Category: Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma Nurse Encourages Families to Celebrate Their Loved Ones
This past month, an older couple left a big impression on all the health care team members that they encountered. The patient, the woman, was bubbly and talkative; her husband was reserved and quiet. Together they were devoted to each other with an unshakable bond. They were a team facing mesothelioma, but it was not going as planned. Through their stay, before surgery, after surgery, and through the woman’s complications, one thing was clear: they loved each other.
They are a very loving couple, they have had a wonderful life together, but now she has mesothelioma and he is helping her. Their goal was to be home for the holidays. To have one more Christmas and to welcome in one more New Year in their own home, with their family and their traditions. The road has been short from diagnosis to this point. They have followed their mesothelioma team’s recommendations, but, unfortunately, she has not responded to the treatment as hoped.
They are now facing some big decisions about what is next. As their journey with mesothelioma continues, the rhythm of their lives is forever altered. They will be home for the holidays, savoring every moment, creating memories together, as they have been before mesothelioma. Together they will face the next chapter in their lives, and together they did make it home.
As we celebrate the holidays, remember to enjoy your loved ones, celebrate the joy in life, and remember to reach out to someone who might be alone and having a hard time this holiday season.
A Happy, Healthy New Year to all!
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Help Your Loved Ones Cope With, and Enjoy, Thanksgiving
Mesothelioma patients and their families may be hard-pressed to find anything to be thankful for this time of year. They may be coping with feelings of sadness, depression and fatigue that are contradictory to the festiveness of the season. However, turning their thoughts and conversations to what they still have – friends and family – instead of focusing on their hardships can make a difference in their outlook.
Experts at University of Wisconsin note that the way friends and families interact with their loved ones can make a big difference in a mesothelioma patient’s ability to cope during this time. The holidays can be a tense time for cancer patients, and they may not want to talk about their health or situation. Take the cue from them in guiding the conversation.
Expert Insight
Henry David Thoreau
“I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual.”
Giving someone suffering from mesothelioma a false sense of the future can leave them feeling betrayed when their health begins to fail them. Instead of saying “You’ll be fine,” and “It will be okay,” the UW cancer care team suggest you say or ask the following to help boost their mood:
- “Is there anything I can help you with?”
- “I’m here for you.”
- “Would you like to talk about it?”
- Or simply, “Happy Holidays – it is so nice to see you!”
Even if your loved one is in the hospital over Thanksgiving, taking the time to think of something to be grateful for can lighten the mood. Just sitting quietly and watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade or a football game on TV can lessen the stress and loneliness of being in the hospital.
Remember too, that there are services available to help patients and their families cope with the holidays. Take advantage of the experts who can give you a healthy perspective on your feelings.
Holidays are a time to enjoy and reconnect with family and friends which is particularly important for someone who is ill. Try to not dwell in the past or to think too much about the future. Instead take the time to enjoy the moment. It is true that the future for mesothelioma patients and their families is uncertain, but staying grounded in the present can help keep negative thoughts at bay.
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Mesothelioma Nurse Honors American Veterans
November 11 is the day that Americans set aside for honoring our veterans. Today, less than one percent of the people in the United States serve in the military. Mesothelioma makes up less than one percent of all cancers, yet, approximately 33% of all U.S. mesothelioma victims are veterans. Using the often cited number of between 2,500 and 3,000 newly diagnosed mesothelioma cases per year, it would follow that between 750 and 1,000 of those patients are veterans who served our country.
Veterans, like mesothelioma victims, come from all socio-economic backgrounds, faiths, and walks of life. Over the years, it has always been an honor for me to care for our veterans and families that develop mesothelioma. After sacrificing for our country, decades before, they are then afflicted with mesothelioma.
In recent years, improvements have been made in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs system for caring for mesothelioma veterans whose diagnosis is service related. Claims are now fast-tracked, and the VA acknowledges that the condition is service-connected. Reach out and educate a veteran who is also diagnosed with mesothelioma about the possibility of benefits.
Don’t let today go by without remembering a veteran. This year, more so than in years past, there seems to be more public attention to honoring our veterans. Whether it is displaying a green light, or giving veterans free oil changes, it is a day to honor, and thank those few among us who continue to keep us safe by serving our country.
We would like to thank all our veterans, those currently serving in our military, and those attending our service academies. To choose to serve our country, when so many other avenues are open for young adults, is a source of inspiration for all of us.
If you have questions about your mesothelioma treatment or any aspect of your mesothelioma care, please email me at [email protected].
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Heading to the Mountains Allowed Dad to Escape Mesothelioma
I say it all the time, my Dad was so much more than a disease. He should be defined for being an incredible husband, father, brother, and friend. He should be remembered for his character and sense of humor, not as someone who had mesothelioma. Dad never wanted the burden of being ill for himself or anyone else; he wanted to be Donnie, not Donnie who had cancer.
Mesothelioma did not change who my father was. It changed his ability physically, but his personality and values remained unchanged. Most of the time, he just wanted to be away from everything that reminded him of his cancer.
Dad loved spending time in the mountains, and this is where he would go when he wanted to get away from it all. We would take rides, go out for dinner, and stop at scenic overlooks to just take some time to relax. He loved playing bluegrass music with his band; it seemed like when he was on stage, he could let go and just be himself, smiling and singing.
Spending time at home with his family was always high on his priority list. He loved getting lost in old stories and making new memories. But he wasn’t afraid to say that he didn’t want to talk about mesothelioma anymore if it were brought up in conversation. Dad was determined not to let this disease run his life. Life is so much more than one setback, it is the sum of all that you are. Dad’s sum total was a beautiful life and he is loved and missed every single day.
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Ask Jennifer: How to Manage Mesothelioma’s Financial Burden?
Health care is expensive; being treated for mesothelioma is daunting enough without having to consider the financial strain. A lot of meso patients travel for treatment, adding additional expenses to the already large number looming overhead. Sometimes, I fear that the cost may impact someone’s decision to receive the best care available.
When my Dad was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma, we started on a journey in many ways. One of these journeys was traveling to New York City, eventually making it our second home. Hotel employees knew us by name, servers at restaurants we frequented would talk about seeing friends of ours who had just been there – who were also in NYC for treatment. Life in NYC is expensive as anyone can imagine, but the cost was well worth the benefit for my father.
Starting our trips to NYC, we weren’t sure how we would handle it. Hotel accommodations and meals were a great expense and we were grateful for the gifts and donations that generous family members and friends provided. When Dad needed to stay in the city for six weeks, we were blessed to find that Dad met the criteria to stay at the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge; they provided a wonderful place for Mom and Dad at no charge.
Figuring out everything that goes along with a mesothelioma diagnosis can be a huge task, but there are people who can help you. Contact the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation; they were an unbelievable help to my family. They can provide you with information that can change things for the better.
When considering the cost of cancer care, don’t count out any treatment because of monetary implications. It is well worth researching aid and help that you may be able to receive. After all, you or your loved one’s health is worth more than any dollar amount!
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Free Mesothelioma Patient & Treatment Guide
We’d like to offer you our in-depth guide, “A Patient’s Guide to Mesothelioma,” absolutely free of charge.
It contains a wealth of information and resources to help you better understand the condition, choose (and afford) appropriate treatment, and exercise your legal right to compensation.
Download Now