Mesothelioma survivors are living longer with the cancer than ever before. Breakthroughs in traditional treatments and integrating alternative therapies have helped mesothelioma survivors live on average 12 to 21 months following a diagnosis.
A person with mesothelioma is called a survivor from the time they’re diagnosed and for the rest of their life. If you’re living with this cancer, you’re a mesothelioma survivor.
Some people live much longer than expected, even reaching mesothelioma remission. This is often achieved with the help of advanced and sometimes aggressive treatments, a strong care team, and a proactive approach to their health.
Because it’s a rare and aggressive cancer, mesothelioma survivors form a strong community of people who have faced unique challenges. There are many ways survivors, caregivers, and their families help one another. Sharing their insights and firsthand experiences in online communities such as private Facebook support groups and getting involved in awareness and advocacy efforts helps others in a similar situation.
Learn about your diagnosis, top doctors and how to pay for treatment in our free mesothelioma guide.
Why Do Some Mesothelioma Patients Live Longer Than Others?
How long you may live with mesothelioma depends on where your tumors first started to develop, how far the cancer has spread, your overall health, and how well your body responds to treatment. Most long-term survivors worked with an experienced mesothelioma doctor.
Factors That May Extend Survival
Age: A patient’s age can affect how the body handles treatment. But your overall health, treatment choices and support often matter more than age alone.
Cell type: Epithelioid mesothelioma cells tend to respond better to treatment.
Early stage: Those diagnosed early may be able to have aggressive tumor removing surgery because tumors haven’t spread further yet.
Gender: Some studies have shown nearly triple the 5-year survival rate for women.
Treatment: Choosing to get treatment can slow mesothelioma’s spread, ease symptoms and improve survival.
Tumor location: Peritoneal mesothelioma tends to respond better to aggressive treatments and spread less aggressively than pleural mesothelioma.
Many long-term mesothelioma survivors also pursue a second opinion to ensure they receive the best treatment option. A 2023 clinical trial showed 25% of people with advanced pleural mesothelioma lived more than 3 years when treated with both immunotherapy and chemotherapy. Survival was improved for stage 4 patients as well. A recent case study featured the story of a patient who lived 11 years after diagnosis with chemo and immunotherapy.
New treatments and clinical trials are helping many patients live longer, even those with late-stage mesothelioma. New surgery methods, better drug combinations, and more targeted treatments are helping more people with mesothelioma live longer.
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Support for Mesothelioma Survivors and Their Families
Finding out that you or a loved one has mesothelioma can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to go through it alone. There are many resources for mesothelioma caregivers and survivors. Patient Advocates, for example, are a key resource for families living with mesothelioma.
They can connect you with mesothelioma-specific support groups, financial assistance, and mesothelioma specialists with experience successfully treating survivors with similar cases. Our Patient Advocate team can also help with your claims for VA benefits, help you navigate insurance, assist with scheduling your appointments, and offer personalized support throughout your journey. Their assistance is always free.
Mesothelioma Resources and Support
Educational resources: Information covering details about this rare cancer, treatment options, specialized cancer centers and experts to help guide you from The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com can help you make empowered choices.
Financial support: There are a variety of financial assistance options available. Patient Advocates can help you understand and navigate these options. The VA-accredited claims agents in our Veterans Department can also help you file your benefits claim.
Firsthand experiences: The survivors we work with generously share their personal, firsthand experiences with the community in our series of Stories From Survivors. They also share tips and answer questions from fellow survivors and caregivers when hosting webinars.
Patient advocacy: Our Patient Advocate team brings extensive and diverse experience to the support they offer mesothelioma survivors and their loved ones. With medical doctors, veterans, a registered nurse, a certified oncology patient navigator, and experts in medical and hospice outreach, this unique mesothelioma resource is here to support survivors.
Support groups: Support groups help build an essential community and offer an opportunity to exchange ideas and information. Our online support group is open to patients and caregivers with a mental health counselor facilitating discussions.
Many resources are also available for families coping with the physical and emotional challenges of helping a loved one cope with mesothelioma. These resources include tips for emergency planning, diet and nutrition, communication strategies for speaking with specialists and avoiding caregiver burnout.
How The Mesothelioma Center Helps Patients Improve Survival
The Patient Advocates at The Mesothelioma Center help match patients with doctors and medical resources. They also offer continued free support, guiding survivors and their loved ones through the health care system. People we’ve helped have shared stories about how we’ve supported them and their families.
Mesothelioma caregiver Lee Bailes tells us, “Patient Advocate Karen Selby has been my angel. I can’t tell you how amazing she has been through every step of the way. Her knowledge has been golden for us. From connecting us with specialists to just bouncing ideas off her, I couldn’t have done this for Michael without her. We’d be lost.”
