Mesothelioma Help Cancer News
Holding Dad Close to My Heart on Father’s Day
Father’s day is just around the corner, and this year’s is especially bittersweet for me. As I continue to mourn the loss of my own Dad, this year marks the first as a father for my husband. As hard as it is to balance these emotions, it is important to continue to celebrate those who are still with us and remember those we have said goodbye to.
2013 was the last Father’s day I got to spend with my Dad. He was in New York City with my Mom, staying at the Hope Lodge. He was nearing the end of his radiation treatment at Mount Sinai Hospital, and we had planned to drive in that Monday and bring him back home Tuesday. After a long, almost seven week, stay there, Dad was feeling the effects of the treatment and missing home terribly. On Father’s Day morning, my husband and I drove into the city and surprised him. I will never forget the look on his face.
When he came down to the family area of the Hope Lodge, he was surprised and happy to see us. You could see in his eyes the love that he had for us, coupled with weakness and fatigue. The residual effects of the radiation were written on his face, hidden behind the joy of being with his family on such a special day.
Dad didn’t feel up to going out that day, so we spent it together playing games, talking about going home, and ordering burgers in. It was a precious time for us all. Knowing that Dad’s treatment was almost over gave us a renewed hope, but we were all worse for wear. Dad from the treatment itself, Mom from being a full time caregiver, and Mike and I from making bi-weekly trips to NYC to be with them. Those trips were worth every second.
I always felt that my Dad deserved to have Father’s day every day. He was selfless, loving, faithful, and kind; I see these traits embodied in my husband as I watch him with our baby daughter. I know that Dad would be so proud of him and want to celebrate him as well. While my family shares this beautiful day together, I will remember my Dad and all that he was, and still is, to me. The beautiful bond between father and child cannot be undone; I will always love my Dad and forever be his little girl.
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Respect and Kindness Lessen the Discomfort of Mesothelioma Diagnosis
Certain subjects can make us uncomfortable. Hearing of someone diagnosed with cancer is one of them. What do you say? Do you ask questions? Do you acknowledge the diagnosis? Coming up with the answers can be challenging, especially when the diagnosis is mesothelioma. Unlike some cancer patients who lose their hair during treatments, often, the mesothelioma patient looks the same as always.
Expressing concern might not seem like enough, but often it is the kindness that is remembered. Sometimes it is not the words that help a patient, it is just being present and listening to what the patient is going through that is helpful. Although you might want to reassure the patient, saying something like “everything will be ok, because my neighbor had the same cancer and is fine, ” resist the impulse to minimize what the patient is going through. Although your intentions are good, the fact is that everyone’s cancer is different, and your neighbor might have a different type of the same cancer which has a totally different treatment plan. Listen more to what the patient is going through.
I heard this week about a patient who had gone through chemotherapy and had lost her hair. Not wanting to be intrusive, but wanting to express concern, an acquaintance said, “ Whatever you are battling it looks like you are winning. Keep it up!” This approach expressed concern, acknowledged that something was going on, but did not intrude on the patient’s space. It left it up to the patient to share more or not. It struck me as a very kind, positive way to approach anyone who has cancer.
Depending on your relationship, humor can also help. Another patient was telling some good friends that when she saw them next she would not have hair, as she was starting chemotherapy. One friend said to her, “You are long overdue for a new hair style anyway.” The patient repeated the statement, always with a smile, many times to ease others’ discomfort with her temporary hairlessness.
There is no way that is right or wrong. In the words of Maya Angelou, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you make them feel.”
Acknowledge with respect and kindness, and you will soon forget that you were not comfortable talking about cancer.
Tread Lightly When Offering Your Opinion on a Friend’s Mesothelioma Treatment Plan
Everyone deals with challenging times in different ways. All you can do is pray and trust in God that you will make the right decisions on how to handle them. A mesothelioma diagnosis is an earth shattering event and it can make you question everything you thought you knew.
When my Dad was diagnosed, we immediately went into panic mode, but quickly realized that we needed to remain focused on the task at hand; this task was coming up with and implementing a treatment plan, and finding the right people to help us figure out what exactly that was. Through God’s Divine intervention, we truly believe that we took the best course of action that we possibly could.
When Dad passed away, I was at peace knowing that he had fought hard and that together as a family, we had done our best every step of the way. Then the doubt started to creep in; the catalyst being people openly questioning our decisions. You get asked things like, “Do you think if he had done a different treatment he would have made it?” “Do you think you should have done something differently?” And then, the worst, “If it were me, I would have…”
To these questions, I reply that we did the best we could with the information and treatment options available at the time. We truly feel that our course was where we were supposed to be. And then, I pray that it’s never you or someone you care about.
I understand that it’s human nature to want to voice your opinion; it’s something that each of us is entitled to do. The tough part about these opinions in personal situations is just that, it’s personal. No matter how hard I try to let comments roll off of my back, it’s almost impossible for me. I am fiercely protective of my family and the memory of my father. Someone implying that we didn’t do everything possible to save him breaks my heart.
Mesothelioma is a thief. It deprives you of air, it takes away your energy, and in some cases, lives are lost to it. Meso stole my father from me. It stole my mother’s husband. It kept my daughter from ever even meeting her grandfather.
Any implication of being lackadaisical in taking care of someone you love so much is painful. Everyone handles their life’s situations in different ways. Even though they may not choose the same course that you would, respect their decisions.
