Getting diagnosed with mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer caused by asbestos, can come as a surprise to many.
Because symptoms can take 20-50 years to develop, this disease is often not identified until it has progressed to later stages — leaving many patients feeling overwhelmed about what comes next.
How did this happen? What can I expect? Are there others who have survived? These are just a few of the questions you and your family may be thinking about during this difficult time.
Contact Sokolove Law if you or a loved one was diagnosed with mesothelioma. We may be able to help you afford life-changing treatment.
Thankfully, these questions don’t have to go unanswered. Mesothelioma survivors’ stories can provide insight and hope for all those affected by this cancer.
10 Mesothelioma Survivor Stories
Mesothelioma survivors’ stories can inspire thousands of others who are suffering from this cancer and grappling with uncertainty about the future.
Stories from fellow asbestos exposure victims can help patients:
- Find an understanding and supportive community
- Get motivated to seek compensation for mesothelioma
- Identify treatment options and alternative therapies to ease their symptoms
Find out more about the lives of these 10 brave mesothelioma survivors and their journeys with this disease.
1. Brenda: Peritoneal Mesothelioma Survivor
Brenda, a Missouri resident, was unexpectedly diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma in 2004.
As a child, she had been exposed to microscopic asbestos fibers that stuck to her father’s work clothes. Years later, she was exposed again when her ex-husband, a mechanic, also unknowingly brought asbestos fibers into their home.
Despite the shock and devastation of her diagnosis, Brenda decided to face mesothelioma head-on. She researched top specialists to help her treat the cancer, and she strived to remain positive in the midst of a troubling prognosis.
"My positivity comes from family, praying a lot, and keeping myself busy with life. I keep all the positive things — digging in my garden, planting flowers, friendship, camaraderie — I live for at the front of my mind."
– Brenda, 4-Year Peritoneal Mesothelioma Survivor
Brenda survived peritoneal mesothelioma for years thanks to treatments like chemotherapy and surgery.
“I don’t think about the disease unless someone asks me about it. I think that’s the way you survive — you forget about it,” Brenda explained. “You live through it, you survive it, and you forget about it.”
2. Joe: Overcoming Mesothelioma for His Grandkids
In the 1960s and ‘70s, Joe worked as a gas station and school bus mechanic. While he serviced brakes and clutches, dust would fill the air and settle across the shop. He didn’t know it contained asbestos.
By the time he was in his 60s, Joe began to experience trouble breathing, a persistent cough, and heart attacks. During heart surgery, doctors noticed an issue with his lung lining, which led to an epithelioid pleural mesothelioma diagnosis.
Soon after, it became difficult for Joe to do the things he loved, like camping, fishing, and spending time with his grandkids.
“I want to help my grandchildren. They’re just starting out in life, and they need help, but I got to where I couldn’t do the things I wanted anymore.”
– Joe, 5-Year Pleural Mesothelioma Warrior & Client
Determined to fight back, Joe began undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatments. In order to afford his treatments, he filed a mesothelioma lawsuit against the company that made the asbestos-containing brakes he worked on.
After a rare battle in court, our mesothelioma attorneys helped win over $8.26 Million for Joe and his family.
3. Ernie: Veteran & Pleural Mesothelioma Survivor
At just 17 years old, Ernie joined the automotive industry as a mechanic, which is a high-risk occupation for asbestos exposure. After only a few years as an apprentice, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in Korea.
When he retired from the military, Ernie returned home and continued working as a mechanic until the late 1990s, when he began experiencing shortness of breath and shoulder pain.
Veterans make up 33% of all mesothelioma diagnoses due to the high amounts of asbestos used across every branch of the military.
Nearly a decade after his symptoms first began, Ernie was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma. His doctors began a triple-modality approach: chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery.
Combined with his lifelong positive attitude, these treatments helped Ernie survive mesothelioma for over 7 years following his diagnosis.
4. Ginger: Battling Cancer Alongside Her Husband
When Ginger received her mesothelioma diagnosis, she was only 40 years old. The news was especially devastating because her husband Jarrod was fighting a brain tumor at the time.
