Getting Emotional Support After a Mesothelioma Diagnosis
Being diagnosed with mesothelioma can come as a shock. Priorities, financial situations, and daily schedules can change overnight. Many patients also face emotional and mental health challenges.
In one study of how mesothelioma affects mental health, more than 50% of patients had feelings of anxiety. If you’re sad, scared, or overwhelmed by your diagnosis, you are not alone.
While a strong emotional response to a diagnosis is very normal, it can negatively impact your life.
Patients who receive emotional support for mesothelioma immediately following a diagnosis may be better equipped to undergo treatment and live more fully with the people and experiences they care most about.
How Emotional Support for Mesothelioma Can Help
The time right after receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis is when most patients feel highly uncertain, distressed, and out of control.
Some of the statistics around mesothelioma may seem bleak, and it’s common to feel overwhelmed when thinking about the future. However, receiving emotional support can help patients overcome or work through many of their stressors.
“I have survived mesothelioma for over 17 years now. Since mesothelioma has no cure, I fear I will have to deal with it again someday. It does not necessarily keep me from living my life, but the thoughts are still floating through my mind.
This is why I believe that working with a therapist and finding support resources is so helpful.“
Working with a therapist or peer mentor can help you:
- Address feelings of depression
- Cope with fear and feelings of isolation
- Deal with grief or loss
- Feel more in control of your life
- Learn effective stress management techniques
- Manage anxiety or anger
- Overcome any guilt you might be experiencing
Emotional support for mesothelioma isn’t just for patients. Receiving emotional support can also help family members, friends, and caregivers deal with the emotions, isolation, and stresses of living with and caring for someone who is sick.
Our team can walk with you through every step of your mesothelioma journey. Chat with our caring Patient Advocates today to get personalized support.
Our trusted advocates with 65+ years combined experience are ready to assist you.
Types of Emotional Support for Mesothelioma Available
There are several different types of emotional support available for patients and their families. Learn more about these resources below.
“Seeing folks be in the moments I was in a decade ago helps keep my situation in perspective. They are feeling that same fear I once felt.
I hope our mesothelioma community helps these individuals find their way the same way that happened for me early on. We aren’t a large community, but we are pretty mighty.”
Mental Health Counseling
Speaking with a counselor one-on-one, with your family, or in a group setting allows you to learn different coping methods and discuss your concerns related to mesothelioma itself or the emotional and financial stress it can cause.
Counseling sessions can be led by a variety of different experts, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, and licensed clinical social workers.
Consider these factors when choosing a mental health counselor:
- Their experience working with cancer patients
- How comfortable they make you feel when talking to them
- Whether they accept your health insurance
- Their approach to therapy and whether it aligns with your preferences
Finding the right counselor can make a big difference in managing the emotional challenges of mesothelioma, helping you feel supported and empowered throughout your cancer journey.
Mesothelioma Support Groups
Another form of emotional support can be found by attending mesothelioma support groups. Support groups are a safe place to share your feelings with others who can relate to your experiences.
Different types of support groups include:
- In-person support groups. Local support groups allow you to meet face-to-face with others who know what you’re going through.
- Online support groups. Meeting with a virtual support group can provide flexibility for patients who live in more remote areas, aren’t comfortable meeting with others in person, or need a break from in-person activities while recovering from certain treatments.
- Peer mentor programs. This type of support is growing in popularity. Rather than meeting in a group setting, peer mentorship allows you to connect one-on-one with someone whose life has been affected by cancer.
You can find these groups through your hospital or cancer center, or by connecting with one of our Patient Advocates.
Mesothelioma support groups allow you to connect with other patients, as well as their caregivers, family, and skilled medical experts. All of these people can offer advice to you and help make your cancer journey easier. View Transcript.
Duration: 1 min 13 sec
A mesothelioma diagnosis can leave you feeling overwhelmed and looking for help. Mesothelioma support groups offer a lifeline of understanding guidance and connection for both patients and caregivers. One of the key benefits of joining a support group is the opportunity to share experiences and gain valuable insights from others who are on a similar journey. Through open conversations you can learn about different treatment options, discover coping strategies and gain a fresh perspective on managing the challenges of mesothelioma. And the best part, there are a variety of support groups that meet online and in person ensuring accessibility and flexibility for everyone. Mesothelioma support groups aren’t just for patients, family members and caregivers can also find communities tailored to their unique situation whether you participate online or attend local meetings. You’ll find valuable emotional support and guidance to help you cope during this difficult time. At Mesothelioma Hope, we’re dedicated to supporting patients and their families throughout their cancer journey. Contact us today for personalized guidance on support groups and other free resources.
