To help you live as long and as fully as possible after mesothelioma, follow-up care is critical. For example, you may find that managing symptoms after treatment is very important to you.
At your follow-up care visits, you may receive:
- A physical exam and an assessment to look for recurrence
- Screening referrals for other cancers when appropriate
- Help with nutrition, exercise, and quitting tobacco
- Referral for consultations with other specialists as needed
Two to three years after treatment for mesothelioma, we’ll continue to check for signs that the disease has returned and help you spot, prevent and control any long-term or late effects or cancer or its treatment.
Physical and occupational therapy
Our physical and occupational therapists can help you regain function, increase mobility, and improve your quality of life following surgery, radiation or chemotherapy. Find out more.
Survivorship Program
Our survivorship program can provide education and support for you and your family after mesothelioma treatment.
Mental health support: Psychosocial oncology
Mesothelioma can affect many systems in your body and may take a toll on your mental and emotional health as well. Our team of psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed clinical social workers and chaplains can help you find healthy ways to cope with your emotion and can treat anxiety, depression and other mental health illnesses or symptoms related to your cancer and treatment. We can also link you and your family with support groups and other resources in the community. Find out more.
Cancer Patient Support Center
On the third floor of our west wing, our patient support center is an 8,000 square-foot pavilion dedicated to your healing, wellness, education and recovery. You can take a healthy cooking class, practice mindfulness meditation, enjoy some art or music therapy, use our computer lab, or relax with others in our central gathering room. You may connect with others who are facing similar challenges. Find out more.
Integrative medicine
Our integrative medicine program offers acupuncture, acupressure, massage and other therapies and services to help you achieve balance of body and mind. Find out more.Survivorship Program
With an emphasis on healing, recovery, wellness and disease prevention, Miami Cancer Institute’s Survivorship Program team is right there with you as you move into the next phase of your life.
Support groups can:
- Help you feel better, more hopeful, and not so alone
- Give you a chance to talk about your feelings and work through them
- Help you deal with practical problems, such as problems at work or school
- Help you cope with side effects of treatment
Ringing of the bell
A bright silver bell hangs in the lobby of Miami Cancer Institute. The ringing of the bell signals the end of active treatment. This tradition was started by rear admiral in the U.S. Navy, Irve Le Moyne, who was undergoing radiation for head and neck cancer. He planned to follow a Navy tradition of ringing a bell to signify “when the job was done.” Now nearly all facilities have a similar bell that patients can ring to mark the end of treatment.