Recently I was contacted by Heather who wanted to share her story about surviving Mesothelioma, a lung cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Heather was about the same age as I was when Hadley was born, so the thought of fighting for your life just when you should be your happiest with a new baby really shakes me. Heather wants her story to be one of purpose and she wants to offer guidance, inspiration and hope to others in situations like hers.
So, here’s Heather:
Finding Hope in Mesothelioma
Never in a million years could I have imagined that I would hear the words, “You
have cancer.†Hearing those words made me tremble with fear. In a matter of
months, I went from being the happiest person in the world because of the birth
of my daughter to someone who’s been rattled with fear because of my
mesothelioma cancer diagnosis. The fact that my cancer was pleural
mesothelioma cancer that was caused from asbestos exposure made me feel
even worse.
have cancer.†Hearing those words made me tremble with fear. In a matter of
months, I went from being the happiest person in the world because of the birth
of my daughter to someone who’s been rattled with fear because of my
mesothelioma cancer diagnosis. The fact that my cancer was pleural
mesothelioma cancer that was caused from asbestos exposure made me feel
even worse.
I was so confused when I got my mesothelioma diagnosis. Learning that it came
from asbestos, I wondered how asbestos could have affected me. I asked
myself the same questions that many others asked me. “Isn’t asbestos
illegal?†“Where did I work that had me to be exposed to asbestos?†I learned
that asbestos is not illegal, and that most people who work in trades are exposed
to it. I quickly realized that my father was the reason for my asbestos
exposure. My father’s job consisted of being around drywall, mudding, and
sanding. Every night when he came home with what seemed to be innocent
white dust on his clothes, he was actually bringing me and the rest of our family
into contact with millions of asbestos fibers.
from asbestos, I wondered how asbestos could have affected me. I asked
myself the same questions that many others asked me. “Isn’t asbestos
illegal?†“Where did I work that had me to be exposed to asbestos?†I learned
that asbestos is not illegal, and that most people who work in trades are exposed
to it. I quickly realized that my father was the reason for my asbestos
exposure. My father’s job consisted of being around drywall, mudding, and
sanding. Every night when he came home with what seemed to be innocent
white dust on his clothes, he was actually bringing me and the rest of our family
into contact with millions of asbestos fibers.
I was diagnosed at a very young age. I was only 36 when I was diagnosed. I did
not fit the description of the typical mesothelioma patient. Most of these patients
were older males who worked on ships in the military or in the areas of plumbing,
heating, electrical, and mechanical. I did not fit the description of the other
mesothelioma patients. These other mesothelioma patients were the wives of
the military and construction workers; these women handled the laundry that
contained the asbestos. Even secretaries in schools also were diagnosed; they
were exposed daily to asbestos fibers at their schools.
not fit the description of the typical mesothelioma patient. Most of these patients
were older males who worked on ships in the military or in the areas of plumbing,
heating, electrical, and mechanical. I did not fit the description of the other
mesothelioma patients. These other mesothelioma patients were the wives of
the military and construction workers; these women handled the laundry that
contained the asbestos. Even secretaries in schools also were diagnosed; they
were exposed daily to asbestos fibers at their schools.
The new mesothelioma sufferers look like me and have backgrounds similar to
mine; they were exposed to asbestos by their construction-working
fathers. They are also young like me. They are in their late 20’s and early 30’s,
beginning to have families, starting new jobs, and enjoying the benefits of
marriage. Now all of these new ventures come to a halt with the mesothelioma
diagnosis. As with all things, there is always good news. More people are
surviving the disease because of advances in treatments for the disease.
mine; they were exposed to asbestos by their construction-working
fathers. They are also young like me. They are in their late 20’s and early 30’s,
beginning to have families, starting new jobs, and enjoying the benefits of
marriage. Now all of these new ventures come to a halt with the mesothelioma
diagnosis. As with all things, there is always good news. More people are
surviving the disease because of advances in treatments for the disease.
Yes, learning that cancer is in your body is devastating news. However, through
hope and a community of mesothelioma sufferers, we are able to share the good
times and bad times with a great group of people who are just like us.
hope and a community of mesothelioma sufferers, we are able to share the good
times and bad times with a great group of people who are just like us.
I will always continue to share my story. I will bring awareness to this
disease. Because of this awareness, fewer people will have to suffer. If I can
help someone, whether it is a newly diagnosed patient or a sufferer living in fear of this disease, then I know I am doing the right thing.
disease. Because of this awareness, fewer people will have to suffer. If I can
help someone, whether it is a newly diagnosed patient or a sufferer living in fear of this disease, then I know I am doing the right thing.
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