By: Jackie Clark for Heather Von St James
If you are a parent, serious illnesses should be your last worry. Sadly, many mothers are diagnosed with mesothelioma every year. Mesothelioma is usually caused by harmful particles and dust, composed of asbestos. Unfortunately, many construction materials use asbestos, including wood, insulation and pesticides. Therefore, asbestos can be found all over the world.
Studies show that people with a strong desire to live have a higher rate of survival when diagnosed with a terminal illness. Though the exact reasons are unknown, many people believe it is the mindset of a strong-willed person that helps them recover. My personal fight for life was not for myself, but for my child. Sometime overcomes you, it is hard to put into words. All I knew was that mesothelioma would not take me from my child.
Stress is a main contributor to a patient's declining health. However, mothers need to stay stress-free to avoid scaring their children. Even young babies may sense their mother's stress and worry. Being stress free may be one reason some mothers make a complete recovery. Unlike other people, mothers with mesothelioma have to take care of their children, even after being diagnosed with the illness, thus causing more stress to manage.
Mothers also have to maintain a positive mindset, which may be another factor to some mother's survival rate. Other research shows a direct connection between positivity and survival. Even during a time when you are almost encouraged to have a mental breakdown, mothers strive to stay positive for their children.
In fact, some mothers with a mesothelioma prognosis do not even acknowledge their condition. They would rather allow fate to take its desired path than worry about uncontrollable circumstances. This type of mindset may actually allow some mothers to survive their condition by staying stress free.
Of course, not every mother can stay strong. It is natural to worry and stress about your life with mesothelioma, especially if you are a mother of a baby. The troubled thoughts about your child's future may haunt you every night.
The main thing mothers with a mesothelioma prognosis need to do is to keep their children on their mind. The fight to survive for your children is very important. The fight to survive for my child was the reason I am here today. No child should grow up wondering what its mother was like.
Article Written by Jackie Clark:
Jackie joined the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance in 1995 as research assistance after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in English with a specialty in technical and medical research. Since then, Jackie has grown to oversee all web content production and authoritative processes, including the esteemed HONcode accreditation for reliable and verified health information on the web. Jackie supervises a team of medical writers and produces much of the website’s content for mesothelioma cancer awareness and outreach efforts.
Jackie can be reached at jclarkmca@gmail.com
