At Memorial Sloan-Kettering, we have developed a unique, national support program for patients with mesothelioma. In this program, our team of physicians, nurse practitioners, and therapists provides regular follow-up care.
Mesothelioma is a complicated disease that affects the quality and length of a patient's life. However, coordinated care by a multidisciplinary team of clinician-researchers with experience and expertise in treating the cancer and its related symptoms can help ensure quality of life for longer periods than has been possible in the past.
Follow-Up Care and Symptom Management
Regular follow-up care is essential for managing mesothelioma and its side effects. For some patients, control of symptoms is as important as the treatment aimed at controlling their mesothelioma.
Pain Management
Effective pain management can be one of the keys to effective therapy, and some patients with mesothelioma will need pain management during the course of their treatment. Our interdisciplinary Pain and Palliative Care Service ensures that patients who have pain are identified and treated appropriately and effectively, and our Integrative Medicine Service, described below, offers access to the best of complementary therapies, such as acupuncture, hypnotherapy, and more.
Other Aspects of Follow-Up Care
To help patients manage some of the other issues that may arise as a result of a cancer diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up treatment, Memorial Sloan-Kettering offers a wide range of programs, including:
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Counseling Center
Our Counseling Center offers individual and family counseling sessions to help patients and their families address the problems they may encounter in adjusting to life during and after treatment.
Integrative Medicine Service
Our Integrative Medicine Service is designed to enhance patients' quality of life through healing regimens that address the body, mind, and spirit. Beneficial complementary therapies include various types of massage, acupuncture, hypnotherapy, meditation, visualization, and other mind-body therapies, music therapy, and nutritional counseling, as well as classes such as yoga, t'ai chi, and chair aerobics.
Shortness of Breath & Fatigue Workshop
If you are suffering from shortness of breath or fatigue, your doctor or nurse may be able to suggest ways to minimize or control these symptoms. Breathing Easier, a monthly workshop offered through Memorial Sloan-Kettering's Resources for Life After Cancer program, is designed in part to give survivors of thoracic cancers practical techniques to manage changes in stamina. Participants also learn about what to expect during recovery from treatment and techniques for stress reduction and anxiety control. The family members of survivors are also welcome to join this workshop.
Help for Older Patients
A diagnosis of cancer is difficult at any age, but older patients face unique challenges. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center is committed to providing cancer patients aged 65 and older with the treatment, facilities, and support they need.
Memorial Sloan-Kettering offers the services of a multidisciplinary geriatric team, which includes physicians, clinical nurse specialists, social workers, nutritionists, and psychiatrists, as well as members of the Pain and Palliative Care Department and the Integrative Medicine Service. The programs and care the team provides focus on the needs of elderly cancer patients.
For more information about our services for older patients as well as for their family and friends, visit the Help for Older Patients section of our Web site.
Access Information Through our Patient Portal
Memorial Sloan-Kettering offers a secure Web site — called MYMSKCC — for patients to access personalized information about their care. If you enroll to use MYMSKCC, you can view, confirm, and keep track of appointments; access over 300 lab results; make changes to contact and insurance information; communicate with your healthcare team and other staff using secure electronic messages; and pay bills and view balances. Learn more about MYMSKCC.
To enroll in MYMSKCC, please ask a session assistant in clinic or contact your physician's office.
