Mesothelioma Stories

Examples of Mesothelioma Stories

There are a lot of mesothelioma stories that showcase the courage and fearlessness of cancer patients and their families. These stories feature people overcoming a discouraging prognosis and poor long-term survival chances. They involve patients having to endure long cycles of treatment, difficult side effects and more.

Some of these stories ended in patients passing away despite their brave battles with mesothelioma. Others are mesothelioma survivor stories. Some of these stories even include victims filing a mesothelioma lawsuit and getting compensation.

Mesothelioma Treatment Stories

Mesothelioma treatment stories are ones involving lengthy rounds of therapy and other treatment. These stories include patients undergoing surgery or receiving chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapy.

These stories are important to people currently facing mesothelioma. Cancer treatment may seem overwhelming for newly diagnosed patients. They may read about the side effects of chemotherapy or mortality rates of surgery and hesitate to start these medical procedures and therapies.

These mesothelioma treatment stories are evidence of how modern medicine can help save the lives of cancer patients. They are examples of how surgery, immunotherapy and other emerging cancer treatment options can kill mesothelioma tumors and potentially cure patients.

Mesothelioma Lawsuit Stories

Mesothelioma lawsuit stories are examples of patients who bravely faced the companies that wronged them through asbestos exposure. These stories either ended in mesothelioma settlements, verdicts or asbestos trust fund claims.

Many people and their families hesitate to file lawsuits or asbestos trust fund claims because they aren’t the “type” to take legal action. This is admirable, but it also lets the guilty asbestos manufacturing companies off the hook.

These companies should be held accountable and required to pay compensation for their unethical business decisions. Making them own up to their wrongdoings will help prevent other companies in the future from committing the same errors. This may save other people’s lives and prevent other cancer diagnoses.

If nothing else, mesothelioma lawsuit stories are examples of how filing a lawsuit or an asbestos trust fund claim can help pay for treatment. Mesothelioma treatment costs are high, and most patients don’t have enough money in savings to cover the tens of thousands of dollars required for surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation and more.

Mesothelioma lawsuits can help cover these costs, in addition to lost wages from missing work, family members taking time away from work, potential funeral costs in the unfortunate event that the patient dies, and more costs.

There should be no guilt in filing a mesothelioma lawsuit. The mesothelioma lawsuit stories are examples of brave individuals who held the guilty asbestos companies accountable and protected themselves and their families’ financial futures.

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Mesothelioma Story:

Alexis Kidd

Alexis Kidd received a peritoneal mesothelioma diagnosis back in 2007. She was 37 years old at the time and living in Texas.

“At that point,” she said, “I didn’t even know what mesothelioma was.”

Alexis underwent intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) and cytoreductive surgery. This operation, performed at Houston Methodist Hospital, has led Alexis to being one of the longest peritoneal mesothelioma survivors ever.

Alexis never learned where she was exposed to asbestos, which prevented her from filing a lawsuit. She also said she never wanted to file one. All that matters to her is she survived surgery.

Alexis has been a consistent voice of hope and inspiration to the mesothelioma community. She is one of the rare cases of a patient diagnosed before the age of 40. Her youthfulness at the time of her diagnosis may have worked in her favor.

Alexis was able to endure HIPEC surgery and now offers words of wisdom to patients.

“You get to live, you get to enjoy your life,” Alexis said. “There are challenges, lots of challenges, but you get more time to do whatever it is you want to do in your life.”

Mesothelioma Story:

Yvette K.

Yvette K. was one of the brave mesothelioma victims who faced her diagnosis and legal battle head on. She filed a legal claim for her pleural mesothelioma, which she was diagnosed with in 2015.

However, the marathon runner beat the odds of survival. She became part of the “8% club” by surviving for three years. Only 8% of people with mesothelioma live for that long after diagnosis. Yvette even became one of the 5% of patients to live for five years. Unfortunately, she passed away in 2023 after an 8-year battle with mesothelioma.

Yvette was brave enough to face treatment that included chemotherapy, extrapleural pneumonectomy surgery and radiation therapy. During surgery, she had her entire right lung removed to take out the tumors.

“When I first went in (for chemotherapy), I was told if I didn’t do any treatment that they’d only give me six months (to live),” Yvette said in an interview with Mesothelioma Guide back in 2019. “I told them I’m not giving up. I’ll treat it like training for a marathon.”

After her initial round of treatment, Yvette was diagnosed with tumors in her spine. She had a second surgery to remove that cancer in May 2017. She even had a stroke and went on life support briefly. However, in 2019, she had no signs of cancer.

