Follow-up care after treatment for mesothelioma at Memorial Sloan Kettering is very important for helping you live longer and healthier. The experts who helped treat you for mesothelioma will take care of you for the first two to three years after treatment.
For example, you may find that managing symptoms after treatment is very important to you. Our Palliative Care & Pain Management team can help build an individualized care plan for you.
At your follow-up care visits we’ll do things like:
- give you a physical exam
- do an assessment to look for recurrence (return) of cancer
- make screening referrals for other cancers when appropriate
- make healthy-living recommendations related to nutrition, exercise, and quitting tobacco
- set up consultations with other MSK doctors as needed
Long-Term Follow-Up Care for Mesothelioma
Two to three years after treatment ends, the treatment team may ask a nurse practitioner with special training in mesothelioma to help take care of you. He or she will look for signs that the disease has returned and also watch you carefully to help spot, prevent, and control any long-term or late effects.
Managing Pleural Mesothelioma Symptoms
A common symptom of pleural mesothelioma is shortness of breath. This is because fluid has built up around your lung, a development called pleural effusion. We have special resources to help you deal with this.
In addition to any therapies that your treatment team recommends, our Resources for Life After Cancer program offers a monthly workshop called Breathing Easier, which can help you manage stamina changes with practical techniques.
Managing Peritoneal Mesothelioma Symptoms
Your treatment will most likely treat peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms with paracentesis. This procedure involves draining any extra fluid in your abdomen to lessen bloating and shortness of breath.
Your treatment team can recommend surgical procedures that may well decrease your pain and discomfort. For example, if your bowel becomes blocked, we can remove that part of your intestine. If many sections are blocked, surgery may not be safe. In that case, your team can insert a tube into your stomach to remove fluid and air, and make you feel better.
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