When faced with mesothelioma, we have so many new realities in our lives. Things we have to do that we don’t want to do. Things we don’t know if we can do, but must do. Upcoming appointments and procedures can be significant sources of anxiety for me. It seems that if I’m not careful, I could lose sight of my real main goal – living the best and most productive life I can despite my condition. I try, as much as possible, to focus on everything but my health issues. I don’t want mesothelioma to be the main focus of my life.  There has to be a balance, though, between focusing on the positi ..read more

When encountering home insulation during DIY projects, it’s important to know what you could be exposed to in the process. Asbestos insulation and cellulose insulation are sometimes mistaken for each other, but have different risk profiles. Knowing how to identify, remediate and replace asbestos insulation versus cellulose insulation will help homeowners avoid potential dangers. Asbestos insulation was commonly used in homes built between the 1940s and 1970s because of its effective insulating properties and fire resistance. Its use drastically declined after its associated health risks became ..read more

Join The Mesothelioma Center on May 14, 2024 at 8 p.m. ET to participate in an exclusive, free webinar for survivors, caregivers and families. We’ll share effective ways to manage mesothelioma symptoms and the side effects of standard treatments.  Our esteemed panel of experts includes a renowned mesothelioma specialist and two long-time survivors. They’ll delve into crucial topics such as the most reported symptoms and side effects, their origins and top tips for managing them. Dr. Andrea Wolf, a thoracic surgeon and mesothelioma researcher, will cover the causes of these common issues a ..read more

Shaun Bigbie says he’s had a lot of help throughout his mesothelioma journey. And his journey has been challenging, with a diagnosis of a rare form of cancer at 53 and two major surgeries to treat it. “I have a strong support group,” Shaun tells the Mesothelioma Center. “I have my girlfriend and she’s basically all I need. She’s helped me out with words of encouragement and motivation.” After surgery with heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy and then surgery with heated intrathoracic chemotherapy a few months later, he says he needed positive motivation. Recovery from HIPEC and then HITHOC surg ..read more

One of the realities of mesothelioma treatment is the need to manage medications. Depending on the type of treatment a person has recently had or is undergoing, that may be a small or a really big task.  It’s easy to find yourself with mesothelioma medications that you take once daily, some you must take in the morning and some you take in the evening. There are also medications that you take twice a day or every so many hours. Other medications you take as needed, but with maximum amounts per day. It can be taxing for anyone to keep up with them all! In my personal experience, someone wh ..read more

Shaun Bigbie first started experiencing an unusual feeling of fullness. Fullness after eating is expected, but when it’s extreme or very uncomfortable after eating can be a sign of a health issue. Shaun’s doctors originally thought he was dealing with a mild case of diverticulitis. “Around the time I started having that feeling of fullness, I knew something was wrong,” he told The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com. “Around that time I started eating a little better.”  He added, “I had been eating fruit in the morning, but I started concentrating more on what I ate and I lost 20 lbs. in ..read more

At just 36, doctors diagnosed Raeleen Minchuk Prokopetz of Canada with peritoneal mesothelioma. The shocking diagnosis, one that usually affects men in their late 60s and 70s, immediately put her life on hold. “How can you just tell someone who’s 36 years old with three kids to go home and get my affairs in order, and that there’s nothing else you can do,” Raeleen told The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com. Raeleen is now 45. It all started in September 2014 when Raeleen began experiencing abdominal pain. After a CT scan, doctors discovered she had a ruptured ovarian cyst. Two surgeries late ..read more

Shaun Bigbie isn’t letting his recovery from surgery with heated intrathoracic chemotherapy stop him from working or taking care of his mother. Shaun, who is 53 years old, learned he had peritoneal mesothelioma in July 2023.  HITHOC surgery is typically used for pleural mesothelioma patients whose tumors develop on the lining of their lungs. With peritoneal mesothelioma, Shaun’s tumors initially developed on the lining of his abdomen.  Shaun initially underwent surgery with heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy in September 2023. The goal of the HIPEC procedure was to remove visible ca ..read more

Have you ever heard of medical or physician gaslighting? It’s only been fairly recently that I’ve known the correct meaning of this term. It’s a relatively new term getting more attention in the medical community.  Medical gaslighting can be described as when a healthcare professional dismisses your symptoms, shows no concern for your feelings and discredits your complaints. It can be so subtle that you may not even realize when it happened to you. Now that I know what it is, I know what to look for and how to recognize it. You may be wondering if medical gaslighting has ever happened to ..read more

We’re in the midst of Counseling Awareness Month, which aims to highlight the contributions of professional counselors. It’s also an opportunity to promote mental wellness and encourage people needing support and guidance to seek it from qualified mental health counselors.  Throughout my 28 years as a mental health counselor, I have witnessed great strides in the societal acceptance of people seeking help when they’re struggling. Today, it’s less stigmatic to admit to mental health challenges.  Luckily counseling is also more accessible today. Mesothelioma patients and their loved on ..read more