Updated on 02/06/2021
COVID-19 is a respiratory illness and can cause extra complications for people with existing lung and breathing issues. If you have an asbestos-related disease like mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis and pleural thickening we understand you’ll be concerned with staying safe during this pandemic.
Ian Bailey, one of our asbestos lawyers, got together with Rachel Thomas, a specialist lung cancer and mesothelioma nurse, to answer some of our client’s questions about healthcare and treatment during lockdown.
Rachel Thomas, specialist lung cancer nurse from Guy's Hospital.
If you need immediate help, contact our team on 0370 1500 100 and we’ll discuss how we can help you.
Healthcare Appointments
Treatment
Staying Safe During Lockdown
The following advice is from Rachel Thomas, a specialist lung cancer nurse and Mesothelioma UK nurse at Guys Hospital. She also runs a mesothelioma support group and serves on the National Lung Cancer Foundation.
Healthcare Appointments
What should I do if I have an asbestos-related disease but haven’t received a letter to say I’m ‘high-risk’?
Anyone with a lung condition is more at risk because COVID-19 directly affects the lungs and causes breathlessness and viral pneumonia. Patients with an existing lung condition may find coronavirus much more difficult to manage. If you haven’t received a letter, you should still consider yourself ‘high-risk’.
If you’re expecting a letter but it hasn’t arrived, contact your doctor of your lung cancer clinical nurse specialist (CNS) to follow up about it. Your letter should come from them or from the hospital you usually go to.
Once you have received your letter you can register on the government website as a vulnerable patient and this will allow you access to priority booking for online shopping. The government has also given guidance on high-risk categories.
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Should I still go to my hospital appointments?
If you have a face-to-face appointment coming up you should still attend your appointment unless your oncologist or lung CNS tells you not to.
If you’re currently getting treatment you may need blood tests, chest x-rays or other tests and your oncologist or lung CNS may need to see you in person.
By the time of your appointment your medical team will assess if the appointment should happen face-to-face or if they can do it over the phone. They will let you know what they decide and what you should do.
Many follow up appointments are taking place over the. Some hospitals are using Skype or video consultations so patients don’t need to travel.
If your appointment is happening over the phone, then write down any questions before the appointment. This will help you get the essential information you need from your doctor.
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What precautions are hospitals taking to keep me safe if I need to attend an appointment?
Hospitals are having fewer face-to-face appointments to minimise the risk of people coming into contact with each other. Social distancing precautions are also in place so you won’t have unnecessary contact with staff and other patients.
When you get to the hospital you should use the hand sanitiser and wear a mask if you have one. While you are at the hospital, remember to maintain social distancing by staying two meters apart from other people.
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What should I do if my condition gets worse, but I don’t want to leave the house?
Call your doctor for a phone consultation. Before you do this, write down any symptoms you have so you can discuss it with them. To help you can answer these questions:
- What are your symptoms, what’s changed?
- How often are your symptoms happening, is it more often, or less often?
- Does anything make your symptoms better or worse?
Try and give your doctor as much information as possible when you call them. This will help them give you the best possible advice.
You should also call your pharmacy. They often run clinics and can do phone consultations that could help you.
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What precautions should my carers take when they visit me?
Your carer should always:
- Wear gloves, an apron and a mask when they visit you
- Wash their hands before touching you
- Put their protective items on before they enter your house and remove them after they’ve left.
If your carer doesn’t have any protective equipment, call the care agency to ask if they can provide these things.
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How can I get my medication if my pharmacy doesn’t deliver?
Most pharmacies will have links to local volunteer groups who can deliver your medication. You can also organise your own private courier to ensure you get your medication. Contact your pharmacy to see what options they have available.
If you’ve arranged for a volunteer to collect your medication for you, you should tell your pharmacy. When the volunteer collects your medication, make sure they have your:
- NHS number
- Full name
- Address.
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Treatment
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My chemotherapy isn’t starting until the coronavirus situation is over, can I start it earlier?
