Mental Health and Mesothelioma
A diagnosis of mesothelioma can be frightening and demanding. Learning you have cancer can overwhelm even your best coping skills.
Mental health may not be at the top of your concerns after a mesothelioma diagnosis, but it’s important to take care of your mind and body.
Understanding the level and type of psychological distress common among mesothelioma patients is a good place to start.
Tips for Living With Mesothelioma
A diagnosis of mesothelioma or any type of cancer can be overwhelming. Many people experience denial about their condition. Moving forward can be challenging.
Mesothelioma survivors and mental health experts share the following tips with The Mesothelioma Center for patients now living with mesothelioma:
Acceptance: Once a second opinion confirms your diagnosis, it’s time to get to work.
Focus: Whatever your treatment plan may include, prepare mentally for the fight of your life.
Enjoyment: Treatments may limit your appetite. Between chemotherapy, for example, enjoy favorite foods and treat yourself when you can.
Support: Find a group of fellow mesothelioma patients who understand the experiences you’re having, can offer support and share insights.
Communication: Most people mean well, but don’t always know what to say. Be honest about your comfort level with topics and tones of conversation.
Staying busy can help, but remember to be kind to yourself and let yourself rest when needed. Survivor Kasie Coleman shared, “Enjoy your life. You’ll view life and live life completely differently now because you truly understand how precious life really is, better than anyone. Accept your diagnosis, get focused, fight and win.”
What Do We Know About Mental Health and Mesothelioma?
There are many studies of cancer and mental health, though only a small portion of these investigations focus on mesothelioma. In March 2018, the American Journal of Industrial Medicine published a review of the best research on this topic.
One common theme emerged from the papers: Mesothelioma patients experience significant psychological distress. The study authors documented stress reactions among people who had received a mesothelioma diagnosis.
Patients and families expressed shock, dismay, anxiety, depression, apathy, difficulty concentrating, anger and social dysfunction. If you’ve been through this, it may help to know you’re not alone in feeling this way.
Check out this website for more resources: Mesothelioma and mental health