Both Ginger and Jarrod were unable to work due to their health, which left them with concerns about how to cover their living expenses and the cost of cancer treatments.
By filing a mesothelioma claim against the asbestos-related companies responsible for her illness, Ginger was able to secure much-needed compensation.
“Once the financial weight is off your brain, it’s easier to worry about the things that matter, like my treatments, getting better, and my quality of life.”
– Ginger, 15+ Year Mesothelioma Survivor & Client
After her diagnosis, Ginger went on to volunteer at the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation and lead a prayer group for patients, caregivers, and their families.
Find out if you may be eligible for mesothelioma settlements that can help pay for treatments and other expenses during a free, no-obligation case review.
Since 1979, Sokolove Law has secured more than $5.3 Billion for thousands of mesothelioma victims and their families.
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5. John: Stage 4 Mesothelioma Survivor
For over 40 years, John was a dedicated construction worker in Nevada. One morning in 2019, he woke up feeling unwell. His wife convinced him to go to a nearby clinic, where doctors discovered over 2 liters of fluid in his lungs.
Shortly after, John was diagnosed with stage 4 pleural mesothelioma. His mesothelioma specialists worked quickly to set him up with several rounds of chemotherapy.
“At first, it didn’t really sink in. The longer and longer I thought about it, I realized that it’s going to end my life eventually, but I’m going to live it as well as I can.”
– John, 6+ Year Mesothelioma Survivor & Firm Client
Thanks to the treatments he received, John is feeling much better. He’s back out on the golf course multiple times a week, spending as much time as possible with his friends and family members.
6. Julie: Surviving Secondhand Asbestos Exposure
Growing up, Julie’s father worked as an electrician. He often came home covered in dust from different worksites, unaware that microscopic asbestos fibers clung to his hair and clothes. In 2005, he sadly lost his life to asbestos-related lung cancer.
Asbestos changed Julie's life again in 2006, when doctors found a mass in her abdomen they believed to be ovarian cancer. During surgery, however, they discovered it was peritoneal mesothelioma. She was given 6-12 months to live.
With a young daughter at home, Julie was determined to seek treatments that would allow her child to grow up and remember her mother.
“I look back on this one day at a time thing, and all of a sudden, I realize I’ve accumulated a lot of days with my daughter. Soccer games, 8th-grade graduation, high school graduation, Christmases, and the start of college.”
– Julie, 19+ Year Peritoneal Mesothelioma Survivor
After undergoing several surgeries and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), doctors now consider her disease stable.
As a peritoneal mesothelioma survivor, Julie continues to advocate for victims of asbestos and encourages those diagnosed to seek legal help, so they can afford the same life-extending treatment she could.
7. Mary Jane: Long-Term Mesothelioma Survivor
Before her diagnosis, Mary Jane struggled with serious abdominal bloating for over a year, which caused her to lose an alarming 20 pounds. After a gallbladder surgery in 2003, doctors discovered she had peritoneal mesothelioma.
Mary Jane and her family immediately began searching for the best specialists who could treat her rare cancer. She underwent chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery, making dozens of trips from her home in Ohio all the way to New York for treatment.
To help pay for her travel expenses, Mary Jane pursued mesothelioma financial assistance from an asbestos lawsuit.
“It changes your life. When you have a disease that there is no cure for, it’s this dark cloud that hangs over your head. But I made it. I did it.”
– Mary Jane, 15-Year Peritoneal Mesothelioma Survivor
After becoming medically stable, Mary Jane shared her story and advocated for mesothelioma patients across the country. She lived as a long-term mesothelioma survivor for 15 years before passing away from Alzheimer's disease.
Call (800) 647-3434 now to see if Sokolove Law can help your family seek compensation for mesothelioma.
8. Ellen: Pleural Mesothelioma Survivor & Advocate
When Ellen Patton first began experiencing shortness of breath, she didn’t think it was anything serious. However, after seeing a doctor, she was shocked to learn she had pleural mesothelioma — and the cancer had already spread to both lungs.
