Our blog aims to spread awareness of mesothelioma and share stories that a patient or loved one can relate to. We interview survivors of the disease, recap our monthly support group and blog about caregiving, raising awareness, veteran issues and tips for leading a healthy lifestyle. In addition we bring light to how asbestos cancer affects patients and their families.
My dad always enjoyed celebrating the holidays, especially Father’s Day. Unlike Christmas or Thanksgiving, Father’s Day was all about him. It is a day families spend together, expressing their love and appreciation for the father figures in their lives. Most men revel in the attention and enjoy time spent with friends and family. My father…
Pleural mesothelioma isn’t an issue for Tim Crisler anymore. Aggressive surgery that removed a lung and major parts of his diaphragm 15 years ago eliminated the cancer that hasn’t returned. His problem is the residual pain that never subsides and the growing unavailability of the pain medication that once held it in check, allowing him…
Every year, stores gear advertisements toward Father’s Day shoppers. Store owners design displays to draw in the average customer looking for the perfect gift for the father figure in their life. Sometimes, patrons come across grills and patio furniture strategically arranged to remind them of the perfect barbecue with dad. Other stores build power tool…
Actinolite is one of the six minerals in the asbestos group. Once hailed as a wonder material for its fireproofing qualities, asbestos is now synonymous with mesothelioma cancer, and its use is either banned or heavily regulated in the developed nations of the world. Given its notoriety for causing an incurable and aggressive cancer, I…
Diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma at age 15, Alyssa Hankus’ adolescence was anything but normal. She missed nearly her entire freshman year of high school and spent much of her sophomore and junior years in and out of hospitals dealing with the effects of aggressive cancer treatments. “I wanted everything that wasn’t necessarily promised to me…
Every single day, I meet people looking for answers. Whether the patient was recently diagnosed with cancer and has questions or is waiting to hear about a terrifying diagnosis, my job is make them feel safe. It’s not an easy task. I have been a thoracic surgeon for 11 years. For 11 years, I have…
This weekend, people around the U.S. will come together with family and friends to celebrate Memorial Day. While this day has a reputation for BBQs and family gatherings, it truly is a day to remember those who selflessly gave their lives to shape our great nation. Thousands of veterans will gather at parades, cemeteries and…
Judy Goodson met her mesothelioma diagnosis with uncommon optimism. Instead of focusing on the prognosis or worst case scenario, she thoroughly researched the rare cancer. She was determined to beat it. By the time doctors diagnosed her with peritoneal mesothelioma in March 2013, Goodson had already survived non-Hodgkin lymphoma. CT scans from that cancer eventually…
Mesothelioma is a cruel disease. As I watched it slowly rob my fit and healthy 52-year-old husband, Brian, of everything he had loved about his life — including the simple pleasure of eating — I lost interest in my own existence. I wanted nothing more than to care for Brian to the best of my…
My family experienced many grief-related emotions with Dad’s mesothelioma cancer diagnosis. It was a hard time in our lives, and for me, the emotional difficulties were long lasting. Patients and caregivers may experience feelings of grief associated with fighting aggressive cancer. Dealing with the diagnosis is tough, and suffering loss is often devastating. Over time,…
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