Yvette met with lawyers to learn how she was exposed to asbestos. She pursued legal options thanks to her best friend’s encouragement. Her mesothelioma lawsuit story is an example of what compensation can do for patients needing to pay for expensive medical procedures.

“It has been a blessing because some of the money I got paid for the surgeries and other expenses,” Yvette said.

Mesothelioma Story:

Larry Samuels

Larry Samuels is one of the most inspiring mesothelioma stories of anyone. While he didn’t have the same lengthy survival as some, he still is a story that anyone facing mesothelioma should read — especially veterans of the armed forces.

Mesothelioma affects veterans at a disproportionate rate, and many former military service members develop this disease due to the use of asbestos to build ships, aircraft, barracks and more.

He is a veteran of the U.S. Navy after serving from 1972-1975. His job title, or rating, was Boiler Tender. His pay grade, or rate, at the end of his service was E5 Second Class Petty Officer. This is equivalent to a U.S. Army Sergeant. He also worked for three years in the Brooklyn Navy Yard as a Boilermaker Mechanic on ships. Any of his responsibilities aboard Naval ships may have exposed him to asbestos.

Larry, who was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma in May 2020, unfortunately passed away from his mesothelioma in March of 2022. However, he battled his cancer with courage and fearlessness, like so many others.

Larry used the Complete Mesothelioma Guide book from Mesothelioma Guide to learn everything he could about this cancer. This knowledge includes understanding VA claims and compensation options, in addition to his legal avenues.

“The Guide was very helpful,” he said in an interview with Mesothelioma Guide in 2021.

SURVIVORS & THEIR STORIES

Jodi Page

Pleural Mesothelioma

Diagnosed in 1990

Alexis Kidd

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Diagnosed in 2007

Paul Kraus

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Diagnosed in 1992

Read the Stories of Other Mesothelioma Survivors

Mesothelioma Story:

Jodi Page

Mesothelioma survivor Jodi Page was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma just after Christmas in 1999. Initially, her mesothelioma story started with her being diagnosed in stage 3 or stage 4, which would leave her with few treatment options. Jodi then saw a specialist at the Mayo Clinic, and her diagnosis was dropped to stage 2.

This second opinion opened up more therapeutic options for Jodi. She was eligible for surgery, which may have saved her life. She surpassed the 20-year survival mark in 2019 and has celebrated Christmas in a unique manner ever since her operation put her in remission from mesothelioma.

“I don’t do anything until February when I had my surgery and had everything removed,” Jodi told Mesothelioma Guide during an interview a few years ago. “On that date I make it a point to call or communicate with each member of my family and tell them how much I love them and am glad I’m still around.”

Mesothelioma Story:

Linda P.

Linda P. is another of the mesothelioma stories where the patient faced her disease head on – and also faced a lawsuit bravely. Linda passed away from her mesothelioma in 2020 after a fight of more than two years. She was diagnosed in December 2017 with stage 3 biphasic pleural mesothelioma.

She overcame her original prognosis of one year thanks to the love of her family and friends in Kentucky, along with the expertise of mesothelioma specialists all across the United States.

Linda received chemotherapy and immunotherapy. A clinical trial at the National Cancer Institute offered the immunotherapy drug Keytruda, which helped tremendously for a while. Once her cancer started spreading and chemotherapy became too difficult, Linda entered the palliative portion of her treatment cycle. She passed away in February of 2020.

Linda survived for as long as she did thanks to the clinical trials and treatment she received at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland, which is a long way from her home in Kentucky. She also flew to Houston for treatment.

She was able to pay for flights due to compensation she got from filing a legal claim. Her mesothelioma lawsuit story is another example of just how valuable compensation can be to paying for travel costs and opening the door for treatment that can slow down this cancer. This compensation can give patients a few more precious months – or even years – to make unforgettable memories with friends and family.

“It would’ve been totally different,” Laurie, Linda’s daughter, told Mesothelioma Guide during an interview in 2020. “I truly feel like going to Houston and Bethesda gave us 12-18 more months with her that we wouldn’t have had if we didn’t do that. So for us it was priceless.”

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, contact Mesothelioma Guide today. You are entitled to specialized treatment and legal compensation.

Talk with our Registered Nurse, Karen Ritter, or speak with an experienced mesothelioma attorney to know your options.

Sources & Author

About the Writer, Camryn Keeble

Camryn Keeble is the senior content writer and editor for Mesothelioma Guide. She creates informative content to educate mesothelioma patients and their loved ones on news, treatments and more. She also works diligently to raise awareness of the dangers of asbestos exposure and the effects of mesothelioma.