Specialist Nursing
Mesothelioma is a devasting disease for patients, families and friends. Support and advice is available to any one diagnosed with mesothelioma from the lung cancer nurse specialist, whose role it is to co-ordinate individualised care and to offer expert advice in all areas of mesothelioma.
Lung cancer nurses are experienced nurses who have specialised knowledge of treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy and symptom management interventions. Some nurses also specialise in breathlessness management. As well as offering advice on physical symptoms the lung cancer nurse can also advise on benefits and the legal implications of a diagnosis of mesothelioma.
Pre- diagnosis
In most hospitals lung cancer nurses can give support and advice to patients even before a diagnosis is made. They can give information on tests and investigations that are to be carried out and can help patients and their families understand clearly the findings .Most importantly the patient can contact the nurse while waiting for results reliving some of the anxiety which is often experienced at this stage.
Diagnosis
Receiving a diagnosis of mesothelioma can results in array of feelings and emotions ranging from shock and disbelief to anger and frustration. The Lung cancer nurse is there to support you and your family at this difficult time, providing both practical and emotional support
Treatment
Treatment options will vary from patient to patient and every one with a diagnosis of mesothelioma should be discussed at a lung cancer multidisciplinary team meeting where individual treatment plans are discussed and where the lung cancer nurse can act as the patients advocate , ensuring that patients opinions are also considered. The lung cancer nurse can explain in depth the rationale behind treatments options, side effects as well as providing written information.
Symptom Control
Lung cancer nurses work within a multidisciplinary team which consists of doctors, macmillian and district nurses, occupational therapists and physiotherapists. Working in collaboration with theses other professionals and with liaison with specialist palliative care centres symptoms such as pain, breathlessness and fatigue can be managed more effectively.
Sue Longstaff Lung Cancer Specialist at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead. Telephone 0191 4820000
Macmillan Nurses
Macmillan Nurses are part of a multidisciplinary specialist team who work to care for patients to carers who have life limiting illness and have specialist palliative care needs. The team visit patients in hospitals and residential and nursing homes. They communicate with various teams from hospitals and Centres for Cancer Treatment.
Whilst Macmillan Nurses do not provide “hands on care” their service is complimentary to the patients’ primary carers who remain the patient and family’s regular professional carers. Patients and their families can be transferred with their full consent by GPs, District Nurses, Hospital staff and other specialist teams following the assessment of their needs.
The Macmillan Clinical Nurse Specialist provides both direct and indirect patient and family care. Direct care included advice and support to the patient and families main professional carers giving advice on pain and symptom management. Coping strategies for dealing with breathlessness and rehabilitation are also provided.