It’s best to speak to your oncologist over the phone about your chemotherapy treatment. They’ll be able to advise if this is possible or not.
Write down all your concerns and questions so you can get the most out of your call. Make sure you ask about the reasons why your chemotherapy is delayed.
It may be that you have early stage mesothelioma with minimal symptoms so you don’t need immediate treatment. Every situation is different and it’s best to discuss any concerns with your oncologist.
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What should I do if my pain is getting worse?
If you’re already in contact with a palliative care team, you should call them immediately. They can help you with controlling your pain and symptoms.
If you’re not in contact with a palliative care team, call your doctor or your lung CNS. You can prepare for your call by answering these questions:
- Where is the pain?
- What type of pain is it, aching, burning, stabbing?
- What makes it better or worse?
- When is the pain most noticeable?
- Are you currently taking any pain relief medication?
Regardless of COVID-19, you should still call your doctor or lung CNS and someone close to you if you live alone.
We’ve noticed a lot of patients aren’t calling because they’re concerned about coronavirus. Your medical team are still available to help you with your illness. It’s very important that you keep in touch with them regardless of the lockdown situation.
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What should I do if I’m not sure if my symptoms are related to COVID-19 or an asbestos-related disease?
Even If you’ve had asbestos exposure before, this doesn’t mean you will get an asbestos-related disease.
If you’re unsure about your symptoms it’s best to contact your doctor or, if you’re very unwell, go to Accidents & Emergency (A&E). They’ll be able to do the necessary tests to find out what’s causing your symptoms.
If you feel that your symptoms aren’t serious enough to go to hospital, you should call your doctor for a phone consultation.
Try keeping a ‘symptom diary’ to keep track of how you feel. This will be very useful to your doctor to work out what’s causing your symptoms.
Ian Bailey, specialist asbestos solicitor, suggests that if you’ve had asbestos exposure before, it’s best to make notes about when and where this could have happened.
If you’re diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, you should make contact with a specialist lawyer. It’s helpful to have as much detail about your past exposure as possible. We can then assess if you could make a claim against anyone responsible for exposing you to asbestos.
Contact our asbestos team if you need help or want to discuss your situation. Call us on 0370 1500 100.
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Staying Safe During Lockdown
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I have mesothelioma and don’t know how much time I have left, what should I do if I want to spend time with family who don’t live with me?
Seeing your loved ones can be a real comfort when you’re unwell. We understand that while the coronavirus crisis continues, it may not be as easy as before to see everyone.
No two patients are the same and any advice or decisions you make will depend on your personal situation. Rachel suggests that as much as possible you should try and use video calling to stay in touch with your loved ones. Try using Skype, Facetime, Zoom or WhatsApp video calls. This will avoid putting you at any extra risk of getting COVID-19.
If you decide to have your loved ones visit, ask them to wear gloves and face masks. They should also wash their hands properly and stay two meters away from you.
If you or a loved one are facing the final stages of a terminal illness, it’s best to get advice from your medical team. Make sure the team knows about how you or your loved one wants to spend your precious time. In some cases, the mental health needs of the patient and their family may mean that seeing each other is more important at this difficult time.
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What can I do to maintain my physical and mental health while in lockdown?
Regular exercise is important to make sure your lungs stay as healthy as possible. Exercise can also improve your mental well-being.
Lung cancer nurses in the UK have prepared a helpful guide on how to look after yourself during COVID-19. It includes things like having an activity buddy to help keep each other motivated during lockdown. Ask your lung cancer CNS for more information.
YouTube is also a good resource for finding free exercise videos that you can do at home. P.E with Joe is a well-known trainer that has classes designed for elderly and vulnerable people. If you don’t have access to YouTube, BBC One are also showing classes by ‘Mr Motivator’ on TV.
To keep you busy, many famous museums around the world are doing virtual tours. Many religious institutions are also doing services online through Zoom. Contact your religious leader to see what support that can give you to join their services.
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Useful links
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If you or a loved one needs help or advice, contact our team today on 0370 1500 100 or contact us online and we’ll call you back.
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