Advocacy for the Mesothelioma Community May Evolve Over Time

• Joseph Belluck
• Faces of Mesothelioma, Uncategorized

Unfortunately, there are countless members of the mesothelioma community, and our numbers are growing by the day. Each one of us advocates for those affected by this disease in our own way. Some take a more “in your face” approach, some quietly talk to their family and friends, and still others are somewhere in between. No matter where you find yourself, your efforts are appreciated.

For my family, a lot of the level of involvement that we had at any particular time, depended on where Dad was in his treatment process and his overall health. As much as we wanted to be “all in” all of the time, it just wasn’t possible. Our number one priority had to be taking care of my father, while praying for those who were able to be more active at that point.

Emotions can play a big role in someone’s level of involvement and willingness to share their story. For example, when we were grieving my Dad’s loss, I sort of stayed on the outskirts of things for a bit. The feelings of sadness and pain were too raw and I needed some time to sort through everything before I felt ready to dive back in. For others, these feelings may be a catalyst to act and act now. Everyone is different and will respond in the way they feel best for them.

It’s ok to choose your own way to advocate. Even our silent members are an important part of this community. We all have a shared bond that we wish we didn’t, but we have helped each other through the awful highs and lows that are part and parcel with this cancer. We all have our own story to share in whichever way we choose.