Cancer News, Treatment and Research

As the holiday season approaches, many people are faced with stress, anxiety and even depression.  For mesothelioma patients and their families, these feelings are often amplified.  Fear of the unknown and the feeling of helplessness can fuel anxiety.  In an effort to educate cancer patients and their families, and to help alleviate some of their anxiety, the American Cancer Society offers a series of free, online classes entitled “I Can Cope.” Mesothelioma is a rare, serious cancer caused by asbestos exposure that affects close to 3,000 Americans each year.  The cancer is often aggressively treated with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.  Understanding the treatments, how to care for a patient and what to expect after treatments takes time, and the American Cancer Society offers these courses to give patients and caregivers a place to turn to get answers on an as-needed basis. Following are just some of the sessions offered through the American Cancer Society’s “I Can Cope” online series: Learning About Cancer. More than one million people get cancer each year. More and more people continue to survive cancer because of better treatments and earlier diagnosis. Understanding Cancer Treatments. Every person is unique. This means that people with the same cancer may respond to treatment differently. Managing Cancer-related Fatigue. Fatigue is when someone does not have enough energy to do the things he or she wants to do. Fatigue is the most common side effect of cancer and cancer treatment. In fact, about 90% of cancer patients receiving treatment have fatigue. Communicating Concerns and Feelings. Cancer and cancer treatment bring major changes to your life. These changes can cause many different emotions. Nutrition During Treatment, Parts I & II. Eating well and good nutrition can help maintain energy and manage side effects. Keeping Well in Mind, Body and Spirit. The concept of wellness encourages people to focus on the whole person and how the mind, body, and spirit work together to achieve a sense of well-being. The content is presented in a format that allows users to go at their own pace, stop and restart, and includes narration and video. If you or anyone you know has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, or cares for someone with the cancer, let them know about these courses. For more information see the American Cancer Society website.