Did you know that military veterans constitute 30% of the patients diagnosed with mesothelioma each year? An alarming reality stems from the U.S Navy’s heightened reliance on asbestos-containing products and equipment. Compared to other military branches, the Navy relied on asbestos for construction purposes. Research reveals that almost every U.S. Navy ship built between the 1930s to 1980s was constructed using asbestos-containing material.
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Given these alarming statistics, it’s understandable that U.S Navy veterans have a higher risk for asbestos exposure and mesothelioma. Asbestos-containing materials are fireproof, heat resistant and ideal insulators, and therefore, considered most suitable for Navy construction. However, asbestos exposure heightened cancer risks and mesothelioma diagnosis amongst Navy veterans.
Navy veterans who served on vessels and shipyards, handling construction and maintenance processes, faced the highest levels of asbestos exposure. Dealing with a mesothelioma diagnosis isn’t easy, especially for a Navy veteran who takes immense pride in serving the nation. Fortunately, veterans have access to numerous resources and facilities to ensure quality treatment and elevate life quality.
Keep reading to learn more about helping survivors overcome and cope with the disease.
Understanding the Risk Factors & Symptoms
Patients cannot manage a disease as deadly as mesothelioma without an acute understanding of risk factors and symptoms. Mesothelioma typically occurs 20 to 50 years after the initial asbestos exposure. It takes prolonged and regular exposure to asbestos fibers and asbestos-containing materials to develop this lethal, life-consuming cancer.
Understanding the risk factors is crucial to trace back to the origin of your initial asbestos exposure. Navy veterans typically develop mesothelioma during old age, demanding caregivers to equip themselves with research to help senior patients. Luckily, there’s a wealth of online and offline resources dedicated to mesothelioma Navy veterans, offering information and support. In the wake of heightened mesothelioma cases in the U.S. Navy, the government and military set up designated departments and platforms.
The internet is abuzz with information resources, support platforms, healthcare facilities and organizations dedicated to helping Navy veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma. It’s crucial to utilize these resources to understand the complexities of this rare cancer manifestation to cope healthily. The most common symptoms of mesothelioma include shortness of breath, respiratory complications, and overwhelming fatigue.
Mesothelioma is a deadly and silent cancer that creeps up slowly and takes the patient by surprise with its progression. It manifests itself when cancer has spread throughout the body, replacing healthy cells with disease-ridden cancerous cells. Navy veterans and their caregivers are strongly advised to benefit from informative resources to bolster their understanding of mesothelioma.
Finding the Right Treatment Center
We mentioned how the U.S. government and military had made provisions to help Navy veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma. Let’s discuss these provisions in more detail.
The Veterans Health Administration offers a well-integrated and state-of-the-art medical support system for Navy veterans suffering from mesothelioma. Navy veterans have access to the nation’s most reputable and gifted mesothelioma doctors and healthcare providers. The quality of mesothelioma care and hospitalization services available to Navy veterans increases their chances of fighting this deadly cancer.
Civilian mesothelioma patients don’t have access to such facilities and medical practitioners. Most civilians struggle with the hefty medical bills that accompany a cancer diagnosis. But Navy veterans don’t face any monetary or accessibility constraints in finding the best doctor and treatment facility. The VA healthcare authorities have set up mesothelioma treatment centers across multiple states and cities to enhance accessibility.
Navy veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer due to military-related asbestos exposure enjoy access to free medical care. Moreover, Navy veterans and their family members receive several V.A. benefits, including disability compensations. Access to specialized healthcare facilities and the best doctors in the country improves their recovery chances.
Monetary Compensations & Financial Support
Receiving monetary compensation or financial support won’t change your diagnosis or make your symptoms less painful. However, it will elevate the patient’s life quality and reduce the financial burdens on caregivers and family members. Veterans Affairs (V.A.) offers various stipulations for financial support and monetary compensation for veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma patients.
For instance, veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma receive disability compensations to cover non-treatment expenses. This compensation helps veterans cover travel and transportation expenses and improve their overall life quality and comfort. Navy veterans diagnosed with lung cancer or mesothelioma due to service-related asbestos exposure qualify for 100% disability compensation.
Cancer is associated with financial instability and insecurity, as treatments and medications cost thousands of dollars. Financial support and compensation offer patients and caregivers a wealth of treatment and pain-alleviation options and a sense of security. The VA also offers dependency and indemnity compensation to family members and spouses of veterans who die of service-related mesothelioma.
Final Thoughts
Coping with a deadly and unpredictable disease like mesothelioma is never easy, but access to resources makes it manageable. Navy veterans have numerous advantages in selecting medical practitioners and treatment facilities, unlike civilians. They have the financial resources to prioritize their wellbeing by engaging the best mesothelioma specialists in the country.
Speedy diagnosis and prompt treatment allow mesothelioma patients to fight this deadly cancer at the end of the day. Navy veterans and their caregivers must find helpful resources and contact the V.A. health services to initiate treatment. It’s also wise to join online and offline support communities for Navy veterans and their loved ones for emotional support.
It’s crucial to surround oneself with all the support one can get when fighting deadly cancer like mesothelioma.