Carla Fasolo shares that she had experienced depression in the past. When she was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma in 2021, she was worried how her cancer journey would impact her mental health.
“I have experienced depression for a long time,” Carla tells The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com. “I was afraid that when I was diagnosed, this was really going to overwhelm me and take me further down.”
Coping with the stress of a mesothelioma diagnosis can have serious effects on patients and their families. As expert Dana Nolan, MS, LMHC, explains, “Mesothelioma patients and their loved ones may experience anxiety, depression and other understandable, yet difficult, mental health symptoms.”
For those who have a history of depression, a mesothelioma diagnosis can exacerbate their symptoms. Nolan says having support is critical.
“In our monthly mesothelioma support group, group members share their struggles with anxiety, sadness, fear or depression,” she notes. “Having the outlet to talk about their thoughts and feelings provides a sense of relief.”
Carla says support made the difference for her. Seeing her friends and family support her during her time of need gave her a more positive outlook.
“Having the people around me and supporting me the way they do – I don’t feel depressed anymore,” Carla tells us. “I don’t cry anymore like I used to. I don’t understand it, but I think it’s just the people and the support that I get.”
She adds, “It’s been incredible. It really has. Given my history with depression, I remember thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, having cancer is going to be hard.’ But then, with everybody who came out, it was just amazing.”
The Impact of Aggressive Cancer on Mental Health
“There are so many different forms of cancer, but mesothelioma is something that’s very unique,” Carla says. “It’s different. It can be very, very aggressive. It spreads to major organs and can grow very rapidly.”
Because mesothelioma is such a rare cancer, it doesn’t have the large-scale community like those associated with other cancers. And because it is such an aggressive cancer, treatment can also be aggressive with difficult recoveries, it can be particularly emotionally and psychologically taxing.
Carla says with regard to treatment, “It’s so different from other kinds of cancer. Mesothelioma needs to be treated differently. It’s like if you need a podiatrist and go to a regular doctor. You’re not getting the same kind of treatment. You need to have a special doctor, one with some mesothelioma knowledge.”
Just as patients should see a mesothelioma specialist for their physical treatment, Nolan says, “Counselors with expertise in cancer can help mesothelioma patients and their caregivers feel better. Counselors can also provide a lot of practical advice on how to manage the social and emotional challenges of living with mesothelioma.”
After Carla underwent several rounds of chemotherapy and immunotherapy to treat her mesothelioma, she says she experienced fatigue. Today, she says she feels 100% better physically, but she still has low energy levels. Following her recovery, Carla quit smoking and now follows a healthy diet to help herself feel better.
“I don’t go out as much as I used to,” Carla shares. “But I seem to enjoy what I have around me more than I ever did before.”
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