It can be very hard to talk about your mesothelioma with loved ones. It is something that has to be discussed, and research shows that families who are more open about serious issues like mesothelioma are better at reducing the emotional, physical, and financial impact of the disease. Knowing this doesn’t necessarily make it easier, though. Here’s how you can build up to discussing your mesothelioma.
• Understand your own feelings–How can you talk to others when you are not prepared to admit your feelings to yourself? The first step is coming to an acceptance of how you feel about your cancer.
• Decide who you want to tell and when–The thought of sharing this news with everyone can be wearing in and of itself. You don’t have to tell everyone, just those you feel comfortable telling and let them share the news (or not). Also, think about the timing and figure out the point when telling someone becomes easier than not telling.
• Give yourself the right not to talk–You don’t have to tell anyone anything, and you certainly don’t have to give anyone answers to all the hundreds of questions they might have. It’s okay to not mention your disease or tell people outright that you’re not comfortable talking about it.
These tips can give you a reasonable start on taking the big leap to talking about your cancer. You will quickly learn to distinguish between those people that make you feel better about your condition, and those that just drag you down, so you can better decide who to talk to on a daily basis.
Once you have started talking, too, you will find that it makes things easier, especially in making decisions about your care options and legal options.
If you decide you are interested in pursuing legal action against those responsible for your asbestos exposure, The Law Office of Brown | Kiely, LLP can help. Please contact us today for a free case evaluation.
