You’ll probably need help in coping with how mesothelioma has affected your life — from medical treatment to paying your expenses to dealing with the emotional aftershocks. Many hospitals and cancer centers have social workers on staff to help people with mesothelioma coordinate all the services they need, including counseling and therapy for themselves and their families, and home care when necessary. Mesothelioma: Seeking Out a Social Worker There is no one-size-fits-all service package when it comes to dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of mesothelioma. For this reason, it's important to talk with a social worker, often available through your hospital or other health care provider. "A social worker or skilled nurse case manager [can advise] the family about its different needs," says Tanis Hernandez, MSW, outreach coordinator for the Center for Asbestos Related Disease in Libby, Mont. A social worker can evaluate whether an individual or family needs help contacting a lawyer — about advance directives like a durable power of attorney for health care or a potential lawsuit if the disease was caused by working conditions — or a therapist about individual or family counseling, hospice care, and home health care. Mesothelioma: Available Services Here are some services that are available, and how they can help you: Counseling. This can come in the form of individual counseling for the person with mesothelioma, the caregiver, the spouse, or individual family members, says Hernandez. Group counseling for the patient and family, or caregiver, is also important. This will provide a safe environment to discuss fears, concerns, and the responsibilities that each face. Support groups are also an option for patients, caregivers, and families to talk about their experiences and get advice from others. Respite care. When you get out of the hospital after treatment, you may need someone to take care of you until you can resume daily tasks. You and your family may worry about who can help while everyone is at work — and that's where respite care comes in. Hernandez says that nurses can provide home care and help with dressing, bathing, and feeding while caregivers go to work, lunch, or even just take a break. Legal help. There are legal documents worth considering after a mesothelioma diagnosis, says Hernandez, like a durable power of attorney for health care, a living will, and a do-not-resuscitate order (DNR). These advance directives should be considered before you become too ill. A social worker can help you figure out which ones you need, and tell you how to have them prepared. You may also want to talk with an attorney about filing a potential lawsuit regarding how you contracted mesothelioma. Your social worker or case manager may be able to recommend a good law firm, or some advocacy organizations to point you in the right direction. Religious services. You may be interested in — or confused by — faith and religion right now. You may want to talk to a spiritual leader, like a priest, minister, chaplain, or rabbi, about what you're going through. Whether you find peace in spirituality or you have questions, a social worker can also recommend spiritual counseling for you and your family. Pain management. Significant pain from a mesothelioma tumor or following surgery is very common in people with this disease. If you have pain from your illness or treatment that you can't manage with a doctor's help, seeing a pain management specialist or visiting a pain center is an option. These specialists focus on controlling pain, and may offer more ways to do that than your doctor does. It may take some time to digest and accept a mesothelioma diagnosis. Once you're ready, take comfort in knowing that resources are available to help you deal with the aspects of your life affected by this disease.