by Nancy Meredith
Anyone who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma knows his or her life will never be the same. After recovering from the initial shock of having developed an incurable cancer, mesothelioma patients are immediately faced with medical appointments, surgery, chemotherapy and other treatments needed to battle the cancer. Dealing with the stress of the diagnosis can push patients into an emotional tailspin. Recovering from that downward spiral may require them to find a new normal in order to move forward with their lives.
Duke University offers a Survivors Clinic for cancer patients that "represents a new, empowering model of care." The patients attending the clinic are at various phases of their cancer care, and after suffering through both physical and emotional side effects, a cancer survivor is faced with a new crisis dealing with questions such as 'Who am I now? What is my life about now?' "The challenge is finding a new normal," according to Bebe Guill, director of survivorship programs and services at Duke's Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center.
Duke offers patients the kind of support services that will help them adjust to changes in their relationships, their earning status, and their independence. The clinic also offers patients a range of resources to help them cope with their "changed status."
Anyone can define their new normal, but it often requires support of family and friends. Even Capt. Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger III, known as the 'Hero of the Hudson' after safely landing US Airways flight 1549 on the Hudson River on Jan. 15, 2009, had to search for his new normal.
In an interview with USAA in 2009, Capt. Sullenberger said that as time passes with his family, "we're not back to normal, but we're getting near to what will be our new normal." And, he said, "every day gets a little easier."
In a story posted on MD Anderson's Cancerwise Blog, Ed Steger, a head and neck cancer survivor, said he found his new normal after nearly six years. But, he says, it has taken hard work and "it's a work in progress," and it "is still evolving." Steger continuously sets new goals and works to reinvent himself.
MD Anderson Cancer Center, named for the sixth year in a row by the US News & World Report survey as the nation's best hospital for cancer care, offers survivorship support to all cancer patients. In addition, each year the Cancer Center sponsors a survivorship conference that offers attendees an opportunity to share hope and gather support and understanding from other cancer survivors.
Mesothelioma patients may need to get the thought out of their head that "this just isn't normal," and fill it with the idea that the definition of normal can change as circumstances change. Just like Capt. Sullenberger and his family, it may take a while to get there, but as patients approach their new normal, their diagnosis and changed lifestyle may not seem quite so daunting.
Mesothelioma is an aggressive form of cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos fibers. It is diagnosed in nearly 3,000 Americans annually and there is no known cure.
