Mesothelioma

Richard Moyle asked to post this blog here. His grandfather died of mesothelioma in 2000 so he has had personal experience with the illness.

Coping with Losing Someone to Mesothelioma

Losing a loved one is very difficult for anyone, especially if it is after a long battle with an illness. The person/people left behind may occasionally wonder, “Why them? Why did this have to happen to that person?” It’s even harder when there’s evidence that the the cancer or illness could have been averted.

This is the situation with a rare cancer known as mesothelioma. One of the only proven causes for developing this type of cancer is exposure to a naturally occurring mineral known as asbestos. Asbestos was widely used in a number of military and industrial applications throughout the 20th century because of its durability and resistance to fire. The most frequent uses were insulation, flooring, piping and brake lining.

The better part of diagnosed cases can be traced back to work-related asbestos exposure. Despite the fact that many of the creators of asbestos products were conscious of the health risks connected with the material, they continued to mass produce it to maximize their earnings. A large amount of people who were exposed were not alerted to the situation and were never shown the proper ways to avoid exposure.

Other contributing dynamics to the difficult process of mourning the loss of someone to mesothelioma are the abruptness of the start of noticeable symptoms, diagnosis and the normally poor prognosis. Symptoms of this type of cancer normally take 25 to 50 years after primary exposure to start showing. By this time the cancer is in its later stages and treatment choices are typically insufficient. The average life expectancy after diagnosis is about one year.

When you combine all of the factors and circumstances surrounding malignant mesothelioma and other asbestos related diseases, it brings about quite a few different emotions for both the sufferer and the ones close to them. They may experience anger towards the people who permitted asbestos to be used so extensively with no warning of its undesirable health effects. They may feel frustration with the seemingly helpless situation or shock because of the unexpectedness or rapidity with which the disease takes its toll.

Persons left behind might deal with these emotions in a number of ways. For example, the anger and frustration people feel sometimes motivates them to take legal action against whoever was ultimately accountable for their loved one’s death. The grief or sorrow they feel may prompt them to do all they can to raise awareness about this disease to prevent further exposure and save the lives of others. Both of these actions could be seen by the bereaved as a way of “righting the wrong” so to speak.

In general, everyone deals with similar emotions when they lose a loved one, no matter what the situation. But diseases like mesothelioma that can be traced back to the withholding of information for the purpose of making money tend to underscore some of those emotions slightly more. Always keep in mind that anyone who lets these emotions encumber their daily lives may need aid in seeking help from a professional.