Mesothelioma Patients are Not Alone on their Journey

• Joseph Belluck
• Faces of Mesothelioma

Throughout my father’s journey with mesothelioma, and even now, I have been blessed with wonderful family members and friends to support me. They have been there through every triumph and struggle, all the ups and downs of this part of my life, but sometimes, I still find myself feeling alone.

When you are faced with a life altering event like a mesothelioma diagnosis, it’s easy to find yourself feeling like no one understands. My entire family was doing their best to cope with the news, but each one of us had to process it, and ultimately go through it, on our own. It’s important to remember that no two people are just alike. If you gave 100 people the same exact situation, you would have 100 different reactions. It is this way with every turning point in your life.

Something else to remember is that it’s ok if you don’t want to share every detail of your experience with this disease with the world. There are some things that you want to keep private. Even I, writing about my family’s story all these years, don’t divulge every nuance of our lives. People will ask questions, and it’s ok to say that you aren’t comfortable discussing it. The topic of mesothelioma may be all that you’re asked about. Sure, there are some people out there who are just being nosey, but the vast majority are truly concerned and want to help.

Keep in mind that even though you may feel like you are on this road by yourself, you are not. Your friends and family are right there with you, undertaking this journey in their own way. Even though it may not be easy, try to keep an open line of communication so that when someone does decide they want to talk, they know that somebody will be there to listen.

Please remember that you have countless people praying for you. Total strangers know how they felt at different points in a mesothelioma story, and only want the best for you and your loved ones. Keep the faith and remember that you are not alone.