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Have you or someone you know been diagnosed with mesothelioma?
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Coping Process

Shock -- "I can't believe it"

Shock is often the first reaction to any life changing event. Common signs are:

Many people find expressing feelings of shock to friends and family is difficult. Others may experience a strong urge to talk about it in depth as a way of confirming the facts for themselves.

Fear -- "Am I going to die?"

The first question a person asks when diagnosed is "Am I going to die?".

It is important to understand that mesothelioma patients can live for many years after being diagnosed. There are a number of treatments that can help in maintaining a quality of life, slowing the progression of the cancer, and managing pain.

A common concern involves treatment and if any pain is involved. Like other cancers, years of research has been spent on improving treatments and allowing patients to cope with the stress and pain involved. Although horror stories exist of side effects of chemotherapy and other treatments, many are outdated and do not involve current treatment options. Your doctor is an important source of information about treatment details, so be sure to ask all the questions you may have.

Denial -- "I don't have mesothelioma"

Common ways of coping with a mesothelioma diagnosis include

Denial is an understandable reaction, so make it clear to family members if you don.t wish to speak about the diagnosis. However, many times you may feel the exact opposite, and your family and friends may react by:

These reactions can be due to strong feelings of fear or embarrassment, or because of limited understanding about mesothelioma. It is common to believe that "if I don't talk about it, it isn't happening." However, you may want support and compassion, which conflicts with these feelings. Be sure to express how you feel, and that speaking with them about your illness will help you.

Anger

It is common to direct anger at:

Don't feel guilty about anger or bad moods. However, make sure to express your feelings to your family and friends to help them understand your reaction. It can help to:

Feel free to discuss these feelings with a counselor.

Thank you for visiting this website which is created for the benefit of the general public. This website and its content are produced and sponsored by the law firm of James F. Early, LLC (James F. Early, Esq.). This website is devoted to the needs of people diagnosed with mesothelioma; nonetheless it may be considered attorney advertising. The content contained herein was not prepared by medical professionals and it is not intended, nor should it be considered, as a substitute for medical advice. The information provided on this website is intended as educational material, designed solely to support, and not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her healthcare professional. Additionally, neither visiting this website nor viewing its content is intended, and shall not be considered, to create an attorney-client relationship. An attorney-client relationship can only be created by mutual agreement and consent of the prospective client and the attorney. Neither the transmission nor receipt of this website material will create an attorney-client relationship between sender and receiver. The material contained herein is general in nature and may not apply to your particular factual or legal circumstances. Online readers should not act on this information without seeking professional counsel and advice. Please read our disclaimer for more information.