Caring for Mesothelioma Patients It is very appalling and terrifying to learn that your loved one is suffering from mesothelioma. You may not know what to do, how to console your loved one and fight with circumstances to make everything go back to normal. Being a malignant and fatal cancer, it takes a lot of strength and will to fight and overcome this cancer and live a healthy life. Once mesothelioma develops, it takes a long time and grueling effort both from the patients and their loved ones to maintain their sanity and live a normal life. When stricken with mesothelioma, the patient may become dejected and lose hope. Even simple activities like eating and talking become a tough chore. In such conditions, it is YOU - the family members and loved ones who need to come forward and help them in this difficult time. Caring for Mesothelioma patients can be emotionally and physically draining for you too. However, instead of crying and thinking about the worst that could happen, you need to focus on what you can do to make this period easier for the patients. What your loved ones need from you is understanding, love and patience to help them fight this cancer! Here are some tips on caring for mesothelioma patients: Put a brave face for the patient If you have made up your mind to care for your loved one suffering from mesothelioma, you need to present a brave and courageous face. Even though you are very frightened of what will happen next, you have to ensure the patient that all will be well. You have to build up their confidence and boost their morale. This will give them will to fight this deadly cancer. Get knowledge about the disease You can only take care of the mesothelioma patient if you know well about the disease. Learn about mesothelioma, how it is caused and can be treated. Also learn how you can take care of the patient in the best possible way. There is lots of information available in books and internet websites which provide you ample knowledge about taking care of a mesothelioma patient. Whether it is peritoneal mesothelioma, pericardial or pleural mesothelioma, patients need the best of treatment and care to restore them back to life. You can consult a mesothelioma doctor too for additional knowledge. Armed with proper awareness, you can deal with everything that comes your way. Handle the patient with love and patience Mesothelioma patients become tired very soon and they feel drained off all energy and life. In this time, you can encourage them to go on with their lives and keep them happy. This may not be an easy task as knowing that they might die is a very disturbing thought. They may also face anxiety and depression. You can always talk to them, listen to what they say and share your own feelings with them. During this time, the patients need extra love, care and patience. Ensure regular intake of medicines While treatment for mesothelioma is underway, ensure that the patient takes all of his/her medicine on time and as per schedule. Regular intake of medicines makes a wealth of improvement in the patient’s condition. Sometimes, patients may not take the medicine for the fear of addiction such as morphine and other painkillers. However, your role as a caretaker is to ensure that taking medicines regularly is a vital part of treatment and way to relieve pain. Even when the patient seems well enough to pass the medicine, do not take a chance and continue to take it for as long as the doctor has prescribed. Maintain a progress report of the patient You can talk to the doctor and keep a progress report where you can jot down the patient’s daily condition. This will tell you if the treatment being given is working or not. This way you can tell the doctor about the patient’s progress and improvement. You will see that even though in a minor way, you will see your loved one improving and returning back to normal life. Caring for mesothelioma patients is not an easy chore. However, with your will and love to care for them and support them, you will be able to give them a new lease of life. With medicines and proper care, the patients can almost lead a normal life and avoid pain.