{"id":22770,"date":"2024-10-21T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-10-21T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/?p=22770"},"modified":"2024-10-22T12:19:37","modified_gmt":"2024-10-22T16:19:37","slug":"mesothelioma-survivor-builds-a-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/blog\/mesothelioma-survivor-builds-a-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Building a Future: How One Mesothelioma Survivor Fights a Stage 4 Diagnosis"},"content":{"rendered":"

Since his 2019 mesothelioma diagnosis, John Stahl \u2014 a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend \u2014 has been constructing something new: a life filled with love, adventure, and resilience.<\/em><\/p>\n

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From Construction to Cancer Recovery<\/h2>\n

Nevada resident John Stahl is used to building things. He spent decades in the construction industry doing commercial, industrial, and residential work.<\/p>\n

In the summer of 2019, he was looking forward to retirement to spend more time exploring the Nevada desert with his wife, Dee, and riding his off-road vehicle.<\/p>\n

But John had to learn how to build something different: a game plan for survival after being diagnosed with mesothelioma<\/a>, a rare and aggressive cancer caused by asbestos exposure.<\/p>\n

Now, more than 6 years later, John is constructing a life of happiness, love, and adventure despite his mesothelioma diagnosis.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m doing very well, as a matter of fact. I play golf twice a week. I ride the side-by-side. I go hang out with my friends when they\u2019re around. Yeah, I\u2019m pretty well back to normal<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

You can read more of John\u2019s story \u2014 and others like it \u2014 in our Free Survivors Guide<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

An Urgent Wake-Up Call<\/h2>\n

On a hot morning in July 2019, John woke up with uncomfortable symptoms<\/a>. Instead of his usual high energy and enthusiasm to greet the day, John felt fatigued and scared. His face was pale, and he couldn\u2019t catch his breath.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just didn\u2019t feel good<\/strong>,\u201d John recalls. John was not the type to call out sick. He notes that he \u201calways worked,\u201d and spending 43 years as a construction worker<\/a> made him resilient.<\/p>\n

But Dee urged him to get medical attention.<\/p>\n

At the urgent care center, the medical team took X-rays of John\u2019s lungs. They were alarmed when they couldn\u2019t even see John\u2019s left lung on the X-ray because it was surrounded by two liters worth of fluid<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey were amazed he was even able to breathe,\u201d Dee said.<\/p>\n

From there, the Stahls followed up with their family doctor, who referred John to an oncologist. A CT scan<\/a> and thoracoscopy<\/a> revealed the devastating answer to John\u2019s symptoms.<\/p>\n

On August 19, 2019, John was diagnosed with stage 4 pleural mesothelioma<\/a>, a type of mesothelioma that forms in the lining of the lungs. Despite being diagnosed in the most advanced stage of the disease, John was determined to fight.<\/p>\n

Pushing Through Treatment\u2019s Toughest Moments<\/h2>\n

After he was diagnosed, John began mesothelioma treatment<\/a> with chemotherapy every two weeks.<\/p>\n

Each chemotherapy<\/a> session lasted about an hour, but the side effects lingered much longer. After each treatment, John would be physically exhausted for over a week. He wouldn\u2019t have the energy to leave his home or do things he enjoyed.<\/p>\n

All of this forced downtime took a toll on John, who wasn\u2019t used to spending so much time at home. \u201cThat was hard for me because I\u2019m a pretty active person<\/strong>,\u201d he shared.<\/p>\n

But through it all, John stayed hopeful. His determination to keep fighting \u2014 and to eventually return to the life he cherished \u2014 helped him endure the toughest days.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t think of a day that John has said, \u2018Oh, feel sorry for me.\u2019 His positive attitude has kept him going<\/strong>, and I think that helps his health,\u201d shared Dee.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, John eventually began feeling physically well again, and his optimistic outlook started matching his energy levels. He was able to embrace his active lifestyle once again, exploring the breathtaking landscapes of Arizona and Nevada with Dee by his side.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"

\u201cWe spend a lot time out in the Arizona strip, up above St. George. We’ve gone to Moab. We’ve gone to Valley of Fire. Logandale Trails.<\/strong> There’s a lot of riding in this country<\/span>.\u201d<\/p>\n