Spiritual or Faith-Based Support
Like the other types of support, religious or faith-based support comes in many forms.
It could be as simple as members of your faith community bringing prepared meals and staying to pray and talk with you about how you are coping. You could also participate in a group session with a religious focus.
Cancers like mesothelioma can draw out all sorts of questions about faith and fairness. Speaking with your pastor, rabbi, imam, or another spiritual counselor can help you find the balance between the spiritual and physical, and wrestle with any questions of faith that come up.
Grief Counseling
Grief can take many forms after a cancer diagnosis. Patients may grieve the loss of their old way of life, including loss of income and changes in physical abilities, relationships, and independence.
Family members may also pursue grief counseling to adjust to changes in or the loss of their loved one. If someone you care about passes away from mesothelioma, it’s normal to go through the stages of grief — denial, anger, bargaining, and depression — before reaching the acceptance stage.
Working with a licensed grief counselor can help you process these emotions in a healthy way so you can rebuild your life and honor your loved one.
Self-Care
A mesothelioma diagnosis can make you feel like much of your life is out of your control. But one thing you can do is focus on taking care of yourself.
Self-care is a powerful way to put yourself back in the driver’s seat, and it looks different for everyone.
Self-care options for mesothelioma patients include:
- Doing gentle movement and exercise
- Ensuring you get enough sleep
- Practicing prayer or meditation
- Prioritizing hobbies and activities that make you feel fulfilled
- Saying “no” when you don’t have the energy
- Spending time with loved ones
- Starting a journal to capture your thoughts and feelings
You are allowed to take care of yourself when you or a loved one is facing a mesothelioma diagnosis. The more you focus on your physical and emotional well-being, the better equipped you will be to fight the disease and manage the side effects of treatment.
Learn how other patients and families have found support in our Free Mesothelioma Survivors Guide.
Get Your Free Survivors Guide
Inspirational stories of patients and their families
Diagnosis: Pleural mesothelioma
Still Thriving: 6+ year survivor
Diagnosis: Peritoneal mesothelioma
Still Thriving: 18+ year survivor
Diagnosis: Stage 4 pleural mesothelioma
Still Thriving: 5+ year survivor
Diagnosis: Peritoneal mesothelioma
Beating the Odds: 15-year survivor
Diagnosis: Peritoneal mesothelioma
Still Thriving: 17+ year survivor
Diagnosis: Peritoneal mesothelioma
Still Thriving: 15+ year survivor
Learn What Helped These Survivors
Get Emotional Support for Mesothelioma Now
You developed mesothelioma through no fault of your own — and it’s normal to go through a range of emotions after a diagnosis. But you are not alone in dealing with them.
Our team can assist you by:
- Connecting you with support groups
- Offering a listening ear if you need to talk
- Providing logistical help and other support
- Helping you or a loved one find top cancer doctors
Call us at (866) 608-8933 or fill out our contact form to get in touch today.
Mesothelioma Emotional Support FAQs
What are some tips for how to cope with mesothelioma?
People diagnosed with mesothelioma may experience a range of emotions, including fear, anxiety, sadness, guilt, anger, and hopelessness.
It’s common to feel overwhelmed by the sudden changes in your life after a cancer diagnosis. But help is available.
Support groups, peer mentor programs, mental health counselors, spiritual advisors, and family and friends can all help you get through this difficult time.
Will I ever feel normal again after mesothelioma?
Everyone’s experience with mesothelioma is different, but many patients have gone on to live fulfilling lives after a diagnosis. Some even become mesothelioma survivors, living for 15 years or more in certain cases.
Getting back to your pre-cancer self may require medical treatments and palliative care to help with pain, symptom management, and self-care.
It’s also critical to prioritize your relationships and let your loved ones support you.
How can I support my loved one with mesothelioma?
Going through a mesothelioma diagnosis and treatment can be taxing for your loved one. You can support them both practically and emotionally.
Practical needs may include:
- Caring for children or pets
- Driving them to medical appointments
- Buying groceries or preparing meals
- Managing their medications
- Helping them navigate their insurance and finances
Emotional support may include:
- Being an active listener
- Validating their feelings
- Helping them find a therapist or support group
- Letting them know how much you care
How We Can Help
