Guest Posting: Mesothelioma: The New Generation

A few days ago I received an email from a woman that had told me she wanted to share her story with me and my blog readers!  After reading her story I was amazed.  Her name is Heather and here it goes....

When I was told, "you have cancer", I felt fear down to my very core. The dreadful news came at one of the best times of my life, as I had become a new mother three months earlier. The only thing more shocking than those three words was that the cancer, called pleural mesothelioma, was brought about by exposure to asbestos. When I told people about my situation, the first question was, "isn't asbestos banned?". This was followed by speculation on how and where I could have been exposed. Asbestos is not banned and as it turns out, my exposure was secondary. My father was a construction worker whose main duties were sanding and taping drywall. The dust that resulted from his work was in his car and all over his clothes. It seemed innocent enough as a byproduct of a hard day's work, but it contained millions of tiny fibers that would eventually make me ill.

My diagnosis did not fit the usual profile of someone with mesothelioma. I am 36 and female, while the typical patient is an older male trades worker. Men who worked in jobs such as mechanics, plumbers, electricians or were in the military were often exposed to asbestos. The wives of these men became sick after laundering clothes that were covered with dust and fibers. Some women who taught or otherwise worked in school buildings that contained a lot of asbestos were found to have the disease.

I was the beginning of an alarming new generation of mesothelioma. More young people in the prime of their lives are turning up with this illness. They were children who could not wait to hug their fathers when they returned home or wear his dusty jacket so they would not get their own coat dirty while feeding a pet. These children liked to hang out with their dads after they spent the day wrapping pipes with insulation, never suspecting the health hazard. The more time I spend in the mesothelioma community, the more young patients I meet who are just starting out with jobs, marriages and children. Their lives are brought to a standstill in order to fight the disease. There is good news, though. Many advances have been made in mesothelioma treatment, which has led to a much higher survival rate for patients in every age group.


 Hearing that I had cancer was devastating, but along with many others who have mesothelioma, I have hope. Our community was formed to support, share experiences and feelings, and to celebrate victories together.

I am telling my story because I want to increase awareness about mesothelioma and bring about change. If sharing my experience can help someone cope with their diagnosis and be less fearful of the outcome, then I have made the right choice.

Imagine having a 3 month old and having to fight for your life!  Thank you so much for sharing Heather!  Here is a link to Heather's blog to learn more: www.mesothelioma.com/blog/authors/heather