Skip to content
Mesothelioma.net
phone iconCall1-800-692-8608 chat icon Chat 24/7 Live Chat
Menu
  • Malignant Mesothelioma
    • About Mesothelioma
      • How to Survive Mesothelioma
      • 100 Questions & Answers about Mesothelioma (Free Book)
      • Symptoms
      • Diagnosis
      • Prognosis
      • Life Expectancy
    • Types
      • Pleural
      • Peritoneal
      • Epithelioid
      • Sarcomatoid
      • Biphasic
    • Stages
      • Stage 1
      • Stage 2
      • Stage 3
      • Stage 4
    • Additional Information
      • Causes
      • Asbestos and Its Dangers
      • Facts
      • Support
      • Financial Compensation
      • FREE Mesothelioma Packet
  • Treatment
    • Treatment Options
      • Surgery
      • Chemotherapy
      • Radiation Therapy
      • Multimodal Therapy
      • Medications
      • Palliative Treatment
    • Find Top Doctors
      • Doctors
      • Treatment Centers
      • Treatment & Doctors Near You
      • New Treatments
      • Care Providers
      • Clinical Trials
      • Costs
  • Asbestos Trusts
  • Compensation
  • Veteran Assistance
    • Mesothelioma and Veterans
      • VA Claims for Mesothelioma
      • Vietnam Veterans
    • Military Branches and Asbestos
      • Navy Veterans
      • Navy Ships
      • Marine Corps Veterans
      • Army Veterans
      • Air Force Veterans
      • U.S. Coast Guard
  • Surviving Mesothelioma
  • About Us / Contact
  • Home
  • ›
  • Malignant Mesothelioma
  • ›
  • Support
  • ›
  • Help a Loved One
Page Updated: June 24, 2022

How Best to Help a Loved One with Mesothelioma

Anne Courtney Page Medically Reviewed and Edited by Anne Courtney, AOCNP, DNP

FREE Mesothelioma Packet

Fact Checked

This page has been fact-checked by a Doctor of nursing practice specializing in Oncology and has experience working with mesothelioma patients.

FREE Mesothelioma Packet

Sources of information are listed at the bottom of the article. We make every attempt to keep our information accurate and up-to-date. 

Please Contact Us with any questions or comments.

Knowing how best to help a loved one with mesothelioma is difficult. Treatments are expensive and uncomfortable; the prognosis is poor, and symptoms limit mobility. Loved ones can help by providing practical support as well as kindness and compassion.

FREE Mesothelioma Packet

How Do I Support Someone with Mesothelioma?

Though mesothelioma is a terminal illness, it does not mean there is nothing that can be done. There are several ways those who care about the person with mesothelioma can respond and react that will be appreciated.

Though it is often difficult to know exactly what to say or do, support and kindness go a long way in helping patients better adjust to new circumstances.[1]

Whether the patient has been newly diagnosed or has been struggling for some time, there are things they need. Despite this, it is important to remember that cancer patients often don’t want to ask for help; therefore, asking them what you can do for them is unlikely to get a satisfactory response.

People often feel guilty asking for things because they don’t want to be a burden. Cancer patients also struggle with enough decisions in the course of their illness that it may be exhausting coming up with ways for you to assist them.

It is helpful to come up with practical ways to support a loved one, for instance, accompanying them to appointments. You can provide a ride and take notes.

What to Give a Cancer Patient

If you are looking for gestures that would be appreciated by a mesothelioma patient or his family, here is a shortlist to get you started:

  • Food. Being diagnosed with mesothelioma and undergoing treatment will almost certainly change their appetite. Be flexible with expectations and don’t force food on them. Gently offer to bring a variety of foods that they can have on hand to choose from. Encourage healthy, well-balanced food, but some patients will have certain food cravings. This is normal and everything in moderation is acceptable. Avoid forcing food if they don’t want to eat. If you like to organize, you can set up a meal calendar that others in the community can sign up for. Meal Train is an example of an organization that helps organize food delivery during times of medical needs.[2]
  • Gift Cards. Following the same thought process, give the family gift cards to local restaurants, or local pharmacies and grocery stores, to help buy essentials. A gift card allows them to purchase things they would enjoy while reducing their financial burden.
  • Vacations. Maybe you are a frequent flier who has racked up lots of airline miles, or maybe you can donate a condo in an appealing resort area. If so, you can help by providing a much needed vacation to the patient and his or her family. A vacation gives the patient and loved ones the opportunity to get away from their cancer treatment. This gesture is extremely considerate and will be very much appreciated.
  • Services. There are a number of home services you can provide for the patient and their family. It’s possible family members do not have the time to complete some tasks. Whether it is handyman chores around the house or a cleaning service to do the dusting and vacuuming, providing the family with a service is actually a gift of time. The most valuable thing you can give to a mesothelioma patient and their family is time.[3]
  • Subscriptions. Whether to a magazine, Netflix, or Audible.com, purchasing a monthly subscription is extremely inexpensive, but these can provide unlimited hours of entertainment and distraction. Sometimes distraction is a valuable gift for a mesothelioma patient.
  • Transportation. Mesothelioma requires several appointments for doctor visits, chemotherapy, medical tests, radiation, or invasive procedures. Many of those require a ride as they are not able to drive themselves home.

