Anthony Rich goes above the line of duty. When the accredited asbestos building inspector leaves work for the day, his job doesn’t end. In 23 years working in the industry, Rich has spent countless hours independently researching and collecting the infamous substance he deals with at job sites every day – deadly asbestos. “I guess…

For one day of the year, people around the world gather to celebrate the lives of mesothelioma survivors, caregivers and those taken from us much too soon. For just one day, we reflect on the inspiring medical advancements researchers and physicians are making to change the lives of patients everywhere. Today is that day. Today…

Health advocates and others around the country are raising awareness about mesothelioma and the dangers of asbestos as they commemorate Mesothelioma Awareness Day on Sept. 26. It is with their help and the support of mesothelioma survivors, caregivers and loved ones that we can make a difference for every person around the world who is…

It’s been more than a month after a record 6.9 trillion gallons of rain — enough to fill 10.4 million Olympic-size swimming pools — pounded Louisiana for an entire week. The intensity of the rainstorms, flooding, aftermath and recovery in my hometown of Baton Rouge reminded me of my own 7-year battle with peritoneal mesothelioma….

As part of my personal healing process, I joined a U.K. Facebook group for people who have lost loved ones to mesothelioma. Having lost my father in 1993, I still have strong emotions surrounding our loss. What I found in this online group is nothing short of amazing. I sought comfort and support, and I…

It took many years for the pain of losing my father to subside. Through my personal healing, I am now able to look back on my life in a different way. Mesothelioma nearly destroyed my family, but it also forced us to build anew. I could meticulously detail the heartbreak of losing him should I…

Mesothelioma survivor Walter Merth brought 10 fishing poles and enough tackle to catch every bass in Black Lake, taking his unbridled optimism to the family’s late-summer vacation spot in upstate New York. He is thriving again thanks to a successful immunotherapy drug. Keytruda, also known by its generic name pembrolizumab and marketed by Merck &…

Of all the words in the English language, “asbestos” is the only one that angers me or moves me to tears. It wasn’t always this way. I grew up in an era where asbestos was commonplace. The building industry used it extensively because of its affordability and durability. An estimated 98 percent of all homes…

Having mesothelioma can change many elements of a person’s life, including physical appearance, emotional well-being and relationships with other people. My father endured many physical changes, such as weight loss and hair loss, and emotions took a toll on his mental state. His diagnosis also affected many of his relationships. Perhaps one of the most…

Last month, pleural mesothelioma survivor Al Moylan left home one afternoon on his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, joining family and friends for the 120-mile, back roads ride to Curtis’ All American Barbecue in Putney, Vermont. Moylan topped the life-is-good, wind-in-your-face day with a delectable slab of Georgia-style pork ribs with the secret recipe sauce. It wasn’t the…