We have been touched by asbestos in individual ways, yet we are joined together by a common bond of community. As a testament to the strength of our global family, Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) is highlighting the courageous stories of our members with the new “Share Your Story” feature on our website.
This week, we would like to honor the courageous story of Janelle.
We encourage you to submit your personal stories by clicking here and following the simple instructions on the page. In sharing, comes healing. Remember, you are not alone.
JANELLE’S STORY
Name: Janelle
Age: 35
State: Indiana
Date of 1st Symptoms: 30-JAN-2010
Date of Diagnosis: 01-March-2007
Diagnosis: Pleural Mesothelioma
Treatment: thoracentesis, chemotherapy, pleurodesis with chest tube drainage and talc, extrapleural pneumonectomy, 30 rounds of radiation, and physical therapy
How has Asbestos changed your life? (unedited): I was a 31 years old wife with a 4 year old when I was diagnosed with Pleural Mesothelioma. It started with trouble breathing, pain around my left rib and a constant cough. It was a matter of weeks and I went from being healthy to fighting for my life. I was told I would not survive Mesothelioma , that there was no cure. I came to believe it. Then my family doctor sent me to see Valerie Rusch at the Memorial Sloan- Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. I started to feel some hope but during my first appointment she had looked over all my test and examined me and gave me some hard news to hear. She said by the looks of my test and by the sound of things she was afraid the cancer was to far progress for surgery. It was like getting the diagnosed all over again. She said that she would take me to surgery and if she could get all the cancer she would otherwise she would not do anything. The surgery was a success!
Since surgery it has been a long road to recovery, I have came a long way but I know I will never be the same again. I had a hard time getting off the pain medications and I suffered with severe depression. Some days I can deal with the new me and other days it is harder to except. I just try to continue to improve my life every day. I continue to travel to New York for all my appointments. I am on medications for nerve damage and I go to the gym to keep my one lung strong.
I have been cancer free for 43 months and that is a blessing. I attended the Symposium for Mesothelioma in Washington DC last year and it was a very positive experience. I started changing anger into action thru advocacy. I also held my first 5k walk/run in my town to raise money for research.
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View our previous stories HERE.