Pleural mesothelioma survivor Michael Cole details his personal story. He explains his challenging surgery, symptoms he experienced and his recovery process. Despite all this, he has not despaired.
Tim originally decided against surgery and chemotherapy when he was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma in 2002, but his daughter convinced him otherwise. He underwent an extrapleural pneumonectomy at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He was among America’s longest-living male pleural mesothelioma survivors. Tim died in December 2023.
Dinah made a quick return to work even before being diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma in 2020. She goes into detail about her chemotherapy treatments and how she's received so much support from her friends and family.
Emily found the best mesothelioma surgeon at the time, Dr. David Sugarbaker. Emily credited Sugarbaker for her nearly 10-year survival with pleural mesothelioma. Despite being forced to retire from nursing, she continued caring for others by volunteering and supporting the mesothelioma community. Emily died in May 2022.
Lisa is a lung cancer survivor who credits the late Dr. David Sugarbaker for saving her life. She explains her surgery where her lung was removed and talks about her successful recovery.
Cheryl’s diagnosis didn't limit her desire to serve others. She worked as a board-certified family physician and volunteered in her community. “I try to live every day as positively as I can,” Cheryl said Her treatments included a pleurectomy and decortication surgery, chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Cheryl died in October 2023.
Patricia’s love of travel wouldn’t let her stay down after the chemotherapy, pleurectomy and decortication surgery. Before treatment, she had traveled to 47 states and five continents. “I learned a long time ago, you can lose everything, but that travel experience, it never goes away,” she said.
In 2016, Quincy turned his diagnosis into an opportunity for stand-up comedy, appearing on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and later having an HBO special filmed after chemotherapy. Following cytoreductive surgery and a second round of chemotherapy, Quincy has returned to performing stand-up comedy.
Tamron shares her experience after being diagnosed with COVID-19 for a second time years after becoming a mesothelioma survivor. She explains what helped her recover and realize how strong she can be when faced with health issues.
Trina traveled the country and loved every minute of it after recovering from a combination of cytoreductive surgery and heated chemotherapy. She was diagnosed young at 36, which gave her a fighting chance at long-term survival. “The diagnosis was devastating", Trina said.
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