Tips On How To Tell People About Mesothelioma

    BALTIMORE, MD, August 22, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Telling people that you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma can be difficult for many reasons. Your own shock and disbelief may make it difficult to discuss with others. These initial feelings give way to confusion, anger, fear, disappointment, grief and a host of other emotions that can further discourage you from talking about it. But, that's exactly the reason you do want to tell others about mesothelioma. The longer you wait, the harder it will be. Be honest, especially with close family members. They will learn of your disease sooner than later, and you will need their help from the start.

Other family and friends can offer much needed support for mesothelioma victims and family members. Ask them to get involved. They can take turns going to the doctor or treatments with you, join and attend support groups where all of you can find answers to questions, learn about hope-giving opportunities, share experiences and find solutions to everyday problems unique to your disease. This gives all of you opportunities to learn more about what is happening to you and to be involved more realistically. When it comes to asking for help either for you or your caretakers, everyone will have a better idea what is helpful and why.

Denial

It's hard to come to terms with your diagnosis. You may find that you experience a stage of denial, yourself as you process the information that you learn and emotions that you feel. But it's even harder when you're confronted with denial from friends and relatives. Those who respond with statements indicating that it's probably not serious, or that the doctors are probably wrong, may mean well, but are of no help to you. Let them know immediately that it isn't a mistake, nor is it going to go away, and ask them to try to be realistic as you might need their help. Ask them to do a little research on their own as this might help them come to terms with it, and give them a chance to accept it.

Your Support Team

Eventually your primary caretaker will work with you and your medical team to develop a plan to take care of all of your needs. Knowing which of your family and friends have stood by you and been reliable sources of help will make it easier to include them in your care plan. It's important to know whom you can and can't count on so that your care plan doesn't depend upon anyone who won't follow through. Don't forget to include your legal counsel in your support team.

Spiritual and Psychological Support

Consider speaking with spiritual and psychological counselors, ministers, priests, and others who are trained in giving guidance to people with serious illnesses. This is another area where you will want your family and friends involved, as they, too, may find this assistance helpful. Each of you may want both group and private counseling.

Young Children

Telling children is a bit more difficult. What and how much you tell them depends on their age and maturity. One recommended guideline is to base what you tell them on their "need to know," and this, in turn can be based upon your level of wellness, amount of time spent in treatment and activities that are more visible. You can explain what is happening as things take place. Make sure they understand that they are not at fault in any way. Children have a way of keeping these thoughts to themselves, so you may not know whether this is bothering them unless you ask and talk about it.

Teenagers

Older children and teenagers have other emotional issues to deal with, and this one may be more than they can cope with alone. It's important that they have reliable and responsible people to talk with so that they get the emotional support they need and are not burdened further with misinformation. Teenagers love drama, and peers might be eager to tell about worst-case stories they've heard, regardless of the truth, or of the pain they may be causing.

If you or a loved one has received a diagnosis of mesothelioma you will certainly be looking for more information. One source of information you don't want to put off is legal advice, as you may be entitled to compensation. But you must act quickly to retain your right to file a claim.

To learn more, please visit the website of lawyers experienced in mesothelioma and asbestos-related cases in Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, D.C., Parker, Dumler & Kiely, LLP.

Source: Parker, Dumler & Kiely, LLP
Website: http://www.baltimoremesotheliomalawyer.com

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