Mesothelioma Support and Resources

Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive type of cancer. It averages 3,000 new diagnoses each year in the United States. Support is available to patients and their caregivers during this trying time. In-person and online support groups and one-on-one mentorship are just a few options available.

Medically Reviewed By:
Patricia Shelton, M.D.

Medically Reviewed By:Patricia Shelton, M.D.

Navigate This Page

Coping with a Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Support Groups

One-on-One Support

Online Resources to Update Others

Unite to Support Awareness

Educational Resources

Contact Our Firm

Mesothelioma patients and their caregivers should not have to face these challenges alone. An abundance of support is available for mesothelioma patients, caregivers, families and friends.

Coping with a Mesothelioma Diagnosis

A mesothelioma diagnosis raises a combination of questions and fears. Patients face painful treatment side effects with a potentially short life expectancy. Caregivers may become overwhelmed as they attempt to remain strong for the patient’s sake while processing their own emotions about the diagnosis and its impact on their lives.

The Role of Mental Health in Prognoses

Psychological factors have been linked to a higher quality of life and a reduction of pain in cancer patients. According to the MD Anderson Center, a positive attitude and a supportive environment are among the most important factors in determining a prognosis.

Support Groups

Support groups can help mesothelioma patients feel less alone because they allow patients to connect with others who understand how they feel, perhaps better than their families can. Support groups help patients cope with treatment, find solutions for practical issues and provide an increased sense of hope. They have been linked to an improved quality of life and higher survival outcomes.

Caregivers also need support. Caregivers suffer alongside the patient. They are often family members or close friends who are not professional caregivers. They may feel helpless watching their loved one suffer painful symptoms and side effects. Their financial situation may change as they have to miss days at work or sacrifice employment altogether.

They face burnout and overwhelm as they direct their attention to the patient’s needs while placing their own on the back burner. They may experience changes in their physical and mental health. Fortunately, there are many support groups available for caregivers as well.

Local Support Groups

In-person support groups are available in many cities for patients, caregivers and family members. You are more likely to find a general cancer support group than a mesothelioma-specific group locally since mesothelioma is relatively rare. To find a local support group:

Local Resources for Caregivers

The National Family Caregiver Support Program provides the following services to qualified family caregivers:

Resource information
Assistance gaining access to services
Individual counseling
Organization of support groups
Caregiver training
Respite care (a break from caregiving)

This program is usually available through your local aging and disability network.

Online Support Groups

Many mesothelioma survivors and charitable organizations have established active online support communities for individuals with mesothelioma and their caregivers. Since online support groups can include people from all over the world, you are more likely to connect with people whose situation closely mirrors your own.

Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation

The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (Meso Foundation) offers the following monthly live meetings that you can access via Zoom or telephone:

The Meso Foundation also offers the following private Facebook groups, which allow patients, caregivers and loved ones to receive 24/7 support:

MD Anderson Support Groups

MD Anderson Center is a cancer treatment center that offers virtual support groups to all cancer patients and their caregivers. As many as 28 different groups are offered to allow all interested parties to find the group in which they feel most comfortable. While the center does not offer a mesothelioma-specific support group, it does offer the following on a weekly basis:

General cancer patient support group
Caregiver support group
Cancer survivorship group
Advanced stage cancer support group for patients
Well Wives support group
Circle of Hope bereavement and loss support group

The Cancer Support Community

The mission of the Cancer Support Community is to ensure that everyone who is impacted by cancer is “empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by community.” The organization’s slogan is “Community is stronger than cancer.”
It offers online support groups for patients, caregivers and loved ones as well as opportunities to tell their stories, volunteer and communicate with friends and family members through their platform.

IHadCancer

IHadCancer is a support community organized by individuals who are undergoing cancer treatment or have survived treatment where they share inspirational cancer stories, write letters to cancer and connect with each other.

Inspire

Inspire is an online cancer support community for patients, caregivers and family members where you can post questions and answer questions posted by others.

One-on-One Support

Your cancer experience is very personal, and you may prefer a more personalized support method. The resources below provide services where patients are matched to a cancer survivor who provides support and mentorship through the process.

Online Resources to Update Others

During the course of an illness, it can be difficult to manage a barrage of well-intended communications from friends and family members. Several online resources can help you keep your family and friends up to date on your health status and may even provide opportunities to branch out.