Supporting a loved one who is diagnosed with mesothelioma can be quite draining emotionally. However, your support is important in their journey. Understanding their needs, offering comfort, and providing practical assistance can make a difference. Below, we will explore several ways you can support a loved one diagnosed with mesothelioma. Let’s begin.
Learn about mesothelioma
This should be the first thing you should do. Take time to get as much information as you can about mesothelioma. This can help you make informed decisions about them and show proper care.
Provide a support team
Creating a support team is one of the best things you can do for a loved one after being diagnosed with mesothelioma. A single person cannot perform all the actions required to care for a person with cancer properly. You will need a team of individuals to bring together the proper care that is required for a person with mesothelioma.
Consider reaching out to extended family members, community members, friends, and neighbors for support. You can also use the support group resources from Mesothelioma Hope for coordination. Family members are often the major and primary caregivers who can provide direct support.
Transportation
Being diagnosed with mesothelioma means regular doctor visit appointments, medical tests, invasive procedures, radiation, and chemotherapy. These appointments will require transportation since they cannot drive themselves home.
You can offer to take your family or friends wherever they need to go. You can share the duty with another family or friend who will pick them up or stay, drop them and return them after their appointment.
Acts of kindness
You can provide support to a loved one with mesothelioma in many ways. However, the first thing you should do is be kind and show this through your gestures and actions that will help them out. Life is usually stressful when undergoing treatment for mesothelioma. Offer a helping hand whenever and however you can. You can consider doing the following:
- Help pick up their kids from school or practice
- Offer home-cooked meals
- Help shopping for medications or groceries
- Helping them get out of their home or going for walks
- Getting their packages or mail
- Helping them put together a video chat with their favorite people
People living with mesothelioma usually have a close caregiver. It might be a close friend, parent, child, or spouse. Make sure you connect with their caregiver to know if there are ways you can offer support.
Provide emotional support
A person diagnosed with cancer can be affected emotionally. Even the most resilient and tough people can be horrified after being diagnosed with cancer. For some, the sadness might be overwhelming. It will be unrealistic to learn how to cope with these emotions. It will take time to learn to deal with these heavy emotions, and dealing with it alone is often a nightmare.
People with mesothelioma need support from others to cope with their emotions. This is where you can come in. Consider seeking help from a mental health professional for tips on how you can help them. Mental health professionals often suggest joining a cancer support group. It can give the patient a chance to connect with others going through similar situations. This can help normalize the experience and ensure they don’t feel alone.
Endnote
To support a loved one with mesothelioma, you will need to properly understand the disease, effectively communicate, provide assistance, and take care of them. This journey requires resilience, patience, and compassion.
However, you must remember that you are not alone. Enlist the help of friends, family members, and community groups.
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