Abstract
Mesothelioma is a cancer of the pleural lining of the thorax caused by asbestos (Wagner et al., Br J Ind Med. 1960;17:260–71, 1960). It is an aggressive cancer which can cause all manner of symptoms including severe dyspnea, pain, and wasting. Occupational therapy is a rehabilitation discipline that helps patients function in their environments through the use of meaningful activities (American Occupational Therapy Association, Am J Occup Ther. 2002;56(6):609–39, 2002). The occupational therapist will assess the ability of the patient with mesothelioma to complete daily living skills such as bathing, dressing, transfers, and other household tasks. This chapter will discuss various strategies and equipment that the occupational therapist may bring to bear during treatment sessions. Occupational therapy is appropriate to be referred in at all stages of treatment and is also uniquely suited to help the patient in remission establish the ability to return to work. Upon completion of this chapter, the reader will have a better understanding of what occupational therapy is, its role in mesothelioma care, and what the discipline can offer from the initial inpatient treatment phase to home care to palliative care.
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Hemingway, R. (2019). Occupational Therapy and Mesothelioma. In: Hesdorffer, M., Bates-Pappas, G. (eds) Caring for Patients with Mesothelioma: Principles and Guidelines. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-96244-3_11
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-96244-3_11
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