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A mesothelioma diagnosis can lead to many questions and emotions. Many cancer books offer answers, compassion and support during this time. They explain treatment, caregiving and legal options, among other valuable topics. Find recommended cancer reading below, including our free book with 100 Q&As.


01. Mesothelioma Book Offer

100 Questions & Answers About Mesothelioma

100 Questions & Answers About Mesothelioma has become a top resource for this rare cancer. It was created by healthcare professionals and family members of mesothelioma patients. By offering unique and valuable insights, it helps patients and their loved ones make informed decisions. This resource is available for free through our website.

This mesothelioma book covers topics that are important to patients and their families, including:

  • An overview of mesothelioma cancer
  • Caregiving and support for patients’ family members
  • Post-treatment recovery information and expectations
  • Support for coping with this diagnosis
  • Treatment options and advice
  • ​​Victims’ legal rights

About the Authors

Dr. Harvey I. Pass is a renowned thoracic surgeon who specializes in mesothelioma. Dr. Pass has been contributing to mesothelioma research since the 1990s. He has been involved in several clinical trials for promising mesothelioma treatments. Dr. Pass has also focused on research to help with early detection.

Mary Hesdorffer, NP, treated mesothelioma patients for more than 15 years. She later worked with the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation. She served as the nonprofit’s Executive Director until 2021.

Sarah Elizabeth and Sarah Ann Lake are the surviving wife and daughter of mesothelioma patient Phil Lake. Phil survived for nearly 10 years after his diagnosis. Sarah Elizabeth and Sarah Ann describe their experiences of caring for Phil. They also share ways they found support during that difficult time.

The authors of this mesothelioma book share their unique knowledge, insights and experiences around this cancer. This book has helped countless mesothelioma patients and their loved ones. It answers their most pressing questions and strives to make them feel supported.

Get Your Copy of This Free Mesothelioma Book Today.
02. Other Book Resources

Helpful Books About Cancer

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer, but traditional cancer resources may still be valuable. Our website also provides information and mesothelioma resources for patients and their families. We work to offer guidance for every step of the journey.

Other cancer books offer support for mesothelioma patients and their loved ones. Many books provide information about cancer diagnosis, caregiving and other relevant topics for battling mesothelioma. Some cancer books may help people with further research or provide a sense of community.

We have compiled a list of books to help further educate and support those dealing with a mesothelioma diagnosis.

What to Eat During Cancer Treatment

Following a cancer-specific diet offers many benefits to patients, especially during cancer treatment. What to Eat During Cancer Treatment covers many aspects of this topic, along with 130 recipes. Published in 2018 by the American Cancer Society, this book helps patients get the nutrition they need during treatment.

What to Eat During Cancer Treatment book cover

The book includes evidence-based research regarding common treatment side effects that affect eating. For instance, patients receiving chemotherapy often experience nausea and taste changes. Tips for cancer treatment nutrition can help manage these effects.

The book also features information about other food-related topics, like food safety, hydration and vitamin deficiencies. This book can be a comprehensive resource for mesothelioma patients undergoing cancer treatments.

The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen, Second Edition: Nourishing, Big-Flavor Recipes for Cancer Treatment and Recovery

A nutrient-rich, balanced diet may ease cancer treatment side effects for mesothelioma patients. This second edition of The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen, published in 2017, has 150 new and updated recipes for cancer patients.

The Cancer Fighting Kitchen book cover

These recipes may help patients address their needs at every stage of treatment. Each recipe is followed by a nutritional analysis, scientific-based research and explanations of the potential benefits of different foods.

Preparing meals while managing a diagnosis and treatment may be difficult. To help with this, many of this book’s recipes are easy to make.

Caregivers can also find tips for preparing meals and building a nutrition support team.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Cancer Book

Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Cancer Book is a collection of 101 personal cancer stories to help inspire and support others.

Book cover for Chicken Soup for the Soul: the Cancer Book

These stories were shared by cancer patients, their loved ones and medical professionals. This book covers a wide range of experiences, from diagnosis to treatment and recovery.

Some patients share about receiving their diagnosis or telling loved ones about it. Others discuss coping with treatment side effects and end-of-life care.

Readers also receive a bonus memoir, “It’s Just a Word” by cancer patient Elizabeth Bayer. Reviewers found the collected stories uplifting, inspiring and helpful.

The Caregiver’s Guide to Cancer: Compassionate Advice for Caring for You and Your Loved One

Caregivers of cancer patients face many emotions and challenges. The Caregiver’s Guide to Cancer offers advice to help caregivers look after themselves and their loved ones. This guide explains cancer to caregivers.

The Caregiver’s Guide to Cancer book cover

It also offers practical advice for self-care and effective patient support. Ultimately, this helps them with navigating decisions and learning to be an advocate.

The author, Victoria Landes, is a licensed clinical social worker. She has more than 30 years of experience in the medical field, with 12 years of experience in cancer care.

During this time, she worked with patients, survivors and their loved ones. In this book, she shares her invaluable perspective and expertise.

How Medicine Works and When It Doesn’t

Dr. F. Perry Wilson’s book How Medicine Works and When It Doesn’t provides insight into the crucial role of trust in the doctor-patient relationship.

