Holidays can be challenging when you or a loved one is dealing with a serious medical issue.   Thanksgiving is a day steeped in traditions; A time for turkey, football, family, and all the reasons to give thanks, we share these rituals with family and friends yearly. If this is the first one that you or your loved one are celebrating with a diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma chances are this one is different.  With the new perspective that comes with dealing with a rare cancer, and facing the unknown that is ahead, giving thanks takes on a new meaning. In addition […] The post ..read more

It cannot be emphasized enough how important a role family caregivers can play in helping others maintain their optimum health. Being diagnosed with Malignant Mesothelioma, a rare serious cancer affects the patient as well as the family and their loved ones. As with most diseases, often there is one person that ends up being the primary caretaker. This role is often one that the person did not plan on or is prepared for. The people that are affected by this disease can be anyone. The caregiver can be a family member, a son, a daughter, a husband, a wife, a […] The post November is National Fam ..read more

The quality of flexibility is best described as the ability to bend without breaking.  Facing challenges either physical or mental throughout life and the ability to adapt to the unexpected requires flexibility.  Everyone’s journey in life and facing death is different.  Guiding these uncharted experiences can be very difficult for both the person facing their mortality  and the family and loved ones trying to help.  When facing end-of-life patients and families often have different perspectives. The perspectives that they have at the beginning of the journey often cha ..read more

Participation in Clinical Trials is how progress is made in medical research.  The trials are regulated and must conform to rigorous standards and be able to be replicated. Research scientists dedicate their careers to making progress with treatments for diseases using Clinical Trials. The inclusion and exclusion criteria are very specific. Some Clinical Trials are not able to be done due to lack of enrollment. Participation is voluntary and only with informed consent that the patient can withdraw at any time. In the United States it is estimated that only 5% of adults eligible to partici ..read more

The end of May is when we stop as a country to remember our fallen soldiers. As the nation pays tribute to those that have sacrificed their lives for our freedom, this Memorial Day has special meaning. Memorial Day is a day to remember and honor all military service members that have died while serving our country. Our heroes that gave their lives for our freedom and our way of life will never be forgotten. Their stories need to be told and listened to. We hope that their sacrifice is remembered and honored by  a grateful nation that collectively stops […] The post Memorial Day: One-Third ..read more

Having been involved with the mesothelioma community for many years, one of the defining qualities of this community is the commitment of the team. The team the patients and their families meet and the ones they never meet. Researchers have committed themselves and their careers to finding treatments for this highly complex disease for decades. What makes a researcher continue to dedicate themselves to this challenge? Progress comes slowly and not without setbacks. Often one of the answers we receive is the stories of the patients and their families.  The passion that clinicians have for ..read more

With the state of the world right now, it is hard to maintain a hopeful outlook. Is there a place for hope? From the larger version of what is going on in the world’s stage, to the very personal journeys we are all on, is hope enough or even possible with the current world events? It is hard not to despair against the overwhelming odds and events that are going on. Despair being the opposite of hope. When diagnosed with a life threatening cancer, or any time we pause to reflect on our lives, we review our wishes, our hopes, […] The post Where Can Mesothelioma Patients Find Hope? appeared first ..read more

Undergoing treatment for mesothelioma can be a challenge to sustain for the long haul. The mesothelioma team invests in the patient, with their expertise and time. This treatment plan is most successful when the patient is willing to partner with the team as well. For most treatments of illnesses, the best equation is that the team and the patient are invested in whatever it takes to make the best possible outcome for the patient. Usually the relationship between the patient and team is ongoing and long term. Once the plan is formulated and executed, a plan that could involve radiation, […] Th ..read more

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