Pleural mesothelioma is a rare, painful form of cancer caused by past exposure to asbestos that affects the lining of the lungs. Patients diagnosed with the disease face a long, demanding battle involving countless doctors' appointments, extensive tests, chemotherapy treatments and radiation therapy. Managing the illness and all the appointments, on top of taking care of day-to-day living needs, is virtually impossible without the help of a dedicated caregiver.
Caregivers, typically spouses or other family members, provide nearly constant care for mesothelioma patients as they endure often debilitating treatments. Caregiver duties can include grocery shopping, housekeeping, preparing meals, transportation, meal preparation, management of insurance forms, medical forms and prescriptions, general care for the patient as well as emotional support. For many caregivers this is all done while trying to care for other family members.
According to a recent survey conducted by Harris Interactive and the American Academy of Family Physicians, however, caregivers often fail to take care of themselves at the expense of their health. Nearly three-quarters of the caregivers surveyed agreed that caregiving has had at least some impact on their health.
The survey was designed to assess the stresses seniors and caregivers experience on a daily basis. Specifically, the survey looked at the impact of caregiving and caregivers' need for credible information about their family members' changing health and how to balance caregiving with other responsibilities.
Some of the key findings of the survey regarding the caregivers' health includes:
- 88% of caregivers felt one or more stressors associated with caregiving.
- Six in 10 caregivers said caregiving caused them to lose sleep at least sometimes.
- 52 percent said their caregiving responsibilities caused them to neglect their other responsibilities such as meeting their own health needs, at least sometimes.
Caring for a loved one suffering from mesothelioma is a demanding job. If a caregiver is sick or fatigued, though, they may not be effective. A caregiver should arrange for backup support as needed to take time off to care for themselves. They cannot help their loved one cope with the challenges of mesothelioma if they are sick or worn down.
Nearly 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year. Currently there is no known cure for the disease, and the average survival time varies from 4 – 18 months after diagnosis.
