Author: Lisa Hyde-Barrett
Listening Skills Are Important for Mesothelioma Patients
“What did you say?” is one of the most common phrases used today. Sometimes it is because you cannot hear someone, and sometimes it is because you are not listening to what is being said. Recently when talking with a mesothelioma patient it was apparent that she was distracted and not focused on our conversation. Clearly, she had other things going on in her head.
Mesothelioma is a life crisis, and proper communication is key to developing a care plan that is right for the patient and family. It is important for patients and their family to develop effective communication skills and to listen closely when working with the medical team. Effective listening is the primary component in effective communication.
Listening is a skill that people can work on in order to improve. It is a skill we actively use every day and we can improve on with practice. We process words at a rate of 400-500 per minute and speak at a rate of 135-175 words a minute, making listening a skill that needs concentration and practice.
[expert_info author=”Carl Rogers”]”Man’s inability to communicate is a result of his failure to listen effectively, skillfully, and with understanding to another person.” [/expert_info]The dictionary defines the verb ‘hear’ as: to perceive by the ear, as to hear sounds, to hear voices. Listen, the verb, is defined as “to give attention with the ear, attend closely for the purpose of hearing, to pay attention, heed.” Basically, listening is the ability to interpret.
Communication involves hearing and active listening. A study that was published in 1993 by Alessandra and Hunsaker states that, on average, most people retain only 25% of what they hear. That means 75% is forgotten, distorted, or simply misunderstood.
So how do we become better listeners? Some tips frequently noted are: remove distractions; focus on what is being said; be unselfconscious, that is having the ability to stop thinking about yourself during the conversation; be empathetic or find common ground with whomever you’re talking with.
When you and your loved one are working with your mesothelioma care team, listening skills are critical to ensure all issues are addressed and care is administered properly. Listening goes both ways. If you do not feel your doctor or team has heard your concerns, make sure to state them again and again until you are comfortable you have the information needed to move on. And be patient if the doctors do the same thing to you – it is just as important that they feel heard as well.
Caregivers Should Be Cautious for Mesothelioma Patients’ Depression
The average age of a mesothelioma patient is 72 when diagnosed. Although depression is not necessarily part of the aging process or with battling cancer, it is not uncommon for mesothelioma patients to struggle with depression. It is also not uncommon for depression to be overlooked or ignored. However, it is vital for caregivers to recognize symptoms of depression and to encourage their loved ones to get help from their doctors.
John is a 74-year-old man who was diagnosed with mesothelioma in January of this year. He underwent chemotherapy pre-op, and with his supportive family with him, he underwent a partial pleurectomy in June. He did well physically with just a few complications. When he returned home he seemed to be doing well, but he was depressed.
His wife of 45 years recognized the symptoms and contacted his care team who quickly started him on an antidepressant. Although it can take up to six weeks for the medication to become effective, John responded well and was quickly feeling better and has started to enjoy life again.
What were the symptoms that John’s wife recognized? What are the symptoms of depression? Who suffers from depression? According to the National Institute of Mental Health, the symptoms of depression are:
- Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” feelings;
- Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism;
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness;
- Irritability, restlessness;
- Loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable, including sex;
- Fatigue and decreased energy;
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions;
- Insomnia, early morning wakefulness, or excessive sleeping;
- Overeating or appetite loss;
- Thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts;
- Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that do not ease, even with treatment.
Depression is likely caused by a combination of personal, environmental, and circumstantial factors. Cancer doesn’t directly cause depression, but one in four patients with cancer are clinically depressed.
The American Cancer Society website has a thorough explanation of cancer and depression. One point that is made is that people who have depression, along with other medical illness, tend to have more severe symptoms of both depression and their medical illness. They have more trouble adapting to their medical condition, and more medical costs than those who do not have co-existing depression.
In John’s situation, he was lucky that his wife was aware of the symptoms of depression and encouraged him to seek treatment. She knew that her husband was suffering. Depression can be treated, it is real. Help is available for both the patient and the caregivers to deal with the impact on the patient and family.
To read more about depression and cancer visit the National Institutes of Health or the American Cancer Society.
Consider reaching out to a mesothelioma support group. They are available through the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation.
If you have questions about your mesothelioma treatment or any aspect of your mesothelioma care, please email me at [email protected].
Mesothelioma Nurse Alerts Patients and Families About Issues From Cachexia
Have you ever noticed that a friend or family member will get diagnosed with mesothelioma or a different kind of cancer, and will be going along fine for a while then suddenly start to lose weight? This is actually a wasting syndrome called cachexia. Cachexia is defined by the American Cancer Society as “a profound state of general poor health and malnutrition – poor food intake – and/or poor food absorption.”
