Patient Stories
Here mesothelioma patients and their families tell their stories, helping raise awareness and inspire others. If you’d like to share your experience and make a difference to people affected by mesothelioma please contact meso@sandstarcomms.com.
Or, if you’d like to record your story yourself, see https://www.mesothelioma.uk.com/share-your-story/.
John Harvey
John is 72 years old and was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2021. At the time, John was told he probably had around six months to live. Shockingly,...
Brian Cassidy
Brian is determined not to let mesothelioma quell his spirit. Here he tells us about his experience as well as what he is doing to help others who...
Monica Johnston’s Story
Monica, a nurse for almost 46 years, had never heard of mesothelioma until she was diagnosed nearly six months ago. Living in Northern Ireland, she...
Emma’s Story
After her initial visit to her GP with a cough she couldn’t shift, it took further visits and nearly a year for Emma to get a diagnosis of...
Doreen Montgomery
Doreen Montgomery Doreen is 68 years old and was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2021. Doreen worked in local government before retiring; she does...
Tony’s Story
Tony sadly passed away on the 1st January 2022 following a 4.5year battle with pleural mesothelioma. He was diagnosed in July 2017 at the age of 60....
Patricia Diss
Patricia Rose Diss was diagnosed with mesothelioma in September 2018 after being exposed to asbestos at her workplace, an office in Thames House,...
Patient story – Karen Spence
Karen’s husband, Mick, died of mesothelioma in 2020, very shortly after diagnosis. Karen shares their story in the hope that others will not be...
Rosemary Wallis
‘The Lady Who Knits for England’ Rosemary Wallis died of mesothelioma in April 2013, six months after diagnosis, aged 67. It is likely that she was...
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Patient Blogs
David Staley was diagnosed in October 2015, three weeks before his 40th birthday. Having never knowingly worked with asbestos, the diagnosis was a complete bombshell.
Three weeks after diagnosis, David had his left lung removed before starting four months of chemotherapy in January 2016. He’s now back at work full time, trying to lead a ‘normal’ life with his wife Alison and children Joshua & Erin.
David is extremely grateful for the support from family, friends, doctors, nurses etc and believes that he wouldn’t be where he is today without it.
https://davestaleyblog.wordpress.com/
Dr. Mags Portman began writing her blog in January 2017 after being diagnosed with mesothelioma, aged 42. Mags is a Consultant at Mortimer Market Centre in London, which is part of Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust.
https://notdoingthingsbyhalf.wordpress.com
Tragically, Mags Portman died in February 2019. Mags was a true inspiration, committed to research and finding better treatments even if, as she herself said, she wouldn’t be able to ‘ride the crest of the wave.’ Our sincere condolences go to Mags’ family.
Mavis Nye was diagnosed with mesothelioma when she was exposed to asbestos from her husband’s work clothes decades ago. However, since the diagnosis Mavis has certainly been busy having set up two websites, written a book about the day to day life of dealing with mesothelioma and becoming an active part of Meso Warriors. Mavis was awarded with the IATP 2013 Award for her work in raising asbestos awareness around the world.
Caleb Saunderson, 46, was diagnosed with both pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma in 2017. After a course of chemotherapy, Caleb’s cancer is now stable. He is working and living a ‘new kind of normal’ with his family.