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How to Help a Family Member With Mesothelioma

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Mesothelioma is a type of cancer which is caused by exposure to asbestos. While everyone’s journey is different, they all need support in dealing with their diagnosis.

In this article, we’ll provide a number of ideas and tips you can utilize to help your family member who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma. 

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Helping Your Family Member Through Mesothelioma

The first thing you should do to help your loved one is learn all about the diagnosis. Places like Mesothelioma Hope provide valuable resources for those newly diagnosed.  

Many people with mesothelioma generally feel overwhelmed by the complexity of the treatment options.

They may also take time to adjust to the ongoing appointments and physical changes. Here’s how you can help them: 

  • Assist with daily tasks: The treatment of mesothelioma can leave patients fatigued and sometimes in pain. Everyday tasks may feel difficult for them. You can help by offering to run errands for them, preparing meals, or helping them with personal hygiene. 
  • Accompany them to appointments: Cancer patients tend to have many appointments. These appointments can be for consultations, treatments and check-ups. Offering to come to the appointments can provide emotional support when talking with the doctor. You can also offer to drive them in-case they’re tired or emotionally drained. 
  • Organize medications: Patients with mesothelioma usually take medications related to pain, chemotherapy or with certain cancer treatment types. You can help your loved one organize their medication by tracking the prescription and making sure they’re taken at the right time. If they have medical equipment like mobility aids and oxygen tanks, you can help to arrange them as the person needs them in the home. 
  • Encourage connection: Encourage your loved one to maintain their connections with family and friends. Isolation can make coping with the diagnosis harder. It can also make the feelings of depression and loneliness worse. Promoting social ties and interaction even via phone is important. 
  • Offer distractions: Try to help distract your loved one by doing low key activities to get their mind off it. If they’re a gamer, sit and play games with them. If they like reading, read together. Distractions can give the person a moment where they forget they’re sick and it can be a welcome relief for their mental health. 
  • Encourage breathing exercises: Mesothelioma can sometimes make it hard to breathe due to a buildup of fluid around the lungs. If approved by a doctor, help encourage breathing exercise to improve lung capacity. You can encourage diaphragmatic breathing or square breathing techniques. This can be done while they’re on oxygen therapy. 
  • Research legal concerns: According to the American Cancer Council 3,000 cases of this cancer are diagnosed each year. If mesothelioma has developed due to the workplace, it’s a good idea to seek legal advice. In some cases, you may be able to seek compensation for your loved one, which can help them cope with the remainder of their life without financial stress. It’s important to hire a lawyer who specializes in mesothelioma to have a good chance of winning. 

Endnote

Living with cancer can be hard to cope with. There are many ways you can help your loved one while they’re going through their cancer journey.

By taking the time to be there and help them, they’ll not only appreciate the help but they’ll also feel less afraid when things get overwhelming.

If they’re really struggling however, make sure to seek professional psychological advice as it may be needed long term.