Practical Issues - Cancer and the Senior Citizen

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Contracting mesothelioma or any other cancer during your later years can throw your life plans off schedule.  Retired individuals spend much of their lives looking forward to the time when they will no longer be working and can enjoy life to its fullest.  A cancer diagnosis later in life can seem unfair.

Because of the latency period of mesothelioma, many victims are not diagnosed until much later in life.  Many doctors believe, however, that seniors are better able to deal with such diagnoses, simply because of their life experiences, which have probably included getting through difficult times.  A positive outlook is important in dealing with a disease like mesothelioma.

However, seniors often ignore the symptoms of cancer because they believe they may simply be signs of aging.  It’s necessary to visit your doctor if you’re plagued by any of the following:

• A cough that lasts for more than three weeks
• Hoarseness that lasts for more than three weeks
• Coughing up blood
• Breathing difficulties
• Lumps that do not disappear

If you live alone, you may need to make other arrangements after you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma.  If there are no family members or friends that can live with you or with whom you can live on a temporary basis, you may need to investigate resources for live-in care or some sort of in-home assistance.  A hospital social worker can assist you in locating programs that will fit your budget or in finding help whose cost is covered by Medicare, Medicaid, your supplementary health care insurance, or any long-term care insurance you may have purchased.