The word "cancer" is pretty much the last thing you want to hear when at the doctor's office. That being said, there are some cancers that are worse than others. It is rare that anyone will ever hear a diagnosis of Mesothelioma, but it can be a brutal finding for those that do. This is particularly true when the patient is a loved one.

Mesothelioma [Me-so-th-ee-lee-oh-ma] is a cancer of the mesothelium. The mesothelium is a lubricated double layer that is found throughout the organs of the chest and abdomen. The mesothelium acts as protection for the organs while also allowing them to move freely so that the heart may beat, the lungs may inhale and so on. Mesothelioma is cancerous growths in this layer and is most often associated with the inhalation of asbestos at some point in one's life.

There is really no way to sugarcoat a Mesothelioma diagnosis. Less than 10 percent of patients will be alive five years after the initial diagnosis. The cancer is so difficult because it is very hard to diagnose until the very late stages. It can take from 30 to 50 years following exposure to asbestos before the disease manifests. At that late stage, however, the condition of the patient is often irreversible.

So, what do you do? What if your spouse comes home with the news? There are no easy answers. The first step is to find out their exact condition and possible courses of treatment. Doctors often tout conservative treatments for various health problems, but not with Mesothelioma. The first step is often aggressive surgery to remove impacted areas which may include the removal of a lung, diaphragm and so on. The key is to provide support to the patient. While the survival rate is less than 10 percent, there is a survival rate. Why not your loved one?

The second issue to consider is your mental state. Consider the biggest problem with Alzheimer's Disease. The patient actually has little discomfort as dementia sets in. Instead, it is the family members that tend to be slowly destroyed as they have to deal with the frustration of having a parent no longer even recognize them. The same goes for Mesothelioma in that there isn't much you can do, which is very frustrating. Get into a support group where you can voice frustrations and meet others going through the same thing. It will make a world of difference.

Mesothelioma is a brutally difficult diagnosis to deal with when it comes to health problems. That doesn't mean your loved one can't beat it. Whatever the result, you will need to support them and take care of yourself as well.