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.
- Page Last Updated:
- September 22, 2023
Medically Reviewed By:Patricia Shelton, M.D.
- Page Last Updated:
- September 22, 2023
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
- Check with your cancer hospital’s social worker or your oncologist
- Ask other patients
- Contact your local health department
- Search the American Cancer Society’s website to find support groups in your area
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)
Online Support Groups
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:
- Patient support group
- Caregiver support group
- Young widows and widowers support group
- Survivor stories
- Spousal loss conversation group, which is hosted twice monthly
- Mesothelioma Straight Talk: General Discussion
- Mesothelioma Straight Talk: Patient Support
- Mesothelioma Straight Talk: Caregivers - Advanced Disease
- Mesothelioma Straight Talk: Caregivers - Early Disease
- Mesothelioma: Loss Support Group
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.