Mesothelioma Advocacy Requires Patience and Persistence

• Joseph Belluck
• Faces of Mesothelioma, Uncategorized

When people around you who are aware of what mesothelioma is and what causes it, but still don’t take it seriously, it can be absolutely heartbreaking. People live busy lives nowadays, but it’s still important to be sensitive to the issues and dangers of asbestos. Ignorance has gotten us nowhere, and it’s important to stand up for yourself and your loved ones.

It’s amazing how close to home that comment hits me now, about 11 months since my Dad passed away. Every comment takes me back to the day we got the call that he had stopped breathing, and makes the grief that I always feel totally fresh. I have said it before, but unless you go through it, you can never really understand the way that mesothelioma tears people apart.

When someone hurts you with their words, it is important to try to keep your composure and let them know that you are upset. Tell them what you’ve gone through and help them understand that mesothelioma and asbestos are not an easy topic for you, nor should they be for anyone.

Education is the only way that people will comprehend what you’ve experienced, and it is a wonderful way to advocate for the entire mesothelioma community. Try to turn your negative experience into a positive and enlighten someone about asbestos related diseases. This could be your opportunity to truly make a difference in someone’s life.