Inspirational Mesothelioma Survival Stories
By Warren Miller. 9th August 2022
Malignant mesothelioma is a very aggressive cancer that develops from the mesothelium, the protective membrane lining the inside of the body's serous cavities. Although there is no cure for mesothelioma, advancements in medicine and cancer research are helping some patients live longer.
We have listed a few inspiration mesothelioma survival stories to encourage to those fighting this disease.
8 year survival story from Morocco
A 71 year old former mine worker in Morocco with a history of smoking went to his doctor with a pain in his chest. He was referred to a pulmonologist for a CT scan. Chest pain is one of the classic symptoms of mesothelioma, but it is also a symptom of many other types of respiratory and heart problems.
A CT scan of the his chest revealed pleural thickening of the right lung. This pleural thickening is another common symptom of mesothelioma, especially in people with a history of asbestos exposure.
He then had tests that confirmed that the mesothelioma cancer had not spread beyond the pleural cavity. He then had 6 cycles of chemotherapy known as PC and CarboTaxo.
The patient was put under surveillance with a maintenance CT Scan every 4 months, then every 6 months. Each scan showed stable pleural thickening and no suspicious lesions. This treatment protocol has meant that he is now an 8-year survivor of mesothelioma
Still alive more than 24 years after diagnosis
Paul Kraus was diagnosed in 1997 with mesothelioma that was so widespread, he was given a very poor prognosis. He decided to create his own tailored treatment protocol that included life style change, experimental therapies, dietary changes, mind-body medicine, and other modalities. The protocol he and his doctors created helped him keep the mesothelioma in check and he is still alive today - more than 24 years after diagnosis.
He was born in 1944 in a Nazi labour camp in Austria. He lost many family members to the Holocaust, but his father survived a concentration camp and was liberated by the U.S. Army and reunited with his family. The Kraus family immigrated to Australia in 1948 where Paul became a history teacher and writer. He was exposed to asbestos when worked in a factory as a student.
His book “ Surviving Mesothelioma and Other Cancers: A Patient’s Guide ” details his cancer voyage, the decisions he made, and his philosophies about health and healing. In addition to his natural courses of treatment, Kraus underwent surgeries to remove some of the metastatic tumours. His healing journey took years, and he still engages in many of the holistic practices.
Paul believes that his survival is related to his belief that “a diagnosis is not destiny” and that “people can conquer cancer because there is far more to this illness than just a doctor’s bad news.”
UK's longest living Mesothelioma Patient on Immunotherapy
Dr. Mavis Nye was diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma back in 2009. Like many women who develop mesothelioma, she was not exposed to asbestos at work, but links the mesothelioma to asbestos brought home on the clothing of her lifelong partner who worked as an apprentice shipyard worker at the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham.
When she was told that she had Mesothelioma, it was explained that it was terminal, that there was no cure and no treatment available. The prognosis was a life expectancy of about three months. She was treated with chemotherapy for four years and then participated in a clinical trial of immunotherapy at the Royal Marsden. For her the immunotherapy has had a positive effect and has kept her mesothelioma at bay.
Now the longest living person with mesothelioma in the United Kingdom, she has dedicated herself to raising awareness of the dangers of asbestos and was recently voted Most Influential Individual for 2021 by readers of the publication Safety and Health Practitioner.
Inspiring cases from The USA
Mr M. was diagnosed Pleural mesothelioma in 2011 aged just 29 and was told he had less than a year to live. Through chemotherapy and a surgery known as an extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP), he became a pleural mesothelioma survivor by far outliving his initial prognosis. He and his wife were able to welcome their first child in 2016.
It was his daughter who motivated Mr M to dedicate his life to advocating for the ban of asbestos and promoting research toward a cure. He volunteered as Eastern Co-Regional Director of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), sharing his story at congressional staff briefings.
Despite a period of remission, he lost his battle with mesothelioma in April 2020. Today, he is remembered for his legacy of fierce advocacy for mesothelioma victims and his fight to help ban asbestos-containing products.
Mrs J was diagnosed with Peritoneal mesothelioma in 2006 aged just 36. She had secondary exposure to asbestos as a child through her father, who worked as an electrician in the 1970s. Mrs J was diagnosis with peritoneal mesothelioma a year after her father died from asbestos-related lung cancer. She was given 6-12 months to live, but was determined to fight the disease to care for her young to her daughter.
She travelled around the US to ensure she received the best medical care possible. After five intensive surgeries and multiple rounds of chemotherapy, her mesothelioma cancer is now stable. She now works as a mesothelioma advocate, speaking at several conferences and meeting with Congress to push for a full asbestos ban.
Mr E was diagnosed with Pleural mesothelioma in 2002, having suffered with pain in his shoulder and rib cage for 8 years. He was exposed to asbestos for most of his life in the auto industry. He worked as a mechanic at a series of Ford dealerships from 1950 to 1998.
After his diagnosis, his doctors developed a multimodal approach to treatment that included chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery which helped him to survive mesothelioma well beyond the average life expectancy. Throughout his diagnosis, he was known for visiting St. Louis area union halls and mechanic shops to educate workers about the dangers of asbestos.
Sadly, he passed away after a seven-year mesothelioma battle. He maintained a positive attitude throughout his disease that served as an inspiration for others.
Mrs G was diagnosed with Peritoneal mesothelioma in 2010 aged 40. She underwent a surgery called cytoreduction with HIPEC to remove the cancer from her abdominal cavity.
More than a decade after being diagnosed, she is still living her life and finding ways to give back to others. She volunteers for the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation and helps lead a prayer group for families of mesothelioma victims, survivors, and caregivers.
If you or a family member have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and would like to talk to someone about claiming compensation, please call the number below and ask for Kathy or Warren. Or you could contact us on our online chat, or request a call-back and we will call at your convenience.
Author
Warren Miller MSc. BSc
Claims manager and website author
Warren has been assisting victims of Mesothelioma and asbestos cancer for more than 18 years. He is also the senior technical author of this website, responsible for sourcing legal and medical material beneficial to those who may been recently diagnosed with an asbestos disease.. Read more >
