributes to a positive mind—and also, particularly for those suffering from a chronic condition like mesothelioma, life expectancy.
Diet and exercise, together, is key to improving and maintaining health. Although those suffering from mesothelioma may experience fatigue and difficulty breathing, any amount of physical activity that may be safely performed is likely to be a significant benefit to overall condition. Cardiovascular exercise helps to strengthen virtually every vital organ of the body, including the heart and lungs. And when fighting mesothelioma, you will need all of the strength you can get.
Nutrition also plays a very important role in the healing process—and subsequently, for victims of mesothelioma, life expectancy. A well-balanced diet—including lots of fruits vegetables, lean protein and whole grains—offers the best opportunity for receiving all of the vitamins and minerals your body will need to gain strength, heal damage and fight the cancer that is attacking it.
To improve your mesothelioma prognosis, try taking the holistic approach provided in this article—by combining physical and emotional health, attained through natural and easily accessible means. Physical fitness, good nutrition and a positive mindset are treatment methods that are available to anyone and can be implemented as complement to any traditional treatment with no risk or side effects involved.