Category: Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma Caregivers Can Reach Out for Help
Being a caregiver can be very rewarding, but there is also no doubt that it can also be life-altering and stressful. Most people never envisioned that they would become caregivers. Life took them on a path that they neither predicted nor planned for. Mesothelioma can have an incubation period of up to fifty years after exposure to asbestos to the first symptoms. During this time many roles have been established in your relationship with your family members, maybe caregiving was a part of it, maybe not.
Over the years of talking to mesothelioma patients and their families regarding the role of the caregiver, it is clear that due to the nature of the disease of mesothelioma the emotional impact of being a caregiver is lasting and can be very isolating. The stress involved can impact the caregiver’s health as well.
A recent study showed that caregivers can shorten their own lives by not taking care of themselves. The long-term stress has a cumulative effect on their health. Of the tips most often listed for caregivers, making sure they take care of themselves is the most important. If the caregiver is not healthy, caring for their loved one will not be easy and can suffer. Caregivers need to keep their own medical appointments, get plenty of sleep and eat well. Also, being informed about mesothelioma and what to expect next can help ease some of the stress of the unknown.
All this sounds good, but how do you possibly do it if you are caring for someone sick with mesothelioma? Accept help, organize the help, and allow people and friends to do specific tasks. Let yourself go out for the afternoon, and get a little distance between yourself and the one you are caring for for a few hours. Appreciate the help you get – you can’t be expected to be by your loved one’s side at all times.
Seeking help can take different forms for different personalities. Some people seek individual counseling, whereas others prefer support groups. Social media is a good place to start to find information about mesothelioma and to hear from others with the disease. Also, talk with your medical team for suggestions of an appropriate support group. Whatever the choice, please reach out to someone or some group to make your journey a little less lonely.
Mesothelioma has already made a huge impact on your life, don’t let it steal your health also.
If you have questions about your mesothelioma treatment or any aspect of your mesothelioma care, please contact us.
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An Act of Kindness Makes a Difference for a Mesothelioma Patient
In my experience, the old adage877-637-6843 rings true. These past couple of years of being involved with fundraising and raising awareness for the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation and the mesothelioma community at large has been extremely rewarding to me.
Whatever the cause, doing something good for someone else makes you feel good. Volunteering at a fundraising event, helping to collect donations, running in a charity race, or attending a dinner to help a family in need are all things that make a difference. It takes a lot of people to make a fundraiser a success and any part that you are able to play is always appreciated. Remember to never underestimate the power of prayer!
My family and me have been helped in many ways by mesothelioma organizations and we are happy to be able to give back. Our hope is that our efforts will help someone else and that they will also want to “pay it forward”, so to speak. One good deed can always lead to more. What a great feeling to know that you can help others while encouraging them to do the same! It is a great illustration of leading by example.
Those impacted in any way by mesothelioma may not be in a good position to help with raising awareness or fundraising at the moment. You should feel great about yourself in acting on their behalf and in honor or memory of those who have suffered from mesothelioma. In the Bible, Matthew 25:40, it says, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Offer up your work to God for the suffering! How rewarded you will be!
On behalf of all those in the mesothelioma community, I want to say thank you to all doctors, researchers, and volunteers, who work so tirelessly to help those around them. We will never be able to personally thank you individually, but be assured of our prayers and eternal gratitude. Keep on believing in a cure!
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Even After Losing Father to Mesothelioma Daughter Still Sees Beauty in Life
With Spring (finally) upon us, it seems like a good time to reflect on things. Seeing new life blooming all around me reminds me that there is beauty even after the darkness and cold of Winter. The same goes for life in general.
My family has been through a lot of ups and downs since my Dad’s mesothelioma diagnosis in January of 2012. We had almost a whole year of him being cancer free and able to do most of what he always had done. I thank God that we got to have that healthy time with him before he had to start treatment again. When Dad passed away in October, 2013, I wondered if I would ever be able to have a happy memory again. It turns out that I can.
Just when I start to get down or feel sad, God has a way of making me feel better. It’s so easy to become caught up in your problems that you forget to see the joy right in front of your eyes. The beauty of life is too much to ignore.
Do I miss my Dad at every second of every day? Absolutely. The key I’ve found is to still include him in my daily life. I talk to him all the time (and I mean, all the time) and fill him in on what’s happening. I ask him to watch over my family and to pray for us.
It’s tough to remember sometimes, but God has a perfect plan for each of us. We may never understand it, but perhaps that’s just what He intended. We are all in good hands, so try to relax and enjoy the world around you. Make every moment count and smile… you might be the beauty that someone sees!
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The Dangers of Asbestos Should Not be Brushed Aside
My Dad passed away at the age of 57 from mesothelioma. This disease is a direct consequence of exposure to asbestos. I know I don’t usually say much about asbestos, but there are some things that need to be stated.
Asbestos is still legal in the United States. To me, this is unacceptable. How can we still be allowing this material to be used when it has sickened or killed so many? It seems to me that the majority of people still take asbestos exposure lightly. Honestly, I wasn’t familiar with the material until my father was diagnosed with mesothelioma, so I was one of those people. The key is to educate the general public about its dangers.
Since Dad’s diagnosis, I have had people tell me that asbestos is nothing to be afraid of. “It’s nothing! I’ve been around it forever and I’m fine. People just overreact about it!” I cannot form a concrete sentence about how much it pains me to hear these things. It has understandably become something inherently personal to me. Knowing what my family and so many others have gone through, it honestly feels like a slap in the face. Protect yourself! Don’t let your family go through what mine has.
Get educated, please. If you think something is asbestos, leave it alone and then ask questions about it. Even though it used to be accepted as a wonderful, safe product, history has proven that to be wildly incorrect. Take care of yourself and your loved ones. Take action and help to eradicate mesothelioma forever.
Jennifer Gelsick has started a blog about advocating for the mesothelioma community. See more about her efforts to help find a cure for mesothelioma .
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My Father’s Passing Leaves Me Asking, “What Would Dad Say?”
When my Dad died, I didn’t just lose my father. He was so much more than that. On October 15, 2013, I lost a best friend, mentor, comedian, story-teller, and guide. When you lose someone you love so much, you lose a part of yourself.
Dad was honestly one of the best friends you could ever have asked for. People were always drawn to him, wanting to be around his infectious personality. He graced so many people with his presence, but I got to have him all the time. There are so many little things about my relationship with Dad that no one will ever know. How when I was little, any time I was sick, he would go to the store and pick up some goofy present for me. Whether it was an oversized coloring book and crayons or a silly book, those gifts became some of my favorite things.
My Dad was (as I’ve said before) so wise and gave me the greatest advice. I often feel lost without him when I’m trying to make a decision. Instead of picking up the phone to call him, I now have to sit back and think hard about what he would suggest and ultimately, what he would do in his own life. He was a walking, talking example of what a genuinely good human being should be.
Dad was funny! Most of the time, he didn’t really mean to be funny, it just kind of stumbled into his lap. He had an amazing sense of humor and was always laughing at himself. Don’t get me wrong, he was a jokester too! He loved to make people smile with his off-kilter way of talking or just doing a funny move.
My father truly was an extraordinary man and a piece of me did die with him that day. I lost one of the brightest lights in my life, but I do realize how blessed that I am to have had him as my Dad. It brings me comfort to know that even though I lost him, Heaven gained an angel.
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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.
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