Don’t Hesitate to Ask Your Medical Team Questions During Mesothelioma Treatments

• Joseph Belluck
• Faces of Mesothelioma

I ask a lot of questions. You can ask my family and friends – I can honestly find something to ask about anything. I’m not sure why that is, it’s just how I’ve always been. This was no different when my Dad was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma. In fact, I probably asked more during this period than I ever had. And you know what, it was ok.

All of Dad’s doctors, nurses, and caregivers over the course of his fight were extremely helpful, willing and able to respond to any concerns we had. No question was too trivial or small. They realized that we were scared and had no real idea of what was going on. They were also compassionate and knew that we were doing our best to comprehend the best ways to help Dad get through this awful time. There was also the medical end where everyone wanted us to understand what was being done and why.

My point here is that you should never be afraid to ask questions of your medical team. It is their job to know, or get, the answers that you are looking for and to explain the whole process of treatment to you and your family from start to finish. It is important that you are comfortable with the care plan being put into place for yourself or your loved one. Asking what a pill is for or why they are doing certain things is ok. It’s your right to know and the team understands that not everyone is a medical professional.

It’s alright to be scared and uncertain. Trust me, I was there, and it’s not an easy time to endure. I did learn that the more I understood, the better things were for me. I was glad to know what was being done to help my father and why it would be beneficial. I felt better when I could at least start to wrap my head around it. Knowing the plan of action was therapeutic for me; Dad was being helped.

Even if you don’t know what to ask at the time, write your inquiries down as you think of them and bring them up the next time you meet with a member of the medical staff. A mesothelioma diagnosis is a lot to take in, but there are wonderful people in the meso community ready and happy to help you with any questions or concerns that you have. I am so thankful for the entire medical team who helped my Dad, and appreciate all of their patience with my endless questioning!