A famous quote attributed to Mahatma Gandhi reminds us that "Where there is love there is life." As it turns out, this quote may be quite literally true for patients and family members grappling with the difficulties of a mesothelioma diagnosis.
Survival rates for mesothelioma cancer are often dire, as fewer than 1 in 10 pleural mesothelioma patients survive more than five years after an initial mesothelioma diagnosis. However, there are reasons for optimism, as new research, studies and treatments continue to make slow, yet steady improvements for mesothelioma survival.
While the brightest scientific and medical minds continue essential work on improving mesothelioma treatment and care, a new study shows that simple kindness provides significant benefits.
Mesothelioma Patients Benefit From Kindness?
In a study published within the Journal of Oncology Practice, more than 400 malignant mesothelioma patients and their family members were analyzed regarding how they coped with cancer. The study shows that patients fare far better when their medical caregivers show kindness when providing care.
As such, the researchers advise that the latest high tech mesothelioma treatments and therapies ought to be paired with "high touch" care. How does kindness help? According to the observed differences found in the study, simple acts of kindness helped diffuse negative emotions associated with cancer, such as feelings of guilt or shame.
These feelings are common because the asbestos exposure that caused the diagnosis is often caused by a legally responsible party. In simplest terms, the disease could have and arguably should have been avoided. The fact their disease was not necessary can leave patients and loved ones feeling like they "could have done something" to avoid the mesothelioma outcome, even when this thought is untrue.
The researchers found that caregiver kindness is so beneficial that it may even improve the outcome for diagnosed mesothelioma patients.
The Study Recommends Key Types of Kindness That Are Beneficial for Mesothelioma Patients
Caregivers can ease the burden of mesothelioma patients by focusing on several key areas of kindness. The areas where kindness is most effective appear to be:
- Deep Listening: Patients do better when they feel that their issues and concerns are not just heard, but also understood.
- Empathy: The study recommends healthcare providers and caregivers place themselves into the figurative shoes of the patient, to more fully appreciate the difficulties a mesothelioma patient faces.
- Kind Acts: Taking the time to provide extra touches of care or beneficial instructions on living with mesothelioma can make a substantial difference as well, according to the study.
- Timely Care: Mesothelioma is stressful and progresses rapidly, meaning kind care should be timely as well. Long wait times for treatments and test feedback only adds to the difficulty of living with mesothelioma.
- Honesty Tempered With Hope: Patients prefer to hear the honest truth of their prognosis, albeit with a gentle spirit that eases the burden.
- Support for Family: Mesothelioma patients often are not facing this difficult season alone. As such, patients benefit when caregivers also provide kindness and attention for the mental and emotional wellbeing of loved ones.
At The Ledger Law Firm, we also aspire to provide you with caring, kind and compassionate legal representation that is understanding and supportive of your family. As stated, the emotional angst and turmoil within mesothelioma patients exist because their disease could have been avoided.
Let us pursue the justice and compensation you deserve when your disease was wrongly caused by a legally responsible party who exposed you to the asbestos that caused your disease. Contact us online to speak with a Ledger Law attorney today.
