New Year’s Eve is a great time for people to refresh their minds and decide what they want to accomplish in the upcoming year. Mesothelioma patients can use this time to set goals for themselves that will help them stay encouraged, inspired, and strong to fight their disease.
Learn more about some goals you may want to achieve in 2022.
A Chance for a New Beginning
As 2021 comes to an end, many people reflect on what they have accomplished and experienced. Many individuals will look to create resolutions and goals to reach during the upcoming year.
The creation of New Year’s resolutions dates back to over 4,000 years ago, with the ancient Babylonians. They used this time to celebrate living another year and to make promises for the upcoming year.
Since then, many people have created resolutions in the hope of becoming happier and healthier. Common New Year’s resolutions include staying active, eating healthier, saving money, spending time with family, and more.
Goals for Mesothelioma Patients in 2022
Mesothelioma patients often go through a lot physically and mentally when undergoing cancer treatment. This can greatly impact their overall quality of life.
Setting New Year’s resolutions and creating goals for the new year is a great way to stay positive during your mesothelioma journey.
Find some New Year’s resolutions for mesothelioma patients that you can adopt in 2022 below.
Stay Active
Exercising more and staying active is a very common New Year’s resolution. Physical activity can help people achieve their goals of losing weight, finding a new hobby, and improving their overall physical health.
Becoming more active is a great New Year’s resolution for individuals with mesothelioma. Exercising can help improve a patient’s overall well-being, and healthier, fitter individuals may have access to aggressive, life-extending treatment options such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Weaker patients who are in poor health may not otherwise qualify for these cancer treatments.
Staying active can also release chemicals called endorphins. These chemicals keep patients happy, and they can also act to reduce pain.
Fitness can also keep mesothelioma patients busy and give them a sense of peace in the midst of their hectic treatment schedules.
Some popular exercise methods for mesothelioma patients include:
- Breathing exercises
- Jogging
- Light weightlifting
- Pilates
- Stretching
- Walking
- Yoga
Try to exercise at a level that you are comfortable with, and listen to your body if you need to rest.
Eat Well
Many people vow to eat healthier during the new year to fuel their bodies and stay healthy. Eating right and getting the proper nutrition are incredibly important for mesothelioma patients.
Side effects from certain cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation, can greatly affect a patient’s appetite. This can make it difficult for mesothelioma patients to eat nutritious meals.
Mesothelioma patients must eat well to maintain energy levels, strength, weight, and more. Maintaining proper nutrition may also help patients better tolerate treatment side effects, and strengthen the immune system to fight off infection.
This year, mesothelioma patients can aim to incorporate more healthy and nutritious foods into their diets.
Some foods that mesothelioma patients should eat more of include:
- Apples
- Asparagus
- Broccoli
- Flaxseed
- Kale
- Legumes
- Spinach
- Whole grains
Be sure to eat enough fruits, vegetables, and protein with every meal to ensure you are getting the necessary vitamins and minerals your body needs.
Organize Your Schedule
In this day and age, many people are so busy that they often forget to create a clear schedule to stay organized.
Mesothelioma patients have to juggle busy treatment schedules as they fight their disease. Some patients must balance countless doctor appointments, medication routines, and more.
Cancer treatment can be overwhelming and hard to keep up with. One of the best ways to navigate a busy schedule is to write down your routines, goals, and notes so you don’t forget them.
Keeping a planner can help ensure you remember important appointments, treatment schedules, and symptoms. By recording these and other details, you will be able to stay organized and report any important information to your care team and loved ones.
Get your free cancer planner from us today to begin organizing your mesothelioma treatment plans.
Spend Time With Loved Ones
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have been forced to spend significant time apart from their loved ones. As a result, some are promising to reconnect with family and friends to make up for lost time, while others may feel as if they don’t have the time to see their loved ones due to work, children, and other commitments.
This also rings true for mesothelioma patients. Between navigating COVID-19 protocols and hectic treatment schedules, many patients may want to aim to spend more quality time with those they cherish.
Spending time with family and friends can greatly improve a mesothelioma patient’s spirits and help them feel less lonely as they fight their disease.
There are plenty of ways mesothelioma patients can safely spend time with their loved ones and make the most of their time together. You can share a meal, go for a walk, watch a movie, play a game, or recall fond memories with your family and friends.
Thankfully, apps such as FaceTime, Skype, and Zoom give us the ability to engage with our loved ones from the comfort of our own home. This can help mesothelioma patients who are unable to leave the house remain connected with their loved ones.
Stay Positive
A mesothelioma diagnosis can flip a patient’s entire world upside down, as mesothelioma is an aggressive disease that often has a poor prognosis.
Because of this, many mesothelioma patients may have feelings of anger, confusion, uncertainty, and hopelessness. Cancer patients often develop depression or anxiety due to their condition.
That’s why it’s incredibly important for patients to stay positive during the cancer journey. Staying hopeful and positive can greatly improve the mental health of a mesothelioma patient.
Talking out pessimistic feelings can help improve your overall state of mind. There are many support options available for mesothelioma patients, such as talk therapy, support groups, and online forums. These resources can help relieve patients of some of their negative thoughts and feelings.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma and want to learn more about emotional support options, contact the Mesothelioma Hope team.
