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Sometimes it’s the little things that make the biggest difference. What you do with yourself after you’re diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer like mesothelioma can have a big effect on your prognosis. One that can make a big difference is “How Crafts Can Help Keep Cancer Sufferers Occupied.”

Advice from the longest living mesothelioma sufferer Paul Kraus states that keeping yourself busy is vital for improving your prognosis.

If you currently suffer from a terminal cancer such as malignant mesothelioma, you can check out information on this disease on this site, here are some of the ways in which crafts can keep cancer sufferers occupied, and why that’s so important.

Why is Keeping Yourself Occupied So Important?

Long hours spent doing nothing is hazardous for cancer sufferers. The rate of depression for cancer sufferers is higher than that of the rest of the population.

After a mesothelioma diagnosis it’s difficult to fight off feelings of desperation and hopelessness. And depression is a killer because it has a disabling effect.

Sufferers of cancer and depression are less likely to play an active role in their treatment. This naturally leads to a less promising prognosis.

Crafts are Fun

Everyone enjoys crafts in some form. They take you back to school days and they naturally bring a level of joy to people who participate in them.

That’s why terminal cancer sufferers can benefit. They create endorphins in the brain that help to fight off feelings of depression.

You’re more likely to believe that you’re going to survive if you’re in a better state of mind.

A Chance to Socialize

Another reason to indulge in crafts is that it gives you access to the local community. Joining a community group will give you a better chance of meeting other people.

In some areas of the country there are even groups designed for cancer sufferers. They help people come together and talk about their experiences in a fun environment that’s less clinical and more about being social.

Get Out of the House

Local crafts groups also allow people to get out of the house when they would otherwise have stayed at home. It’s a chance to take a brisk walk and to keep fit.

Crafts are a useful motivational tool for many terminal cancer sufferers who are already on the edge of depression. It’s well-known that physical activity helps to improve blood flow and strengthen the body.

Art Therapy

Some parts of the world are referring to crafts as ‘art therapy’. The role of art therapy can help people to open up more about their feelings.

It’s easy to bottle things up because you don’t want to be a burden to those closest to you. Art therapy helps those feelings come out.

Getting those negative emotions out into the open is vital because if they stay inside they’ll consume you. It’s why a lot of cancer sufferers develop depression over a period of time.

Last Word – Make Crafts a Part of Your Day

As you can see, there are so many benefits to indulging in crafts. They’re good for your emotional state, give you a chance to socialize, and if you must get out and about they can be good for your fitness levels.

Do you think crafts are a good idea for fighting an aggressive form of cancer like mesothelioma?