Mother Theresa said, “Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; the third is to be kind.” Use words to lift people up, not to tear them down. Do your best to be understanding of other’s pain; show them kindness instead of doubt or disdain. The mesothelioma community has already been dealt with a devastating blow; be a support to them, don’t tear them down.
Nurse Helps Define Recovery for Mesothelioma Patients
When diagnosed with mesothelioma and undergoing treatment, patients often ask, “Is this the best I am ever going to feel?” Or they want to know, “Will I ever recover and feel good again?” Let’s look at what recovery looks like for mesothelioma patients.
The definition of recovery is: “a return to a normal state of health, mind or strength.” But, how long does it take to recover from mesothelioma? Recovery can be different for everyone, and it depends on the type of treatment the patients receive for their mesothelioma. Although that may sound like a non-answer, it comes down to the simple fact that everyone reacts differently to treatment. When it comes to managing mesothelioma, all patients are faced with a new reality; a new normal.
Unfortunately, there is no cut and dry answer for length of recovery. Some people say they feel better immediately, especially in regards to their breathing. When the benefits of chemotherapy and radiation kick in, people say their breathing is different. Although that is good, some patients are impacted by the side effects and may be plagued by fatigue.
Often times, patients feel better just starting to do something to battle the disease. Mentally, they feel stronger and more powerful because they are actively doing something. While surgery is a strong step in fighting the cancer, it is rarely a quick recovery. It takes time, sometimes a long time. But, the question you could ask yourself is: “Am I better at some point during my recovery than I was before I started treatment?”
I think it is a good idea to jot down any improvements you see or feel on a weekly basis, and reflect on the positive changes that you may slowly be realizing. Writing it down helps you focus on the positive. It may be baby steps, but it is progress.
Recently, I was asked about recovery by a 65 year old man who had undergone pleurectomy surgery just three weeks before, and his improvements were slow. He had complications, and needed time to regain his strength. The days can be long when you are recovering away from home, and you don’t know what the future holds. I am happy to report that after one more week at rehab, he went home to recuperate and was feeling much better. “Normal” is how he described how he felt.
Sometimes you just need to keep in mind that you will get better, and things will get back to normal for you. It will be a new normal, and that can take some getting used to, but each victory is a step in the right direction!
OSHA Sampling Shows Asbestos Air Measures Above Permissible Limits
An analysis of air sampling data in four industries shows breathable asbestos levels well above limits set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
OSHA established in the late 1980s a permissible workplace exposure limit of 0.2 fibers per cubic centimeter of air (0.2 f/cc), averaged over an eight-hour work shift. It also set a short-term limit of one asbestos fiber per cubic centimeter of air (1 f/cc) averaged over a 30 minute sampling period.
But according to an analysis of OSHA air sampling data collected over the period 1984-2011, personal air samples frequently exceeded OSHA exposure limits for four asbestos-using industries, with some measurements reaching as high as 175 f/cc.
“Asbestos compliance sampling data associated with the construction, automotive repair, manufacturing, and chemical/petroleum/rubber industries included measurements in excess of 10 f/cc, and were above the permissible exposure limit from 2001 to 2011,” writes lead researcher Dr. Dallas M. Cowan in a study published in Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0273230015001014
Airborne asbestos fibers result from raw asbestos used in manufacturing and the handling of asbestos products, which remain legal in the United States despite the dangers of asbestos exposure being established in scientific literature by the 1960s. Asbestos fibers in any amount can cause mesothelioma and other diseases, even with only one exposure incident.
Asbestos-containing products such as cement sheet, roofing products, and automotive components continue to be manufactured, imported, processed, and distributed in the United States. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) reports that over the last decade alone, more than 8 million pounds of raw asbestos have entered U.S. ports in addition to hundreds of shipments of asbestos-containing products. A recent EWG analysis puts the number of annual U.S. asbestos deaths at 12,000-15,000.
Construction workers can encounter asbestos while installing new products or while working on buildings with existing asbestos products. Automotive repair workers create asbestos dust when working on vehicle brakes, transmission components, and engines. Manufacturing workers who make products with raw asbestos are also at risk of exposure, while workers in the chemical/petroleum/rubber industries come into contact with asbestos-insulated machinery, asbestos gaskets, asbestos construction materials, and other asbestos products.
Complete Ban on Asbestos Needed
The Cowan report doesn’t contain all bad news. It also notes “historically decreasing trends in the consumption of asbestos,” declining mesothelioma incidence rates, and declines in airborne asbestos concentrations in some industries over the past 30 years.
Short of a complete asbestos ban, however, asbestos products will continue to put thousands of American lives per year at risk. Creating an asbestos-free future means acting now, since mesothelioma can take 15 to 50 years or more to develop following exposure to asbestos. Currently two competing bills—one that calls for an outright asbestos ban and another that does not and is generally viewed as more pro-chemical industry—are facing off in Congress.
Workers who believe they’re being exposed to asbestos can report the alleged violation to OSHA, which has the authority to impose monetary penalties on companies that expose workers to asbestos and other workplace hazards. Workers who are diagnosed with an asbestos disease may wish to assess their legal options.
“Analysis of workplace compliance measurements of asbestos by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (1984-2011)” can be read in full on ScienceDirect.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0273230015001014
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