Blog — CancerLyfe

Heather Von St James | A Mesothelioma Cancer Survivor Story

I’ve outlived my original prognosis and continue to raise awareness of this terrible disease.

By Heather

Updated Apr 11, 2023

Without treatment, I wouldn’t live past 15 months. In November of 2005 my doctor said I had malignant pleural mesothelioma. He said “cancer”, but all I heard was that I might not be able to raise my three month old daughter, and my husband might become a widower after just six and a half years of marriage. I learned that my father, a man who worked in drywall construction, had unknowingly exposed his own little girl to asbestos through his work jacket. Treatment options were limited and there was no guarantee. Today, I’ve outlived my original prognosis and continue to raise awareness of this terrible disease.