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New treatments, medical advancements, and earlier detection have helped mesothelioma survivors live longer and improve their chances of survival. Their stories show that it’s possible to keep fighting and not give up. These survivor stories offer hope and encouragement to others on the same journey.
I had pain in my back, and I couldn’t lay down. The pain was unbearable. We went right to the hospital. The emergency room, they did an x-ray and came back and the doctor told me that I had a large tumor. Then they ended up doing a biopsy. And that’s how they found out that I had mesothelioma. I was scared. I went online, and I found this, you know, organization at Asbestos.com. And, I had talked to Karen, and she was very encouraging, and, she helped me a lot. She sent me information that I mean, I never dreamed there was that much information about it. She was so positive about doing well and getting better. She was awesome. She’s, she’s an awesome lady. I ended up having chemo, and I think it’s called immunotherapy. After my third, therapy, the tumor had shrunk quite a bit. And that was amazing. To me, that was awesome, you know. My husband, Anthony. He ended up doing everything. He did the housework. He cooked. I just didn’t think he would take over the way he did. Just support me as much as he did. He’s an awesome guy. I had so many people just be there to help me and support me through this. Thank you. Thank you for being there for me and doing what you did for me.
Mesothelioma survivor shares her story.
[PIANO MUSIC PLAYING] I’m Tamron Little. I am from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. I am a wife to a veteran of 13 years and counting and a mom of four. I have two boys and two girls. When I was first diagnosed when I was pregnant, I was told I had a fibroid tumor. And even after my pregnancy, I was still told I had a fibroid tumor. And asking women in my family, because fibroid tumors run in my family, they’re like, oh, it’s fine. You’re going to be OK. So I really didn’t think too much of it. But when I was told that I had cancer, it was a shocker. The doctor came in and I remember it like it was yesterday. And he said, you have cancer. Mesothelioma, to be exact. It really didn’t register because I was just like in the Twilight Zone. And everybody was moving around me and all of these emotions were going on. And I was just– felt like I was kind of stuck just– wow. Oh my gosh. And they were coming in and telling me, people don’t survive much with this. And they was just giving me all this. And I’m just like, I haven’t even heard of mesothelioma. First of all, what is mesothelioma? I met Dr. Levine and he is a specialist in mesothelioma. He told me about a surgery and it’s called the HIPEC surgery, which he was very confident in. Since the HIPEC procedure, I have not had any cancer recurrences. So I’m a 13 year and counting survivor. You can survive and have a thriving life after mesothelioma. Asbestos.com is a great resource because I didn’t have hardly anything when I was first diagnosed. I had to go to different places to find out information that just made me even more fearful. But being able to go to one place, Asbestos.com, and get everything that you need in one place is great. I mean, I would recommend it for anybody. [PIANO MUSIC PLAYING]
Mesothelioma survivor shares his story.
My name is Epifanio Figueroa. In my days when I was a young kid, they didn’t tell us that asbestos was bad for you. I I knew it once I was sick. I think that’s one of the things that have caused a lot of damage to people, Not knowing, not having that information because the people that actually manufacture all those things don’t want us to know how dangerous it is. It started with my stomach growing, being getting bigger, and it didn’t stop getting bigger. We went to Brigham Young. There, I got six chemotherapies. The tumors in my body were diminishing to the point that, the last time that I went, the doctor says we can’t see almost anything there. And I feel great. I’m alive because of my wife. She was my mentor, my advisor. I owe her my life. That’s that’s what I can tell you. To all my buddies that have mesothelioma, once you get off the treatment, sweep that under the rug and keep on going forward.
Stories From Our Wall of Hope
Our Wall of Hope features stories mesothelioma survivors have personally shared with us. Many of these survivors share firsthand insights into their long-term survival and the challenges they overcame. Survivors share details about treatments they chose to have and the ways they’ve improved their personal outlook or prognosis. Their stories showcase their resilience and hope for the future.
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.
Alexis was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma in 2007 at age 37. She had major surgery that removed part of her diaphragm, yet she kept her wedding plans in place. Alexis and her husband don’t know how many wedding anniversaries they will have, but they celebrate their time together.
Michelle wanted something special to commemorate her 10-year milestone as a mesothelioma survivor. She had an artist tattoo “FAITH” on her left wrist, where she could see it anytime she needed help. “I do believe everything happens for a reason, and I have faith that God has a plan for me.”
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.
Ruth opted against the conventional treatments following her peritoneal mesothelioma diagnosis in 1999. She found Quantum Immunotherapy, in Freeport, Bahamas, which focused on rebuilding her immune system. She now relies on vitamins, supplements and herbal formulas to stay healthy.
