Understanding The Process
When someone receives a diagnosis of mesothelioma a roller-coaster of emotions will be epxperienced by the patient - as well as for those who love and care for him/her
Where treatments are unsuccesful and the patient does pass away the loved ones will still contnue with their grief
Everyone who is affected by a diagnosis of mesothelioma should recognise that they will all be affected by the emotional side-effects of that discovery and he grief that might follow
How these changes are manifested can differ from person to person and can be influenced by age and culture
Grief, frustration and shock cannot be avoided but an understanding of what is happening and might happen can make a person better prepared to deal with those emotions - mentally, physically, socially and emotionally
You might experience eating disorders, irregular sleep patterns and find the most mundane tasks exhausting or unmanageable.
Even if you are not the person with mesothelioma you may experience doubts about your own life.
Because of the emotionally charged atmosphere people are going through there may be a tendency for tempers to less controlled - even for what would be otherwise be considered trivial matters. You may also feel disappointed, 'let down', disoriented or out of control.
As time passes the person with mesothelioma and the people around them will start to develop their own unique ways of coping. This may involve having to accept that this disease will not be cured. For those left behind this will mean coming to terms with loss of a loved one - this will involve the pain of anticipation (
anticipatory grief) and then the pain that follows death of someone we love.
If treatments are not working the focus will be on dying with dignity. Making the person with mesothelioma as comfortable as possible (whether at home or in hospital) can be very demanding. Hospices can provide support via medical care, nursing care and homemaker services as well as counseling services and spiritual care to help those left behind.
The single most important factor in dealing with grief is that you are not alone. As well as the support of family and friends there are professional services via the medical team and charitable/support/religious groups. Other sources of help include
books and
websites.
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