Mesothelioma Support

Those who become diagnosed with mesothelioma often find comfort and relief from a large support network made up of family, friends, doctors, nurses and others who truly care about their condition.

Symptoms and Side Effects

Mesothelioma patients often encounter difficulty in dealing with symptoms of the disease. These symptoms, which can be very debilitating, compromise quality of life and can make it difficult to carry out normal activities. Similarly, dealing with the side effects of treatments such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy can be life-changing. Though the treatments are certainly designed to help the patient combat the disease, they can weaken the body and the spirit.

Pain management can be difficult for mesothelioma sufferers as well, but keeping pain under control is essential to maintaining quality of life. Doctors and other healthcare providers will offer suggestions such as medications and other therapies that will lessen pain.
Friends and family can also assist in helping the patient deal with the affects of symptoms and cancer treatments by offering assistance with tasks, chores and other responsibilities the patient can no longer handle. This is often the best way to help.

New Feelings

The newly diagnosed mesothelioma patient will also have numerous personal issues to handle. Feelings after a diagnosis can include confusion, anger, guilt and denial, and the patient will need to make decisions about continuing to work, about how and when to tell family and friends about the disease, and about after-life issues including wills and DNRs. These practical issues and relationship issues can often be the hardest to deal with and healthcare providers, psychologists, psychiatrists, clergy and other counselors are on hand to help. Asking for support is expected and is not a sign of weakness.
The disease, its pain and symptoms, treatments, and difficult personal issues all result in one particular feeling - stress. Even if the patient was relaxed and easy-going in the past, stress will likely be a new part of his or her life after a mesothelioma diagnosis. Dealing with stress is essential and everyone does this differently. Common ways to conquer stress are with alternative therapies such as meditation or massage and sometimes by the use of prescription anti-anxiety medications. What works best will largely depend on the patient, but many options are available.

Help for the Caregiver

For the caregiver of a mesothelioma patient, life will change drastically. This person will not only work tirelessly to physically tend to the mesothelioma sufferer, but will also be involved in numerous decisions about this person and their disease. And when the caregiver is no longer able to function in that role, he or she will need to make choices as to hospice care and other alternatives. It's a stressful role, but assistance is available from the patient's healthcare team as well as through counselors and support groups made up of persons playing a similar role in life.

Ask for Help

Whether you're the mesothelioma patient or the caregiver, you can find support in many different places. Take a few moments to browse through our support section to locate answers to your concerns. Remember, no one has to face mesothelioma alone.
Sources:

1. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Support/end-of-life-care
2. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/MBC/MBC_2x_OtherEffects.asp
3. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/MBC/content/MBC_2_3x_Anxiety_and_Fear.asp?sitearea=MBC
4. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/MBC/content/MBC_2_3X_Depression.asp?sitearea=MBC