{"id":23665,"date":"2025-09-04T00:00:15","date_gmt":"2025-09-04T04:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/?p=23665"},"modified":"2025-09-09T11:45:34","modified_gmt":"2025-09-09T15:45:34","slug":"mike-mattmuller-mesothelioma-survivor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/blog\/mike-mattmuller-mesothelioma-survivor\/","title":{"rendered":"Mike Mattmuller\u2019s 9-Year Fight Against Mesothelioma"},"content":{"rendered":"

Newly married and ready for a vibrant life, Mike\u2019s world was changed forever after being diagnosed with mesothelioma at just 29 years old.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Mesothelioma is a rare cancer caused by asbestos that most often affects people 65 and older. So when 29-year-old Mike Mattmuller was told he had mesothelioma in 2011, the news came as a shock.<\/p>\n

“When you get a mesothelioma diagnosis, your world just shrinks\u2026everything online is so scary, and it\u2019s such a rare disease.”
\n\u2013 Mike Mattmuller, 9-year mesothelioma survivor<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

He and his wife, Jessica, had barely celebrated one year of marriage, but they were determined to fight the disease together. Mike went on to survive mesothelioma<\/a> for 9 years, giving him precious time as he welcomed a daughter, Riley, and advocated for an asbestos-free future.<\/p>\n

Read about Mike\u2019s journey through treatment, survivorship, and advocacy.<\/p>\n

Newlyweds Face a Shocking Diagnosis<\/h2>\n

Newly married, Mike was working as a civil engineer in Maryland and looking forward to sharing a life with Jessica. When he began experiencing shortness of breath, he didn\u2019t think much of it \u2014 until his symptoms<\/a> worsened and he developed lower back pain.<\/p>\n

What started as a quick trip to urgent care for a precautionary X-ray turned into something far more serious. The scan revealed pleural mesothelioma<\/a>, a cancer that starts in the lining of the lungs. In that moment, a routine procedure suddenly changed the course of his life.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt first, we were in total shock and denial. Mike was 29 years old at the time. How could he possibly have this weird disease that affects older folk?\u201d
\n\u2013 Jessica Mattmuller, wife of Mike Mattmuller<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The diagnosis was jarring for the young couple, especially since mesothelioma usually has a difficult prognosis<\/a> (health outlook). Still, they decided to face it head-on, holding on to the hope that Mike\u2019s youth and the strength he\u2019d built from years of sports could give him a fighting chance.<\/p>\n

Read other stories of survival like Mike\u2019s in our Free Mesothelioma Survivors Guide<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Mike\u2019s Treatment Journey to Becoming Cancer-Free<\/h2>\n

Once the shock of his diagnosis began to fade, Mike knew it was time to act. He and Jessica threw themselves into learning about mesothelioma and the different treatment options<\/a> available.<\/p>\n

With Jessica by his side, he traveled to Boston\u2019s Brigham and Women\u2019s Hospital<\/a>, where they met with Dr. David Sugarbaker, a world-renowned mesothelioma specialist. After weighing the options, he recommended an extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP), an invasive surgery that removes the affected lung and nearby tissue.<\/p>\n

“When I first had my surgery, I had to actually stay out there for an entire month\u2026 paying for a mortgage back home plus paying for an apartment in Boston was quite stressful.”
\n\u2013 Mike Mattmuller, 9-year mesothelioma survivor<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Shortly after the procedure in May 2012, he achieved complete remission<\/a> and was declared cancer-free. For a young couple who had been bracing for the worst, the news brought immense relief.<\/p>\n

Easing Financial Stress With a Mesothelioma Lawsuit<\/h2>\n

Even as Mike made progress medically, the financial strain of mesothelioma treatment loomed large. Travel costs, hospital stays, and months of recovery added up quickly.<\/p>\n

To lighten the load, Mike and Jessica turned to Simmons Hanly Conroy for help filing a mesothelioma lawsuit<\/a> against the manufacturers responsible for Mike\u2019s asbestos exposure.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur lawyers at Simmons Hanly Conroy helped us out when nobody else would. They care about you. The people who are working on your case are just as concerned about your well-being as they are about what\u2019s going on with the case.\u201d
\n\u2013 Mike Mattmuller, 9-year mesothelioma survivor<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The compensation<\/a> they received from their lawsuit allowed them to pay their medical bills and provide for their daughter\u2019s future.<\/p>\n

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, our legal partners can see if you\u2019re eligible for financial compensation. Get a Free Case Review<\/strong> today to get started.<\/p>\n