Mesothelioma: Physical & Mental Effects of Asbestos Cancer
Emotional Health and Coping with Mesothelioma
During and after treatment, you may find yourself overcome with many different emotions. This happens to a lot of people.You may find yourself thinking about death and dying. Or maybe you’re more aware of the effect the cancer has on your family, friends, and career.
You may take a new look at your relationships with those around you. Unexpected issues may also cause concern. For instance, you might be stressed by financial concerns resulting from your treatment. You might also see your health care team less often after treatment and have more time on your hands. These changes can make some people anxious.
Almost everyone who is going through or has been through cancer can benefit from getting some type of support. You need people you can turn to for strength and comfort. Support can come in many forms: family, friends, cancer support groups, religious or spiritual groups, online support communities, or one-on-one counselors. What’s best for you depends on your situation and personality. Some people feel safe in peer-support groups or education groups. Others would rather talk in an informal setting, such as church. Others may feel more at ease talking one-on-one with a trusted friend or counselor. Whatever your source of strength or comfort, make sure you have a place to go with your concerns.
The cancer journey can feel very lonely. It’s not necessary or good for you to try to deal with everything on your own. And your friends and family may feel shut out if you don’t include them. Let them in, and let in anyone else who you feel may help.
Can I lower my risk of the cancer progressing or coming back?
Most people want to know if there they can make certain lifestyle changes to reduce their risk of cancer growing or coming back. Unfortunately, for most cancers there isn’t much solid evidence to guide people. This doesn’t mean that nothing will help it’s just that for the most part this is an area that hasn’t been well studied. Most studies have looked at lifestyle changes as ways of preventing cancer in the first place, not slowing it down or preventing it from coming back.
How To Beat Mesothelioma
At this time, not enough is known about mesothelioma to say for sure if there are things you can do that will be helpful. Adopting healthy behaviors such as not smoking, eating well, and staying at a healthy weight might help, but no one knows for sure. However, we do know that these types of changes can have positive effects on your health that can extend beyond your risk of cancer.