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

I expected to feel some pain and fatigue after my extrapleural pneumonectomy surgery. But I hadn’t fully anticipated how just when I needed more rest, my postoperative discomfort would make getting that much-needed rest so challenging. Rest is important as you prepare for surgery. Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma before surgery can make restful sleep challenging. Chest pain, coughing, night sweats, fever and difficulty breathing can all result in sleepless nights. Getting enough sleep is an especially important component in recovery from mesothelioma treatment. In my experience, getting enough ..read more

Peritoneal mesothelioma survivor Shaun Bigbie is no stranger to cancer. Doctors diagnosed 53-year-old Shaun with peritoneal mesothelioma in July 2023. Several years earlier, in 2017, doctors told him he had cancer in both kidneys. Before that diagnosis, he’s dealt with multiple cases of skin cancer. Following a doctor visit last year, Shaun learned he’s genetically predisposed to cancer. “When I went to see Dr. Dan Blazer at Duke Cancer Center, they took a [biopsy] from my kidney surgery, and they did a test on it. Come to find out that I possess a rare protein called BAP1, and what that means ..read more

How did you sleep last night? It’s the million-dollar question.  Proper sleep is crucial for your physical and mental health. I’m sure you’ve heard your doctor say time and time again to be sure to get enough sleep. But did you know that getting good sleep is essential to your healing journey?  While snoozing, your body is hard at work refreshing, replenishing and repairing itself. Your body makes new cells and tissues, eliminates waste and helps you remember things better.  I personally find this to be true. Brain fog is prevalent throughout my day if I don’t sleep well.  ..read more

Living in older apartment buildings in the U.S. may put you at higher risk of asbestos exposure. Asbestos, a natural mineral, was a popular building material because of its resistance to heat, electricity, and corrosion. Developers in the U.S. used asbestos throughout homes and apartments up until the 1980s, which is when its carcinogenic dangers gained notoriety. Asbestos exposure risk is higher in denser and older cities, including New York City, Philadelphia, and San Francisco, where there are many historically older apartment buildings and homes.  The toxic mineral is the primary caus ..read more