In every person’s life there comes a time when we have to deal with the death of a loved one. For many, the most heart-wrenching experience comes with the pending death of a terminally ill parent. The possible death of a parent can create feelings of both caring and confusion. The idea of taking care of our parents as grown children is difficult for both the child and the parent.
Cancer has been taking the lives of beloved parents for many years, and receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis is no different. Denial is a normal reaction for patients and families of mesothelioma patients, especially for children of parents dealing with this terminal illness. It is best to educate yourself about a mesothelioma diagnosis and understand the different forms this cancer can take and never forget that pursuing a second opinion is completely normal and any respected oncologist will not question your right to do so.
There are many mesothelioma treatments available for individuals, but each depends on the age and current health of the patient and the location and stage of the disease. This is where the facts get hard to accept. Not all mesothelioma treatments work for all people, and not all patients are able to undergo treatment. Although it may be a hard fact to accept, the terminally ill do understand they are dying. This can be an especially hard concept for children of terminally ill parents to understand.
Oftentimes, families of the terminally ill need more help than the terminally ill themselves. Whether it is a mesothelioma diagnosis, lung cancer or any illness, having to discuss things like burial arrangements, living wills, and powers of attorney can be enough to overwhelm a child or spouse of the terminally ill, as life doesn’t always provide prior discussions for such unexpected events.
For patients and their families undergoing mesothelioma treatments, counseling is a wise choice, both as a family and for individuals. There are many resources provided by cancer treatment agencies and from outreach programs like the Mesothelioma Hope Center, which offers support from other families that have dealt with similar experiences. It is completely normal when dealing with the death of a terminally ill parent to experience anxiety, agitation and depression, but the important thing to remember is that the love of our parents is what makes the situation so hard and that it is this same love that will help the whole family through.