As a loved one of someone struggling with this terrible disease, you want to help. Provide support in any way they find useful, including practical tasks. Sometimes, just being there for a friend or family member is enough.

Get Your FREE Mesothelioma Packet

Page Medically Reviewed and Edited by Anne Courtney, AOCNP, DNP

Anne Courtney

Anne Courtney has a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree and is an Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner. She has years of oncology experience working with patients with malignant mesothelioma, as well as other types of cancer. Dr. Courtney currently works at University of Texas LIVESTRONG Cancer Institutes.

Connect with Doctor of Nursing Practice Anne Courtney
References
  1. American Cancer Society. (2016, January 25). How to Be a Friend to Someone with Cancer.
    Retrieved from: https://www.cancer.org/treatment/caregivers/how-to-be-a-friend-to-someone-with-cancer.html
  2. Meal Train. (n.d.). Learn the Basics.
    Retrieved from: https://www.mealtrain.com/learn/
  3. American Society of Clinical Oncology. (2018, April). Supporting a Friend Who Has Cancer.
    Retrieved from: https://www.cancer.net/coping-with-cancer/talking-with-family-and-friends/supporting-friend-who-has-cancer
View All References

Site Navigation

Home
Malignant Mesothelioma
How to Survive Mesothelioma
100 Questions & Answers about Mesothelioma (Free Book)
Surviving Mesothelioma - Beating the Odds (Free Book)
FREE Mesothelioma Packet
Symptoms
Shortness of Breath
Cough
Night Sweats and Fever
Weight Loss
Pain
Difficulty Swallowing
Fatigue and Muscle Weakness
Gastrointestinal Complications
Diagnosis
Pathology
Staging
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4
Metastasis and Progression
Brain Metastasis
Biopsy
miRview Test
Imaging
Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy in Mesothelioma
Biomarkers and Blood Tests
Calretinin
Prognosis
Remission
Recurrence
Death Rate
Life Expectancy
Search for a Mesothelioma Cure
Types
Pleural
Peritoneal
Epithelioid
Sarcomatoid
Biphasic
Pericardial
Testicular
Cell Types
Rare Subtypes of Mesothelioma
Deciduoid
Desmoplastic
Heterologous
Lymphohistiocytoid
Well-Differentiated Papillary
Tubulopapillary
Small Cell
Benign
Adenomatoid
Cystic
Unresectable
Localized
Idiopathic
Omental
Causes
Risk Factors
Latest Research
Genetic Components
Incidence
Latency Period
Mesothelioma Tumor
Health Insurance Coverage
Related Conditions
Immunodeficiency Disorders
Cholangiocarcinoma
Atelectasis
Pleural Plaques
Pleural Thickening
Pleural Effusion
Peritoneal Effusion (Ascites)
Mesothelial Hyperplasia and Proliferation
Pleuritis and Pleurisy
COPD
Anemia
Breast Cancer
Prevention
Complications
Misdiagnosis
Mesothelioma Commercial
Talcum Baby Powder
Lawyer
Lawsuits
Class Action Lawsuits
Settlements
Simian Virus 40
Differences From Other Cancers
Lung Cancer
Women
Children and Young Adults
Unknown Asbestos Exposure
Mesothelioma Without Asbestos
Cause of Death
Facts 
History
Awareness
Government and Research
National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank
Support
What to Expect
Living with Mesothelioma
Help a Loved One
Wrong and Right Things to Say
Caregivers
Financial Tips
Faith
Nutrition and Lifestyle
Intimacy
Mesothelioma and Fertility in Men
Fertility in Women with Mesothelioma
Emotional Health
COVID-19
Assisted Living
Hospice Care
Dying from Mesothelioma
Mourning
Coping Guide for Children
End-of-Life Decisions
Mesothelioma Awareness Day
Compensation for Victims
Lawyer
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington D.C.
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Lawsuit
Settlements
