Cancer is a topic no one wants to learn how to talk about. Mesothelioma is a new experience that can be challenging to navigate socially. Not only we affected by a cancer diagnosis, but so are our family and friends. Research shows talking about it helps people adjust to the reality of a situation. By talking about it, our brains begin planning and problem-solving to better cope with the situation. We are better able to get our needs met if we communicate how we are feeling and what we need from our loved ones. With that being said, it is important to remember that we don’t have to share everything with everyone all the time. It's our choice.

1. Talking to Our Loved Ones
About Mesothelioma
Today’s Moderator:
Dana Nolan, MS LMHC
Licensed Mental Health Counselor

2. Why Should You Talk?
Our family and friends are affected by our
mesothelioma, too.
Lifestyles changes
Stressors
Thoughts/feelings
Cancer is a topic no one wants to learn how
to talk about. Mesothelioma is a new
experience that can be challenging to
navigate socially.
(877) 626-5916

3. Benefits to Opening Communication
About Your Mesothelioma
 Relationships can become stronger and healthier
with open dialogue throughout the mesothelioma
process.
 When we keep our thoughts and worries to
ourselves, it is easy to feel psychologically
overwhelmed.
 Many people find it therapeutic to share the story of
how they were diagnosed and their treatment
experience.
(877) 626-5916

4. Benefits (cont.)
Research shows talking about it helps us
adjust to the reality of a situation. By talking
about it, our brains begin planning and
problem-solving to better cope with the
situation.
We are better able to get our needs met if
we communicate how we are feeling and
what we need from our loved ones.
(877) 626-5916

5. Benefits (cont.)
Because mesothelioma is rare, it is easy to
feel lonely and heavy with the feelings
related to it.
Sharing our experiences can ease that
loneliness.
(877) 626-5916

6. How to Start the Conversations
If you need some time to adjust to your
diagnosis or a new development in your
mesothelioma, it is okay to give yourself some
time to adjust before sharing.
Understandably, our loved ones will have their
own reactions to your mesothelioma news,
and you should be prepared to deal with their
emotions about your cancer.
(877) 626-5916

7. Expect Some Changes
Each relationship in our life is unique, and
many relationships change during our
cancer journey.
Some people may pull back from you because:
They don’t know what to say or do, and they may
fear saying/doing the wrong thing.
Your diagnosis may remind them of someone they
knew who had cancer, and the memory may be
painful.
(877) 626-5916

8. Changes (cont.)
Some loved ones may feel the need to do
something to help you.
Depending on how much help or what kind
of help you need, some offers of help or
suggestions to try certain treatments/diets
can feel overwhelming and unhelpful.
You may need to find a way to communicate
exactly what kind of help or support you
find helpful.
(877) 626-5916

9. Spouses & Partners
The relationships most affected by a
mesothelioma diagnosis are our intimate
relationships.
It can be challenging to go from the roles of
being partners to patient/caregiver roles.
Ongoing, honest communication can be
challenging at times but also necessary.
(877) 626-5916

10. Children
If you are a parent or grandparent of a minor
when you were diagnosed with
mesothelioma, it is understandable to want to
shield them from the fear and uncertainty of
a mesothelioma diagnosis.
But children are keenly aware of what is going
on around them, and it causes them distress
when the adults in their lives aren’t honest
about something serious.
(877) 626-5916

11. Children (cont.)
Children are more resilient than we think and
can handle the truth about mesothelioma.
Age-appropriate information about your
cancer and promises to keep them informed
will go a long way to reassuring the children in
your life that you will not keep important
information from them.
(877) 626-5916

12. To Share or Not to Share
With all this being said about communication
and cancer, it is important to remember that
we don’t have to share everything with
everyone all the time.
Our mesothelioma experience is ours, and
we can choose how much detail we want to
share, particularly if we have strained
relationships with family.
(877) 626-5916

13. Privacy
If we want to keep some of our health
information private, we can ask our loved
ones not to share our health information
with others or on social media.
Some people find it therapeutic to share their
stories, intimate thoughts and feelings in a
blog or on social media.
If we don’t, then there is nothing wrong with
that.
(877) 626-5916

14. Burden of Communication
Ask a trusted loved one to be a point person
to communicate updates about your care. It
can be too much to call or email everyone in
our lives each time we go see the oncologist
or have treatment.
There are a few online resources to keep
people in the loop about how we are doing:
CaringBridge.org and PostHope.org
(877) 626-5916

15. Contact Information
1-877-626-5916
(877) 626-5916
Facebook.com/themesocenter
@TheMesoCenter