Turn Gossip into an Opportunity to Advocate for Mesothelioma Patients

• Joseph Belluck
• Faces of Mesothelioma, Uncategorized

People talk. It’s what we do. We discuss the weather, current events, and even each other. That’s where things can start to get out of control. An innocent conversation can spiral into a story that is far from the truth. People feel that they have the right to share details that may have been told in confidence. But that information can be misinterpreted and gossip begins to run rampant.

Since my Dad’s battle with mesothelioma, I have found myself to be fiercely protective of the ins and outs of my life, only sharing details with close family members and friends. Since mesothelioma is such a rare disease, the details of this ailment lends itself to confusion; however, hearing things about yourself and your family that simply aren’t true is a painful experience, and one that should never happen.

Words have the power to build up and to tear down. They can mend relationships or break them apart. We need to be increasingly mindful of the power of words, especially in such sensitive situations as a medical diagnosis.

If you find yourself in a situation where information about you or your loved one has been misconstrued, do your best to see it as an opportunity to educate and advocate. Maybe this is a chance to share your true story that could eventually help someone else. This could be the eye-opener that causes someone to ponder the dangers of asbestos. Use this unfortunate event as a catalyst for change.