This syndrome affects more than half of all cancer patients and kills nearly 20 percent of them before the cancer can. It is characterized by muscle wasting, weight loss and protein degradation. This syndrome is not limited to cancer; it also affects patients with chronic illness. Doctors do not know what starts the syndrome or how to reverse it, but there is promising research to bring relief to the patients.
What starts cachexia? The research is focusing on molecular causes of this disease. The hope is that this will lead to more advanced treatments. One theory is that cachexia causes white fat cells, that store calories in the body, to turn into fat-burning brown cells that release heat – thus, burning calories. Cachexia is often a sign that the chronic illness that a patient has been battling is terminal.
Regardless of what turns the syndrome on, the effects leave the patient unable to receive additional treatment for their underlying condition. It is difficult for families and friends to see the patient exhausted and unable to enjoy the things that they used to. It affects all aspects of their lives.
As mesothelioma moves into a chronic disease, it is important to keep an eye on your loved one’s weight, and energy level. If they start losing weight, and are more tired than usual, make sure that you let the patient’s medical team know.
There were two studies published this month about cachexia – in the journal Nature and the journal Cell Metabolism. Also, a July 28 article by Yasmeen Abutaleb in the Boston Globe has an excellent explanation of the devastating physical and psychological effects cachexia has on patients and families.
Tips for Planning Ahead When Traveling for Mesothelioma Treatment
Through my journey of caring for mesothelioma patients one characteristic shines through – persistence. It seems like a no brainer that people will do anything to live a little longer, but anything can mean a lot for many patients. Will you travel hundreds of miles to a treatment facility?
It is not easy to be away from home and to be ill. It becomes emotionally and physically exhausting. Mentally you need to be on your game. You will be gathering new information regarding your health, plans for treatment and expectations. When traveling for your treatment, you also have the added burden of planning how far you are willing to travel from home, where will you stay, who will travel with you, and if the treatment involves surgery or sometimes experimental studies, how long will you be gone.
So now you have decided to go the distance and take the plunge, and rearrange your life. Everyone knows there can be complications, but mentally planning for this can be very difficult. Complications can mean pain, more surgery, stopping chemotherapy temporarily and possibly extending your length of stay.
As I write this it does not sound bad, but living it is totally different. I see countless patients and families travel for their treatment, but I am not sure I could. Once you have an end date in mind and you begin planning to go home, changing that date can be devastating. Staying in the hospital longer than planned is never good, but when far away from your friends and family it can be even harder to handle.
Consider these few tips that can help keep your stress down when you travel for your mesothelioma treatment.
- Extend your deadline so you won’t be disappointed if you have to continue treatment longer.
- Get a coach. There are nurse coaches specifically designed to help mesothelioma patients. They can help with anxiety, pain, recovery and maintaining positive outcomes.
- Talk to a fellow mesothelioma patient. Unfortunately these treatments are not easy, but they can help ease your pain, extend your life and allow you to enjoy time with your family. Often time there are patient to patient programs where you can reach out and talk with someone who has already endured this situation and can offer tips.
If you have questions about your mesothelioma treatment or any aspect of your mesothelioma care, please contact us.
Mesothelioma Nurse Suggests Mentally Preparing for Surgery for Quicker Recovery
You or your loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, or maybe it is not yet official and you need to have a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. You are frightened and terrified of the unknown and what you know of the disease. Is there anything that can ease your suffering and put your mind at ease?
Prepare for Surgery, Heal Faster: A Guide of Mind-Body Techniques, by Peggy Huddleston, is a book for everybody who is going to have surgery. It emphasizes the importance of preparing – physically, emotionally and spiritually – before, during and after your procedure. Long before you were diagnosed with mesothelioma, you have had experiences that can affect how you heal from your surgery and how effective the treatments can be.
There have been clinical studies done that document that people who prepare for an operation have less pain, fewer complications and recover sooner. Ms. Huddleston’s book focuses on how people can use their emotions, attitudes and human spirits to enhance the healing process. She has developed a five step plan to help prepare people for surgery and for the healing that needs to take place.
In brief, the five steps are:
- Relax to Feel Peaceful,
- Visualize Your Healing,
- Organize a Support Group,
- Use Healing Statements,
- Meet an Anesthesiologist.
“Using these techniques will help you: feel calmer before surgery, use 23-50% less pain medication, recover faster, save money on medical bills,” says Huddleston. Sometimes claims are made that cannot be substantiated. This book is in its 5th edition, has scientific research to back it up, and is endorsed by leading MD’s in the country. There has long been known the connection between attitude and healing and the importance of positive thinking in the recovery process.
If you have questions about your mesothelioma treatment or any aspect of your mesothelioma care, please email me at [email protected]
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