Meeting the Needs of Mesothelioma Patients and Caregivers
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Meeting the Needs of Mesothelioma Patients and Caregivers

ByHolly Zink

A study published earlier this year found that mesothelioma patients and their caregivers have many unmet support needs. Mesothelioma is a cancer that forms in the lining of organs like the lungs. It is caused by exposure to asbestos. Most patients with mesothelioma are elderly and male. Treatment for mesothelioma is difficult and the five-year survival rate is poor. A mesothelioma diagnosis can be devastating for a family. Patients and their caregivers can experience hopelessness, blame, and psychological distress. They also face uncertainty around financial issues and medical concerns. The painful symptoms of mesothelioma are a huge source of stress, as well. There is not much information currently available about the psychosocial support needs of people living with mesothelioma and…

Virtual Support Group Can Help Mesothelioma Patients Weather Pandemic
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Virtual Support Group Can Help Mesothelioma Patients Weather Pandemic

ByAlex Strauss

A virtual support group may help mesothelioma patients and families cope with the stress of fighting cancer during the pandemic.  Virtual groups give patients and their families a place to find emotional support and information when it may not be safe to meet in person.  Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston is just one of the many hospitals turning to online meetings for mesothelioma patients. The International Mesothelioma Program began holding monthly meetings via Zoom in September. Multiple studies show support groups can help patients and families enjoy a better quality of life with mesothelioma during and after cancer treatment. Many hope that a virtual support group can help mesothelioma patients connect, even if they cannot get together in person. …

Mesothelioma Patients Lack Psychosocial Support
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Mesothelioma Patients Lack Psychosocial Support

ByAlex Strauss

Most newly diagnosed mesothelioma patients need more psychosocial support than they are getting, according to a British sociologist. Sara Arber is a professor in the University of Surrey’s School of Health and Social Care in Surrey, England.  To conduct a study on the psychological and social impact of a mesothelioma diagnosis, Arber and colleague L. Spencer conducted face-to-face interviews with 10 mesothelioma patients within three months of their diagnoses. After analyzing the data, the two concluded that many newly diagnosed mesothelioma patients feel uncertainty and a lack of control surrounding their illness, leading to what they call “emotional, physical and psychosocial” distress.  They report that mesothelioma patients they talked to tended to feel like they were hearing “all bad news” from their…