Asbestos exposure still occurs regularly in Pennsylvania, and the diseases caused by this harmful substance often necessitate lifelong counseling and treatment. If you are one of the hundreds of thousands who have suffered from it, it may be helpful for you to understand what pharmacists have to do with the asbestos screening and treatment process.
Asbestos disease is still a prevalent issue
Some people mistakenly believe that asbestos exposure is no longer a problem – or at least highly uncommon. But the latest data indicates that about 255,000 people still die from asbestos every year. For the most part, people’s exposure to asbestos in recent times has happened while they were at work.
In some cases, cancer is caught by your doctor during a checkup or during a surgical procedure. But there are some methods of screening for cancer screenings that are conducted at the pharmacy.
If you’re living with an asbestos-related condition, you will need long-term treatment and counseling. That’s where pharmacists come in, and they are a crucial part of that process.
Medication is more important than ever
One of the most prevalent health hazards that can come from asbestos exposure is mesothelioma. It takes a multifaceted approach to treat this rare cancer and often necessitates surgery.
But medication also plays a key role in modern treatment. For that reason, oncology pharmacists have a highly important part to play in managing patients’ symptoms and providing support.
Your pharmacist will help you understand your treatment
If you’ve ever been confused as a patient by the way your doctor speaks, you are not alone. Your provider may not even realize they’re using jargon that’s indecipherable to the average person who didn’t go to medical school.
That’s another reason why pharmacists are so important. They’re there to bridge the information gap and help translate things in a way that you’ll be able to identify with. This intermediary role makes a big difference in giving patients a full understanding of their drug therapy.
Pharmacists are an indispensable part of the multidisciplinary team that helps assess, diagnose and treat the diseases that result from asbestos exposure. These health care professionals work with you to manage both symptoms and medications.