| Receiving a diagnosis of mesothelioma is like receiving | | | | sponsored by advocacy groups for mesothelioma |
| a death sentence, it is a very difficult and harrowing | | | | victims. |
| experience not only for the victim but also for the | | | | If you want to find one of these groups, you should |
| family of the victim. | | | | ask your health care team if they know of any of |
| Although new drugs and forms of treatments are | | | | such groups. If there are no such groups where you |
| been discovered daily, mesothelioma still has an | | | | are, you might even consider starting one with help |
| extremely low survival rate. Facing and living with a | | | | of your oncologist or other professionals. |
| diagnosis of mesothelioma is a very hard thing to do, | | | | Online Support Groups |
| watching a loved one fall sick and gradually pass | | | | For victims of the disease living in areas where there |
| away is a real test of character and is usually more | | | | are no In persons support groups, there are online |
| than what one person can handle alone. Although | | | | support groups that you can join. Online support |
| new drugs and forms of treatments are been | | | | groups come in form of chat rooms, blogs, and |
| discovered daily, mesothelioma still has an extremely | | | | cancer related forums. Regular postings are made by |
| low survival rate. Facing and living with a diagnosis of | | | | people suffering from the same disease. |
| mesothelioma is a very hard thing to do, watching a | | | | Mesothelioma patients and their families can join |
| loved one fall sick and gradually pass away is a real | | | | these online groups and exchange ideas about the |
| test of character and is usually more than what one | | | | disease in general, its treatment and upcoming |
| person can handle alone. | | | | treatment modalities, related emotional issues and |
| Today there are networks of support for | | | | more. Most of these forums, chat rooms are free to |
| mesothelioma patients no matter where they live. | | | | join and they always available 24hours/day and 7 |
| These support groups and organizations help the | | | | days a week for you to keep in touch any time, |
| victims and their families to cope with the disease, its | | | | everyday. |
| treatments and its inevitable outcome. Even if you | | | | Some online support groups are offered by cancer |
| feel that you are strong enough to face the disease | | | | organizations while others might be hosted by |
| yourself, these groups can still be of enormous help | | | | mesothelioma patient advocacy groups or similar |
| to you. Do not face this cancer all by yourself, | | | | associations. Some others give online seminars or |
| seeking for support is not a sign of weakness and | | | | other educational opportunities dealing with |
| you should never see it that way. We all need to | | | | mesothelioma in addition to emotional or practical |
| lean on someone at one time or the other. | | | | support for caregivers and patients. |
| Different Types of Support Groups | | | | Some of the most popular online support groups for |
| In-Person Support Groups These groups provide | | | | mesothelioma patients and their family and friends |
| people living with mesothelioma a lot of emotional | | | | include: |
| support. They are face-face groups where | | | | Association of Cancer Online Resources - Online |
| mesothelioma victims, care givers , and the families | | | | resource for support and information. |
| of the victims come together to share their | | | | Cancer Care - Offers online and telephone |
| experiences with each other. | | | | counseling, education, and lists of resources for |
| These groups can be found in hospitals or may be | | | | financial assistance. |
| sponsored by oncologists{doctors specializing in | | | | Gilda's Club - National organization that offers |
| treatment of cancers}.Some of these groups are | | | | counseling and resources for cancer patients and their |
| also sponsored by different chapters of the | | | | families. |
| American Cancer Society, while some others are | | | | |