Stories from Wives and Caregivers of People with Mesothelioma
A new Australian study looked at people who took care of mesothelioma patients. The study found that caretakers needed different types of support. Mesothelioma is a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Patients with mesothelioma, and their caregivers, are known to have some of the highest unmet needs of all cancer populations. Researchers talked to fourteen caregivers recruited from the Asbestos Diseases Foundation of Australia (ADFA). Of those interviewed, 13 were wives, and one was a daughter. Seven were retired at the time of the patients’ mesothelioma diagnosis, and 4 stopped work to provide care. Researchers used the feedback to assess best practices for follow-up care for mesothelioma. They now plan to share these best practices with clinicians across the…