Finding Hope When You Have an Incurable Disease

Most people with mesothelioma feel hopeless when they discover that their disease has a poor prognosis and that their disease is not curable. A prognosis is a forecast of the probable course and outcome of a disease, particularly as it relates to the chance of recovery.

It is important to note that a "forecast" is simply a prediction based on the physician's clinical experience and what the research indicates has happened with other patients in the past.

Since a prognosis is nothing more than a forecast, we should remember the number of times that the local weather forecast has been wrong. The truth is that no one can see into the future, and that includes doctors. All the physicians have is data about how long other patients have lived with mesothelioma. This information does not predict what will happen with yourcancer.

Prognosis May Be Helpful - or Not

Patients differ in their desire to know about their specific prognosis in terms of years or months of survival. Some people ask their physician to estimate their survival time in instances of receiving chemo or other treatments vs. not receiving any treatment at all.

This means that patients could hear their physician say, "Well, with the current treatment, you could expect to live x number of months or years. If you don't receive any treatment, you could live x number of months or years." Patients sometimes report a sense of comfort in knowing their prognosis, so that they can plan for the future while still hoping to outlive their life expectancy.

Other patients with mesothelioma do not want to know their life expectancy. These patients say that knowing would take away their hope and would lead them to simply count the days/weeks and be preoccupied with their impending death.

The bottom line is that there is no correct choice when it comes to asking your physician how long they think you may live. The best option is to consider your own thoughts and feelings about how knowing would affect your ability to enjoy your life today and act accordingly.

Treatment Options and Statistics

Mesothelioma is not curable, but that doesn't mean that physicians can't treat it. Medical and surgical oncologists have many medical and surgical options available to try and keep mesothelioma stable - or under control. Physicians work to control symptoms and side effects, as well, in order to improve a patient's quality of life.

Another important point to consider is that survival statistics are derived from studies that are carried out over many years. What this means is that the mesothelioma survival statistics we have today are a result of studies that followed patients who were treated more than five years ago.

Those statistics don't take into account any medical or surgical advances that may now be available. So, it is altogether possible that the survival statistics given today could be outdated and that recent improvements in treatments could improve mesothelioma survival.

Some mesothelioma patients are hopeless at the lack of better treatment options available to them. However, it's important to understand that time buys potentially new options for treatment. Researchers are constantly investigating new therapies and treatment options. There could be new surgical or medicaltreatment options coming soon. Or there could beclinical trials for which you are eligible to participate.

Refocus

Living with uncertainty when you have mesothelioma is one of the most emotionally challenging aspects of the disease. And finding hopefulness when you have an incurable cancer can certainly be challenging.

But mental health professionals have found that when patients and families are able to understand what a prognosis is (an educated guess) and attempt to compartmentalize that fear of cancer progression, then patients are better able to be fully present in the now, enjoy their health today and find some hope.

Trying to live in the moment and enjoy your good days when you have mesothelioma is hard. However, try to catch yourself when you are worrying about what could happen in the future and say to yourself, "Stop!"

Refocus your thoughts on where you are today, who you are with and what you are able to do today. Being present is part of a concept called "mindfulness," and there are many books, websites and relaxation exercises that can help you practice mindfulness.