Cure Mesothelioma!
Join our cause to raise awareness and research funds for mesothelioma research. Help four-year-old Zaida and thousands of mesothelioma patients throughout the country! Learn More
Fundraising: MESOTHELIOMA APPLIED RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC
Donations go to:
MESOTHELIOMA APPLIED RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit)
Offer hope and support to patients and families by educating them on the disease, helping them to obtain the most up-to-date information on treatment options and to connect with meso treatment specialists, and providing them assistance, emotional support and community with others;
Fund the highest quality and most promising meso research projects from around the world through rigorous peer-review; and
Raise awareness of meso, and advocate that the public and private sectors partner in the effort to cure it by directing the resources needed to stop this global tragedy.
Recent Cause Activity
My aunt was told she had this cancer more than a year and a half ago.She went through very extensive surgery and radiation/chemo therapy.She was a devoted Christian and was never angry at God.
She new from the begining what the inevitable outcome was going
to be.I can't tell you,there weren't days she was not down.But who wouldn't be.Its like being a prisioner on death row,waiting for your day to come.She and I became very close during this time.I do not work and she was home (not working) probably for the first time in 30 years.
She was told she probably got this type of cancer from working in a factory that had asbestos in the air.Most of my mom's family worked in that factory.But that was more than 20 years ago.Suddenly there were all kinds of lawyer ads on tv talking about this type of cancer.
Maybe they had always been on tv and I just noticed because I
knew someone that had it.This type of cancer can lay dormant
for 50 years.And it has been around a long time.When it does
become active it is a very aggressive form.She was a lady of maybe
5ft but she was a bossy,passionate, not afraid to tell you what was on her mind woman.She had a very strong will.If she hadn't we would have lost her long before we did.Her cancer made her even closer
to God.I visited her on a weekly basis,sometimes more.My husband had been working on our house (remodling).I took pics of everything he had done and took them to her as he would finish a project.It was
never said, but we both knew she woud never be at our home again.
My daughter is getting married in Dec of this year.My aunt was fortunate that she met my future son in law.She told me that
he was a good man and she knew he would make my daughter happy.
I made all the flowers for my daughters wedding.I just coulldn't get her
bouguet right.My aunt should have been an enterior decorator.She
could turn a brown paper bag into something beautiful.So I take my
daughter's bouguet to her.And I'll never forget what she said,"Well
good Lord,the first thing you need to do is take all the flowers out and start all over".We both laughed but, she helped me make her bouguet.
She will never see her marry but, loving touches of her will be everywhere.She left us on friday August 7th of this year.She went
very quietly out of our world into God's.She ALWAYS said,"If me having this cancer saves someone else's life,then for the glory of God it will have been worth it".Her children and husband and her sisters were there and myself.My mother quietly asked her husband,what his plans were.Strange question,I thought considering.But only he heard he ask.
And he responded,"See that laying there(pointing to my aunt) I am going to do whatever I have to do to see her again."Well praise God!
Her husband had never attended church with her before she was told
she had cancer but he never missed any until she was unable to go.So
even though we all will miss her and our hearts are still very sad.God had a bigger plan,and Ella May was the center of it.She would have loved that.I know he is not the only soul that was touched by what we seen as tragic.I ,as all our family will always miss her and reflect on
different stories we all have.She was only 59,a vibrant life loving woman.That was taken way to soon,if you ask anyone that knew her.
Today marks 7 years since I lost my father Herbie Dorf. He was the most amazing person that I have ever known. Everytime I hear my 2 year old neice laugh I hear him. My heart goes out to all that have lost and those fighting to find a cure. Love to you all.
I lost my father at the young age of 64 last year to this awful disease..
he was in the Merchant Navy on a ship called the Manchester Progress For
4 months just long enough for the asbestos from the pipes to get onto his lungs
I do pray but prays are not enough..no more people should go through
the pain my father went through or this pain and emptiness we now feel
Grandchildren growing up without a Grandfather
Me and Sister without a Father
My Mother without her husband
My grand-father just died on october 29th of malignant pleura mesothelioma. He lived with this cancer for 9 years! I dont even know if someone else survived that long with a non-curable cancer of this type. This cause is very important for me. Hopefully someday, there will be a cure for cancer. Way too much people die of this disease and it isnt pain-less.
I will running the Phoenix 1/2 marathon in January. It will be a SLOW run! Is anyone interested in forming a Meso Awareness Team? Could try to get some local publicity on the subject. I have a very dear family member with the disease and want to raise awareness of mesothelioma and support MARF in their efforts to find a cure and end the heartbreak of this terrible disease.
