Mesothelioma is an aggressive form of cancer. It can be nerve-wracking to finding out that someone you care about has mesothelioma. Not only do you want the patient to be comfortable, but you also want to make sure you’re properly caring for them. Mesothelioma can impact different body parts, but the lungs are the first site of impact.
If lungs are damaged, that means the person will have trouble breathing. So, it would help if you had all the necessary equipment at home for good care. However, apart from attending to the patient’s physical needs, you also need to pay attention to their emotional health. Living with cancer is not easy. The patient may feel both vulnerable and even depressed. The way you care for someone with cancer may positively impact them. Here are some guidelines for you to follow as you go through a delicate time:
- Connect Them to Resources
The best way you can help someone is by connecting them to resources. Diseases can get scary. What’s even frightening is not knowing enough about them. Resources include books, videos, and even support groups. It would help if you had venues with accurate information to help the patient understand what they’re going through. You can select a top website for mesothelioma details and ask them to visit this website to know their disease better. The more the patient gets to read, learn and understand, the better they will handle the disease. While their fears may not completely evaporate, they may feel more stable. Knowing what you’re up against can help ease some burden.
- Create a Support System
You need to help find relevant support for anyone going through mesothelioma. The best support comes from friends and family. No one can walk through such an arduous journey alone, so if you’re able to create a proper support system, that would be optimal. You can start by educating friends and family about what the loved one is going through. Teach them what appropriate questions to ask are and what is downright disrespectful. You can encourage them to share memories and have fun conversations with the patient. The idea is not to let anyone with a severe illness feel alone. They may already feel their absolute worst. Not having enough people around them may make them feel even worse.
- Find Out About Pulmonary Care
People with mesothelioma need to worry about their lungs. As cancer progresses, their lung condition will deteriorate. There may be symptoms such as breathlessness, coughing, and even severe chest pain. Therefore, you must find ways to help them relieve these symptoms. There are professionals and medicines in place to keep a patient comfortable. You can also use particular medicine to help regulate breathing. After consulting the patient’s doctor, arrange for painkillers for them. Patients can also visit pulmonary therapists to pick up on breathing exercises. These exercises can help them take care of their breathing and elevate chest pain.
- Encourage Them to Get Assistance
If the person with mesothelioma lives alone, encourage them to hire help. Cancer treatments take a toll on the patient. They may feel tired, lose their appetite and even be unable to look after themselves. Having someone at home can be of great assistance. The patient gets a chance to rest more with hired help looking after their lodgings and food.
In contrast, patients with a terminal illness may show resistance. It would be best if you made them understand how help is what they need. You can also stop by from time to time. You can visit them every weekend so that they don’t feel like you’ve forgotten about them.
- Consider All Treatment Routes
While the standard of all treatment options is chemo and radiation, there are other options too. Don’t hesitate to ask questions about cancer. You can even carry out your research to figure out what you’re up against. Doctors are always open to questions. If you carry out a dialogue, they will respond. Don’t make the patient feel caged. They need to know what possible treatment looks like. What if they prefer getting surgery over going through radiation. It would be best if you also found out what aftercare looks like. How you should modify the patient’s house to make sure they’re cared for.
- Have a Conversation
Treatment can also be emotionally taxing. Patients may feel drained entirely and used after going through cancer treatment. Take the time out to sit and talk to them. Find out if they need something from you. Maybe they want you to run errands for them, or they want you to stop by the store and pick something. No matter what they want, talk to them. You can also share your fears about cancer and your perspectives on it. If you feel the patient is suffering heavily, consider getting them into counseling. A mental health practitioner can take care of a patient much better. They know the language and the techniques to make a patient feel comfortable. If they don’t feel up to it, lend an ear now and then.
Wrap Up
Mesothelioma is a dangerous form of cancer, mainly in the lungs. Anyone going through mesothelioma may find it challenging to cope with the disease. The first thing you need to do is help the patient cope with the disorder. There are many ways you can help them manage. Consider connecting the patient to the right resources as well as researching their cancer for them. Don’t forget to lend them immense support through such a difficult time in their lives. Finally, encourage them to talk about their feelings and, if possible, connect them to hired help.