Inspiration

If you are coping with mesothelioma, either as a patient or a caregiver, you know the daily challenges of dealing with the physical symptoms of this serious cancer and the side effects of mesothelioma treatment. Coping with mesothelioma takes an emotional toll as well; many patients grapple with anxiety and depression. Numerous studies have shown that one thing that often helps relieve both the physical and emotional pain of a mesothelioma diagnosis: spirituality. You don’t have to be religious to find relief in spiritual practices when you are coping with mesothelioma. What Are Spiritual … [Read more...]

One of the hardest things a mesothelioma patient has to cope with is loneliness. When it’s a struggle to breathe, the normal social activities of daily life can become overwhelming and exhausting. After a chemotherapy treatment or during recovery from surgery, in particular, the mesothelioma patient’s world can become very small. The social circle of a mesothelioma patient may shrink down to just a caregiver and perhaps some close family members. Patients may feel closed off from the rest of their community. Any time you reach out, no matter what you have to offer, you have brightened the … [Read more...]

For those of us dealing with mesothelioma every day – treatment, pain management, compensation claims, and more – it’s easy to forget that mesothelioma is still relatively rare. Around 3,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year– compared to more than 300,000 new cases of breast cancer and almost 225,000 new lung cancer diagnoses. Mesothelioma Awareness Day is an opportunity to raise the profile of this deadly disease among the general public. It may also be an opportunity to help prevent future cases. Here are just a few of the ways you might choose to take … [Read more...]

A mesothelioma diagnosis is life changing. The stress points pile up: dealing with pain, the time and energy it takes to seek out treatment, the discomfort and pain that can be associated with treatment, the financial stress of medical bills, not to mention the potential for there to be the end of life issues, and the emotions this can bring up for you and your loved ones. Basically, mesothelioma turns your life upside down. You will need to reach out for mesothelioma help in numerous areas. One of the most important things, and one that is often forgotten, is mesothelioma help for emotional … [Read more...]

Every year 200,000 people in the United States are told they have lung cancer; more than 150,000 die from the disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Lung cancer accounts for about 27% of all cancer deaths and is by far the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women. Each year, more people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined. November is Officially Lung Cancer Awareness Month Lung cancer awareness and observance began in 1995, with just one day in the year devoted to sharing updates, stories and medical advancement … [Read more...]

Mesothelioma anxiety is a natural reaction to the diagnosis and progression of your mesothelioma. How could it be otherwise? You are dealing with an unexpected illness with devastating consequences. Mesothelioma anxiety is an acceptable response and you should allow yourself to feel what you are feeling. Mesothelioma anxiety, however, may need to be addressed if it interferes with your daily living and mesothelioma treatment. While you need to allow yourself some emotional room for mesothelioma anxiety, beware of letting it take over and interfere with your ability to make the best possible … [Read more...]

Many experts say kids do better when talking about death if they are given accurate information in a way that combines sadness with reassurance and love. Use direct and simple language and speak in a way to ensure that the message is clear. Kids need to know that it's okay to talk about upsetting things. This is not easy, but consider the alternative. Bottling things up, we've learned, is not healthy and will manifest itself in different ways over time. Answering Children’s Questions About Death Death is a mystery. When children ask questions about death, nobody has all the right answers. … [Read more...]

For people undergoing mesothelioma treatment and for their families, Thanksgiving can stir up mixed emotions.  You are grateful to all be together at this special time of year but you do not know what the future holds.  You cannot help but remember other Thanksgivings when mesothelioma and mesothelioma treatment were not an ever-present factor in your lives. Giving Thanks For Each Precious Moment Inspirational author Katrina Kenison expressed these thoughts on her blog for Thanksgiving 2012 and they seemed appropriate to share with you today: “Gratitude, as we all know, is not a given but … [Read more...]