Dr. Perry Wilson's book may help mesothelioma patients

Dr. Wilson emphasizes the importance of mutual trust for effective healthcare. However, he also highlights that issues within the healthcare system have damaged this trust for many people.

Dr. Wilson acknowledges the recent tension between patients and healthcare providers. His book attributes this tension to issues within the healthcare system. He observes that this has increased suffering and mistrust for some patients.

In his book, he offers solutions to overcome these challenges and rebuild trust. Dr. Wilson emphasizes that patients and doctors share common goals. He believes they can work together to fight disease and reduce suffering.

Braving Chemo

Mesothelioma patients may have chemotherapy in their treatment plans. Braving Chemo is a guidebook to help navigate this entire process.

Braving Chemo book cover

It explains what to expect, including side effects and how to manage them. This book also answers many of the biggest chemo questions with honesty and compassion.

The author, Beverly A. Zavaleta, is both a doctor and a cancer survivor. This allows her to speak from a unique perspective. She deeply understands patients’ questions and knows the science behind the answers.

Her book offers practical advice and emotional support for chemotherapy patients and their loved ones.

The Emperor of All Maladies

The history of cancer is long and complex, beginning centuries ago and still evolving today.

The Emperor of all Maladies book cover

The Emperor of All Maladies provides a full history of this illness.

Written as a biography of cancer, it touches on the first appearance of cancer in ancient times. It continues into the ongoing battle to find a cure.

This book is written by Siddhartha Mukherjee, a physician and researcher. He highlights notable points in cancer research and how they led to innovative treatments. It also explains the recent changes in our understanding of cancer.

This book is ideal for anyone looking to understand the full history of this disease.

When Breath Becomes Air

When Breath Becomes Air is a memoir by a neurosurgeon who was diagnosed with cancer.

When Breath Becomes Air book cover

In this book, Dr. Paul Kalanithi shares his story of diagnosis.

He explains how cancer changed his outlook on life and death. His memoir is a reflection on the abstract questions many cancer patients face.

This moving book may bring up many emotions for readers. But it may also offer comfort as Dr. Kalanithi processes his cancer diagnosis.

As both a patient and a doctor, his perspective may also offer valuable insights.

03. Support for Mesothelioma Patients

Additional Resources for Mesothelioma Patients and Their Families

Since 1996, Mesothelioma.com has worked to be the top resource for patients and their families. Our goal is to provide the information you need to make important medical and financial decisions.

To this end, we offer many resources to address the needs of the mesothelioma community. Our resources include support for caregivers, help finding treatment and access to legal guidance. Our free mesothelioma information guide can also answer many of the most common questions.

Through our website, patients can speak to mesothelioma survivor Heather Von St. James. She provides a listening ear and shares more about her own experience. For more than a decade, Heather has been a source of hope in this community.

“I distinctly remember it was the middle of the night. I couldn’t sleep, so I got up and went online and googled “mesothelioma.” It was not long after my diagnosis. I read some of Mesothelioma.com and filled out the form.

The next morning at about 10 am, Jennifer called me. For the first time, I felt like I was talking to someone who understood my concerns, my fear and what I was up against. She assured me that Dr. Sugarbaker was the absolute BEST choice for me, and she promised she would do everything she could for me. It was the start of a great relationship.”

Heather Von St. James

Caregiver Resources

Mesothelioma caregivers play an important but challenging role in patients’ lives. Finding the right resources and support system can greatly impact caregivers’ well-being. It also allows them to give patients the best care possible.

We offer in-depth information and support around many caregiver topics, including:

Find more information about these topics on our Caregiver Resources page.

Patient Resources

We are dedicated to providing vital resources for mesothelioma patients and their families. We have helped thousands of patients and their families navigate the challenges of a mesothelioma diagnosis. Visit our Patient Resources page to learn more about our offerings.

After a diagnosis, patients face many important decisions around treatment. Our free treatment guide explains standard and cutting-edge treatment options. We also help patients find mesothelioma doctors and cancer centers.

Our pages explain many mesothelioma topics in more detail, including:

  • Mesothelioma: Read an overview of this type of cancer with details about many important topics.
  • Pleural mesothelioma: Find the most up-to-date information on the most common type of mesothelioma.
  • Peritoneal mesothelioma: Find the most up-to-date information on the second-most common type of mesothelioma.
  • Mesothelioma treatment: Discover common treatment options and directories for specialized doctors and cancer centers.
  • Mesothelioma prognosis: Learn more about what a prognosis means and which factors may impact survival or help improve prognosis.
  • Mesothelioma nutrition: Read about tips for nutrition with a cancer diagnosis and how to manage treatment side effects through food.
  • Mesothelioma blog: Learn about emotional support tools, promising mesothelioma research, asbestos exposure and more.

We recognize the financial strain that comes along with a mesothelioma diagnosis. Financial assistance may be available to help with treatment costs and lost wages. We guide patients and their families throughout this process.

For those interested in legal action, we can make connections to mesothelioma lawyers who can help with every step of the process. This allows patients to focus on their treatment and time with loved ones.