The Relationship between a
Mesothelioma Patient and Caregiver
When
dealing with a mesothelioma diagnosis, many people turn to family and friends
to create a strong support network. It's important for cancer battlers to be
able to rely on people they can trust, people who can help them cope during a difficult
time.
Being
diagnosed with a preventable cancer – caused primarily by exposure to
carcinogenic asbestos fibers – can definitely be devastating.
The
cancer is extremely rare – diagnosed in less than 3,000 Americans each year –
but it is very aggressive as it damages the mesothelium and then spreads across
the body. The symptoms it causes can be disabling. Patients must learn to cope
with chest pain, coughing, difficulty breathing and persistent fatigue.
Because
the symptoms of mesothelioma are more severe as the disease progresses, some patients
find that it is difficult to take care of all of their everyday responsibilities.
In addition to the cancer itself, aggressive mesothelioma treatments –
radiation therapy and chemotherapy – can make it tougher for patients to live
their lives the way they are used to living them.
Energy
levels change. Physical abilities change.
And this
is why people turn to their caregiver – for help even with small things.
The
relationship each mesothelioma patient has with a caretaker can vary greatly
from person to person. It's quite common for people not to want to ask for help.
Some people only feel comfortable asking for help from a close friend or a
family member – a spouse or a brother or sister.
Regardless,
developing a close relationship a caretakers and asking for that caregiver's emotional
support during a cancer journey is the holistic goal. Some mesothelioma
patients may only desire basic physical support – help with chores, travel
assistance to and from the doctor, for instance.
The
relationship a person develops with a caretaker will depend on the personal level
of the people involved. That makes it important for patients to consider
carefully whom they choose to be their caregiver.
What Kind of Care Might a
Mesothelioma Patient Request From Their Caregiver?
The
relationship between a mesothelioma patient and a caretaker may also change
over time. A patient's needs will grow if the cancer progresses. The things
that a mesothelioma caregiver can do to help their loved one will
increase over time.
Early
stage patients whose symptoms are not severe may only need occasional
assistance with errands or strenuous activities like yard work. Caregivers can
volunteer to come to the patient’s house a few hours out of their day to help
with these basic things.
Later
stage patients whose shortness of breath and exhaustion – side effects of both
the cancer and of treatments – make it difficult to move around may ask for
help with cooking, cleaning or getting dressed.
Caregivers
for these patients may be in for a bigger time commitment – large portions of
their day may be spent taking patients to appointments at a leading care center
such as the Vancouver Cancer Center or Toronto Western Hospital, helping the
patient dress or eat, or even helping the patient move about the house.
Although
many cancer patients feel that asking a loved one to provide care means that
they are weak, that is not the case.
Caregivers
can also help patients feel more secure in asking for help by reminding them
that accepting help ultimately gives them more energy to focus on treatment and
rest.
Patients
and caregivers can find additional support during this difficult time by
joining a mesothelioma network such as the Canadian
Mesothelioma Foundation. Here you can connect with other patients and
caregivers to learn more about how to cope with your cancer diagnosis.
Author Bio: Faith Franz is a writer for the Mesothelioma Center. She
combines her interests in whole-body health and medical research to educate the
mesothelioma community about the newest developments in cancer care.
