{"id":26232,"date":"2024-11-19T13:38:24","date_gmt":"2024-11-19T18:38:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/?p=26232"},"modified":"2025-10-17T16:21:21","modified_gmt":"2025-10-17T20:21:21","slug":"peritoneal-mesothelioma-survivor-raises-her-family","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/blog\/peritoneal-mesothelioma-survivor-raises-her-family\/","title":{"rendered":"Mesothelioma Stories: Jessica\u2019s Journey from Misdiagnosis to Motherhood"},"content":{"rendered":"

At 32, Jessica\u2019s life was upended by a rare cancer diagnosis. Now, she shares her remarkable journey of survival, hope, and family in the face of peritoneal mesothelioma.<\/em><\/p>\n

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In 2015, Jessica Blackford-Cleeton and her husband Brandon were enjoying the early years of their marriage and looking forward to growing their family.<\/p>\n

When Jessica was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma<\/a>, a rare cancer of the abdominal lining caused by asbestos, their plans seemed out of their control. What followed for the couple was a fight for treatment, legal compensation, survival, and the family that they dreamt of.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s hard to talk about mesothelioma in general, but it’s so important to share our story so other people know that they’re not alone.<\/strong>\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Read more about her struggle for a correct diagnosis<\/a> and how treatment and legal help made it possible to become a long-term survivor and mother to two children.<\/p>\n

Fighting for a Diagnosis Through a Year of Doctor-Ignored Symptoms<\/h2>\n

Jessica experienced severe stomach pains that had her in and out of doctors\u2019 offices for over a year. Throughout this time, her mesothelioma symptoms<\/a> were misdiagnosed as less serious conditions. Doctors told her it was anxiety, a stomach bug, or menstrual issues rather than investigating further.<\/p>\n

Research shows that up to 14% of mesothelioma cases are misdiagnosed<\/strong>. Women with mesothelioma<\/a> may face even more delays in getting the proper tests to confirm a diagnosis. In fact, it can take two months longer for women to get a mesothelioma diagnosis than it does for men.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy symptoms were written off<\/strong>, as it is with a lot of young women who are diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma. I’d say every woman that I’ve talked to, especially a young woman who has had peritoneal mesothelioma, was misdiagnosed<\/a> at first.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Finally, she got a biopsy that revealed the shocking truth: hundreds of tumors spread throughout her abdomen. Jessica\u2019s care team had never seen anything like this before, so they referred her to specialists at Cleveland Clinic<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Three weeks after her appointment, Jessica got the unexpected news: she had mesothelioma<\/a>. Shocked by such a rare diagnosis \u2014 especially for someone her age, at just 32 \u2014 she became determined to learn as much as possible about this cancer and face it head-on.<\/p>\n

Read about other mesothelioma patients and their search for an accurate diagnosis in our Free Mesothelioma Survivors Guide<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Learning the Dangers of Asbestos Exposure<\/h2>\n

As Jessica learned more about her diagnosis, she discovered the primary cause was exposure to asbestos<\/a>. Before the 1980s, the heat-resistant and durable mineral was a sought-after component of many products used in construction, insulation, and other industries.<\/p>\n

However, when these asbestos-containing products<\/a> are disturbed or worn down, they release asbestos fibers into the air that can be easily inhaled and swallowed.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can be exposed to asbestos and not see any symptoms for years. Usually, the latency period for mesothelioma is about 30 years. There is no safe level of exposure<\/strong>. You can be exposed to a lot or a very, very small amount of it and still develop this disease.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

While those working directly with asbestos-containing products faced the greatest danger, family members and others in the community could also be affected through secondhand exposure<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Advocating for Herself During Treatment<\/h2>\n

After fighting to have her symptoms taken seriously, Jessica knew she would need to keep advocating for herself during mesothelioma treatment<\/a>. She understood that while her cancer had no cure, there were ways to improve her chances of long-term survival.<\/p>\n

Still in the early years of marriage, she and Brandon dreamed of having children someday. So when Jessica discussed treatment with her care team, she let them know she wanted to keep that possibility open.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had great doctors who listened to me when I said, \u2018I<\/strong> want to preserve that option should I ever have an opportunity to have children in the future<\/strong>.\u2019\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

With the support of doctors and her husband by her side, Jessica was able to receive care that honored her hopes for the future.<\/p>\n