How is Asbestosis Treated?
Asbestosis has no known cure. The treatments available are to minimize the discomfort of the symptoms. There are three main treatment options.
1. Traditional Therapies the common medical treatments, including:
- Oxygen supplementation for the shortness of breath,
- Surgery to remove tumors or malignancies that are a result of asbestos exposure. Removing these can reduce pain and extend life expectancy,
- Chemotherapy and radiation can shrink tumors, slow their growth or help the success of surgical treatment.
2. Non-traditional treatments are used by non-medical practitioners as well as any treatments from out of country. They can also include complimentary treatments, which are used in conjunction with tradition treatments.
3. Palliative care is the treatment and care to reduce a persons suffering and to increase their quality of life. It does not try to cure a disease. Included in this can be:
- Pain management,
- Treatments to improve breathing,
- Surgeries to remove tumors if that will ease the patients suffering.
Regardless of the treatment a person chooses, its important to discuss all options with both your family and your physician. As there is no cure, there cant be a right or wrong way. The treatment needs to be individualized to make the patient as comfortable as possible so they can live to the fullest.