At the time of her diagnosis, Ellen was only 41 years old. Since she wasn’t a candidate for surgery, she decided to pursue immunotherapy, which wasn’t covered by insurance. She was able to afford this treatment with legal payouts.
Today, Ellen has survived mesothelioma for over 2 decades. She now advocates for others affected by asbestos-related illnesses and has traveled to Washington, D.C., to push for a ban on the toxic substance.
“After outliving the 12 to 18 months prognosis I was given, I felt it was my duty to warn others of the dangers of asbestos. I needed to speak for those who had gone before me and could speak no more.”
– Ellen, 24+ Year Pleural Mesothelioma Survivor
Ellen was honored with the Alan Reinstein Award by the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) for her advocacy work. She also started a small business selling handmade soap, with a portion of the proceeds donated to ADAO.
9. Sissy: Longest Mesothelioma Survivor
In 1996, Sissy Hoffman, a teacher in California, was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma. Doctors recommended palliative care, and she was given just 6 months to live.
Despite the bleak prognosis, Sissy was determined to fight back. She flew to Massachusetts to undergo an extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP), an aggressive surgery that involves removing an entire lung. This was followed by chemotherapy.
Within 6 months, Sissy was back in the classroom. She continued teaching until she retired in her home state of Georgia, where she began working with Afghan refugees in her area.
Sissy defied the odds and went on to become the longest-living pleural mesothelioma survivor, outliving her original prognosis by more than 29 years. In 2025, she passed away at the age of 73, but her story continues to inspire generations of survivors.
10. Paul: Long-Term Peritoneal Mesothelioma Survivor
In 1997, Paul Kraus underwent surgery for what was supposed to be a routine hernia repair. Instead, doctors discovered peritoneal mesothelioma — a rare and aggressive cancer in the lining of his abdomen. He was given 6 months to live.
Paul wasn't a candidate for many traditional treatments. Under the guidance of his doctor, he implemented an alternative wellness plan that included meditation, exercise, dietary changes, high doses of vitamin C, and a plant-based chemotherapy replacement.
Over the years, Paul faced additional health challenges, including prostate cancer and a brain tumor. However, he continued to fight with unwavering determination, and his mesothelioma never spread.
Paul Kraus went on to live for 27 years after his diagnosis, becoming one of the longest mesothelioma survivors. In July 2024, Paul passed away from unrelated causes, leaving behind a legacy of hope for others facing this disease.
Ways to Improve Chances of Mesothelioma Survival
As these mesothelioma survivors’ stories have shown, long-term survival is possible. Early detection and prompt treatment are the best ways to improve your mesothelioma life expectancy.
Factors that impact how mesothelioma progresses include:
- Cell type
- Location of the tumor(s)
- Patient’s age and overall health
- Stage of the cancer at diagnosis
- Type of mesothelioma
- Whether or not the cancer has spread
Many patients have had success combining multiple types of treatment, like chemotherapy and immunotherapy, or by pairing traditional treatments with more holistic approaches. It’s important to discuss all mesothelioma treatment options with your medical team.
Some people may prefer treatments that ease symptoms, so they can live their remaining time as comfortably as possible. Other patients may want to do everything they can to extend their life expectancy, even if that means putting up with side effects.
No matter how you approach your treatment for mesothelioma, remember that there are resources available at every step to help you.
Sokolove Law Supports Mesothelioma Survivors & Their Families
Although there is currently no cure for mesothelioma, these mesothelioma survivors' stories prove that patients can live for years past their initial prognosis.
As a national mesothelioma law firm, Sokolove Law can help families in all 50 states seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and more.
If you have a case, our team may be able to:
- Negotiate a mesothelioma case settlement with the defendant(s)
- File VA benefit claims for veterans with asbestos-related diseases
- Submit claims with any asbestos trust funds set up by bankrupt asbestos companies
To date, we’ve recovered more than $5.3 Billion for mesothelioma patients and their loved ones.
Our mesothelioma attorneys are committed to fighting for your family. We don’t charge any upfront costs or hourly fees, so there’s no financial risk to taking legal action.
Call (800) 647-3434 now or fill out our contact form to find out how we may be able to support your family after a mesothelioma diagnosis.