Kevin Hession is passionate about sharing his story and reaching out to other mesothelioma survivors. Kevin was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma in August 2021. His goal is to raise awareness about this rare cancer and help others who are on similar journeys.
Raeleen is a 10-year survivor. She was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma when she was only 36 years old. “The day that I was told I was going to die I was 36 years old and a mother,” Raeleen told us. Now she’s sharing some advice for other survivors on the same journey as herself.
Michael talks about some of the key beliefs he has when it comes to surviving mesothelioma. He also shares some of the most difficult things about his mesothelioma journey.
We honor the stories of mesothelioma survivors who lived their lives to the fullest before they died. Their stories serve as a reminder of the medical advancements needed to cure this disease.
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.
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.
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.
Col. Doug Thomas served as chief of operations for the Long Range Precision Fires Cross-Functional Team at the Fort Sill Army Base. He was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma in May 2020 and underwent extensive treatment at the Baylor Medical Center in Houston. “When I was diagnosed with mesothelioma it made me realize the disproportionate number of veterans who develop cancer compared to their civilian counterparts,” he said. Doug died in May 2021.
Sydney R., of Katy, Texas, never forgot what she learned fighting for her life as a child more than 60 years ago, framing her perspective as she battled malignant pleural mesothelioma. She was diagnosed in 2011. “If you’re unlucky enough to get this disease (mesothelioma), then you better put your big-girl clothes on, and come ready for a fight,” she said. “It’s the only way you’re going to make it through. You have to be aggressive.”
Andy survived a horrific motorcycle crash in 2004 that almost killed him, and he had every intention of surviving his 2010 diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma. Andy was not a surgical candidate because his cancer had already metastasized, but he found something better. With the help of mesothelioma specialist Dr. David Jablons, Andy enrolled in a clinical trial involving amatuximab. He also used medical cannabis. Andy died in 2017.
Wayne N. knew exactly what caused the mesothelioma cancer that pushed him into an earlier-than-planned retirement as a union electrician in Cincinnati, Ohio. Wayne believed his mesothelioma developed after a 35-year career as an electrician handling insulation material. He was diagnosed in 1991. A good friend and fellow union member he worked close with died from mesothelioma. Wayne died in 2016.
Sissy Hoffman was first diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma in 1996 and told she had 6 months to live. She survived 29 years after her diagnosis, passing away in January 2025. She lived in New York, California and Georgia, teaching and directing schools. In her retirement she volunteered, sharing her time mentoring others.
Dr. Berlinda Love, a pastor and podcaster, just received a diagnosis of pericardial mesothelioma in June 2024. The 71-year-old spiritual leader went to her doctor because of a nagging cough she’d been dealing with for quite a while.
Yes. Some patients have survived mesothelioma. Patients typically live 12-21 months with treatment. But survivors like Tamron Little and Kim Mardil have lived several years after their diagnoses. These survivors underwent treatment plans that included surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
What are some long-term effects or complications of mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma and its treatment may cause long-term nerve pain, edema, weight loss and fatigue. Breathing difficulties and digestive issues may result from pleural or peritoneal mesothelioma, respectively.
How often should mesothelioma survivors undergo follow-up appointments or scans?
The frequency of follow-up appointments depends on the patient and the type of treatment they receive. Your doctor may recommend scans every three or four months, and routine check-ups may occur more frequently.
Can mesothelioma recur after treatment?
Yes, unfortunately, mesothelioma commonly recurs after treatment. Depending on the stage of the disease, recurrences may be treated with surgery, immunotherapy, chemotherapy or radiation. Many patients have lived for years with mesothelioma thanks to effective treatment of recurring tumors.
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Asbestos.com is the nation’s most trusted mesothelioma resource
The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com has provided patients and their loved ones the most updated and reliable information on mesothelioma and asbestos exposure since 2006.
Our team of Patient Advocates includes a medical doctor, a registered nurse, health services administrators, veterans, VA-accredited Claims Agents, an oncology patient navigator and hospice care expert. Their combined expertise means we help any mesothelioma patient or loved one through every step of their cancer journey.
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Whitmer, M. (2025, October 1). Mesothelioma Survivors. Asbestos.com. Retrieved December 11, 2025, from https://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma/survivors/
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Whitmer, Michelle. "Mesothelioma Survivors." Asbestos.com, 1 Oct 2025, https://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma/survivors/.
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Whitmer, Michelle. "Mesothelioma Survivors." Asbestos.com. Last modified October 1, 2025. https://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma/survivors/.
Dana Nolan, MS, LMHC, is a licensed mental health counselor who leads The Mesothelioma Center’s monthly support group. She specializes in working with people affected by cancer. Dana has experience with inpatient and outpatient counseling, and clinical research in the U.S. and Australia. Dana practices in Altamonte Springs, Fla.
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