Statute of Limitations
Treatment
Surgery
Side Effects
Pneumonectomy
Extrapleural Pneumonectomy
Lobectomy
Pleurectomy/Decortication
Post Op Care
Pleurectomy/Decortication vs. Extrapleural Pneumonectomy
Peritonectomy/Cytoreductive Surgery
Thoracotomy
Thoracoscopy
Pericardiectomy
Wedge Resection
Pleurodesis
Pericardiocentesis
Prosthetics
Paracentesis
Thoracentesis
Chemotherapy
Side Effects
Heated Intraperitoneal
Radiation Therapy
Side Effects
Intensity-Modulated
Brachytherapy
Proton Therapy
Image-Guided
External Beam
Three-Dimensional
Multimodal Therapy
New Treatments
SMART Protocol
Gene Therapy
Suicide Gene Therapy
Tumor-Based p53 Therapy
Cryotherapy for Mesothelioma
Tumor Treating Fields
MicroRNA
Palliative Treatment
Osteopathic
Doctors
Treatment Centers
Treatment & Doctors Near You
Mesothelioma Experts
Medications
Alimta (pemetrexed)
Adriamycin (doxorubicin)
Avastin (bevacizumab)
Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide)
Gemzar (gemcitabine)
Keytruda (Pembrolizumab)
Mitomycin
Navelbine (vinorelbine)
Opdivo (nivolumab) and Yervoy (ipilimumab)
Paraplatin (carboplatin)
Platinol (cisplatin)
Rheumatrex (methotrexate)
Sutent (sunitinib)
Taxol (paclitaxel)
Medical Marijuana
Care Providers
Clinical Trials
Anetumab Ravtansine
Atezolizumab
Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-Cell
Durvalumab
Immunotoxin
Interferon Alfa-2b
Onconase (Ranpirnase)
VISTA Protein
Costs
Immunotherapy
Nanotechnology
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Home Medical Equipment
HMGB1 Secretion
Photodynamic Therapy
Targeted Therapies
Apoptosis
Stem Cells
Lung Transplantation
Body-Based Therapies
Alternative Therapies
Paul Kraus’s Method
Doctors and Treatment in Canada
Asbestos Trusts
Veterans
VA Claims for Mesothelioma
Vietnam Veterans
Military Branches and Asbestos
Navy Veterans
Navy Ships
Aircraft Carriers
Battleships
Destroyers
Asbestos on Navy Cruisers
Submarines
Amphibious Ships
Minesweepers
Auxiliary Ships
Marine Corps Veterans
Army Veterans
Air Force Veterans
U.S. Coast Guard
Asbestos
Occupational Exposure
Construction Workers
Shipyard Workers
Ship Repair
Steel Mill Workers
Industrial Workers
Boiler Workers
Power Plant Workers
Firefighters
Automotive Workers
Roofers
Oil Refineries
Mining
Transportation Industry
Machine Operators
Farmers and Agricultural Workers
Migrant Workers
Electrical Wiring
Labor Unions
Prisons
Chimneys, Furnaces, and Wood Stoves
Fiberglass Connection to Mesothelioma
Home Remodeling
School Buildings, Teachers
For Tech Students
Cancer
Lung Cancer
Pleural Based Cancers
Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian Cancer Lawsuits
Companies That Used Asbestos
Awareness and Education
Types of Asbestos & Mesothelioma Risk
Asbestosis
Interstitial Lung Disease
Smoking
Asbestos Ingestion
Exposure in a Natural Disaster
Ban Asbestos
Libby, Montana
Recycling Asbestos
Asbestos Detection
Legal Information by State
Canada
Mexico
United Kingdom
Australia
  • Malignant Mesothelioma
    • Treatment
    • Asbestos Trusts
  • Compensation
    • Veteran Assistance
    • Surviving Mesothelioma
  • FREE Mesothelioma Packet
    • Mesothelioma News
    • About Us / Contact
  • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Editorial Guidelines and Standards
This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation. Click to verify. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.
The information provided by Mesothelioma.net is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Mesothelioma.net

5430 LBJ Freeway Suite 1200
Dallas, Texas 75240

Serving mesothelioma victims nationwide

1-800-692-8608

  • facebook
  • twitter
© 2022 Mesothelioma.net