MY best friend who is 19y years old just got diagnosed with meso. It's heartbreaking and so hard. She is the youngest so far to be known to have meso. Its really hard and I'm still trying to figure how to deal. Love and Prayers to all!!
My grandfather was diagnosed with Meso and withing two months he was dead. It was fast and very painful. I hope I can help do my part to find a cure.
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These stories are really touching me, I am 33 and believe it or not I have Malignant Plural Mesothelioma and have been cancer free from it for 2 1/2 years! Reading this brings so much pain back to me. I have been through so so much pain with this cancer. Even my Radiation Oncologist told me that this cancer is probably the most painful cancer to have. Not only that it is no fun to have every breath you take be so painful. Breathing is suppose to be simple and its taken for granted. I was so scared when my lung liner would fill with 2-3 litters is = to 8 pounds) of fluid. not only was it like carry a baby on the left side of my body up against my whole nervous system hitting my nerves, when I would have it drained, they learn you over a table stick needles in your back to numb you and then they find a safe spot using an ultrasound defice to not hit anything major, they puncture your back with a long needle that is attatched to a tube to drain out the fluid, as your lung is being emptyed it was like a sponge being squeezed it was expanding with e scared to death because my breathing was so off the normal. The second time I went back to have it done again, the needle hit a nerve so instead of about passing out like the first time, I was yelling please stop something is wrong, my stomach was going through a wirlwind of nerve pain. I was so scared and they kept on draining till I was done, then they push you out in the hallway and you wait 2 hours to make sure they didn't puncture a lung and you lay there wondering if you can breath again normal.
I also had chemo 2 times and I was so sick, I couldn't move without throwing up. People always asked me what was my first symtoms were and that would be I felt like I had the flu. body ache head to toe, pain under my left rib and felt like I was sick. You get the flu and it usually last a week and you can't wait to feel better or just well. Its been almost 3 years and I still wake up and want to feel well, I don't understand why this has happened to me.
Then I had a surgery and was in the hospital 7 days they drained my lung permantly and patched it up with talc powder. When I was in the hospital I was so so angry, I wanted to leave the hospital well, you usually go in for surgery and leave with relieve that it is all over and nothing was over or changed I still had cancer!! The nurses were positive and the doctors just stared at me they had nothing to offer or advice to give. I was going to die and I knew it, I did my will there wasnt anything to it i was only 31. I was so angry I didn't want to talk to anyone and the phones rang off the hook, everyone wanted to pray for me, with me. Old school mates would call, neigbors, family everyday! I didn't even have time to think, I knew my days were numbered and all I could think about was for everyone to leave me alone I was in pain and i wanted to spend every minute with my husband and 4 year old son. Alot of people didnt' relize how severe it is . I would tell them 4 months to 12 months is average life span and they would tell me a miracle of a story about how they knew someone that had a "typical" cancer and they are a cancer survivor and I could do it to!
My doctor had already had me an apointment with a surgeon in New York City at the Sloan Kettering Cancer Center before all this starter and I just knew about the diagnoised. So I went there and met with the surgeon over the Mesothelioma Cancer and other Lung Cancers. She talked to me, I had done breathing test and 2 pet scans prior and she asked about my pain and all the medicine I was on.
SHe said I know you know by now the statistic on this cancer. I am sorry but I believe at this point you are to far along for me to do anything, it sounds like from your pain and the test that the cancer is in the final stage and is on your chest wall but the least I can do is open you up and if I can get all the cancer I will do everything possible but if I know I can't remove it all which is what I am afraid of then I will not do anything but sew you back up.
can you beleve this was said to me i don't know looking back how life changing it was in that one sentence.. so 2 days later I was scheduled for an extra plural pnuemonectomy on the left lung.
My husband and I talked the night before in the hotel I told him I want an instant thumbs up if I have a chance at life or a thumbs down if its over. I snuggled with my son that night and prayed to God please , please let me stay here and be with my son, I am not ready to go. I went to surgery and woke up breathing oddly and my husband was crying with a thumbs UP!! I cried as well, it was the happiest day in my life, and my dad said it was the best birthday he ever had that day. I was in the 3rd stage she removed a rib, 5 lymph nodes, left lung and liner ( yes the whole lung) and part of my diaphram. I was in the hospital 7 days ,very hard days but happy as well. Went home and came back 10 days later and started 30 rounds of radiation and I could write a book about how awful that was and how hard of a road its been since then on heavy meds., side effects/ and struggle to learn to breath with one lung and the emotional journey. If things go well I will write a book. I am still in the danger zone for 9 more months but staying positive. I am tomorrow starting a new chapter in my life and going off the strong narcotics I have relied on. Wish me luck! Hope my story has you a better understanding of the pain and life change it takes on people and i got it by breathing...