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This paper reports on a research study of five patients diagnosed with mesothelioma. The study used a phenomenological approach to explore patients' lived experience using in-depth interviews. The findings identify that patients have many unmet psychosocial and emotional needs and that there was a lack of information provided to patients about specialist supportive and palliative care services. A number of the patients found specialist supportive care by chance rather than by referral. In addition, patients were involved in complex medico-legal matters in relation to asbestos exposure, and this was an additional burden for them and their spouse or carer. A feeling of social isolation was also reported and a number of patients would welcome the opportunity to meet with other people in the same situation as themselves. In conclusion, there is a lack of attention to the emotional needs of this group of patients, which means that supportive care resources are not being accessed in a timely and flexible manner.

Guidance was needed on children's developmental stages and how to communicate with children of different ages. In addition, guidance was needed on assessing family needs and access to up to date resources. To enable nurses to engage with the issue of children, strategies of peer support and further educational opportunities need to be implemented.

Objective: This study explores patient's experience during the first three months following a diagnosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma.Methods: This study uses a grounded theory approach with semi-structured, face-toface interviews with ten patients during the first 3 months following diagnosis.