The Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance would like to take a moment to thank Nayeli Baltazar, the Advocate of the Month for January. Nayeli has been an active member of our Facebook community and continues to help spread the message of the MCA, while lending her support and knowledge to other people affected by cancer. Below is an interview with Nayeli on how Mesothelioma affected her and her family’s lives and why she continues to spread the message the of MCA.

MCA: Has cancer affected you in some way? If so, in what way? Tell us about your experience.

Nayeli Baltazar: Yes cancer has affected me, as well as my family. My father was diagnosed with mesothelioma in January 2011. We all felt heartbroken when we got the news.

MCA: How has this shaped you as the person you are today?

Nayeli: I've learned more about cancer, especially mesothelioma. I've also learned to be more compassionate with people who are ill. I took things for granted never imagining it would be my family having to go through this.

MCA: If you were affected by cancer, what are the two biggest things you learned through this experience?

Nayeli: I learned what mesothelioma is and its risks. I never really knew anything about mesothelioma, I just remember seeing those commercials on TV. I've also learned that family is everything and we should always cherish all the moments we have with them because we never know when something bad may happen to us.

MCA: What was your motivation to become the MCA Advocate of the Month?

Nayeli: My motivation was and is my hero-- my father. Even at his sickest days, he maintained strength and had so much faith. He gave me so much good advice. I wanted to share his story so people can learn about mesothelioma and see that even after his loss, our family stands strong.

MCA: If you could say one thing to the world about cancer or mesothelioma specifically, what would it be?

Nayeli: I would say do your research on it. You will learn a lot about any type of cancer. A lot of people are dying from this disease and most of us don't even know what it really is.

MCA: Is there anything else you would like to say to the MCA community?

Nayeli: If anyone has questions about anything, I'm more than welcome to try and answer them. Also, if anyone needs help with anything, I'm also available maybe I could be of help; my family is also open to it.

The Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance would like to thank Kayla Hammons, the Advocate of the Month for February. Below is an interview with Kayla about how mesothelioma affected her stepdad Ron and her way of life. Kayla has been active in our Facebook community and continues to support others affected and spread the message of MCA.

MCA:Has cancer affected you in some way? If so, in what way? Tell us about your experience.

Kayla Hammons:My stepdad Ron was my hero. He was the strongest man I knew. In January of 2012, he began to have chest pains. We thought he was having a heart attack. He had smoked for years and had just celebrated his first year with no smoking. As the months went on, he became worse. He started to have leg pain, which the doctor attributed to fibromyalgia. The VA hospitals ran test after test from CT scans to nuclear scans and found nothing.

We finally took him to St. Francis Medical Center. They found that he had a softball size lymph node in his abdomen. It took 3 times before they would actually hospitalize him. The oncologist there ordered a needle aspiration. He said Ron's symptoms went along with lymphoma, which is one of the easiest cancers to fight. When the tests came back, my parents went to Dr. Sobti. He told Ron that he had 6 months to live. He didn't know what kind of cancer Rob had, no one did.

My mom and Ron immediately asked for a second opinion. We went with another oncologist. I knew he needed someone special to take care of him. I found Dr. Wong who specialized in rare cancers and we got an appointment. We thought this would be it. In the meantime, Ron wanted to do things naturally, so we bought every cancer fighting vitamin and immune system booster in the store. My mother began to work nights, so I took the responsibility to take care of him at night. By this time, the tumor on his esophagus made it to where all he could eat was smoothies. One night, he asked for a smoothie. As I walked back to hand it to him, he looked me straight in the eyes and asked, "who are you?" I hope I will never feel that hurt again. When I walked back into the room, he asked, "where have you been?" I never knew if he knew who I was.

By the time the new appointment came, we prepared him for the drive. Dr. Wong was so nice and intelligent. He looked at us and said "you have mesothelioma". At the time we didn't know what that was. Dr. Wong wanted Ron to get into the hospital to get his numbers up and start chemo. While he was in the hospital, he and my mom got married and I was a witness. That was June 1. The morning of June 3rd he began to have trouble breathing. He died that morning with close family around him.

MCA:How has this shaped you as the person you are today?

Kayla:Since Ron's death, I've had to grow up tremendously. At 20 years old, I've learned so much in the months since. He taught me to accept people for who they are. I now know that special people come into our lives rarely. Don't take them for granted.

MCA:What was your motivation to become the MCA Advocate of the Month?

Kayla:My mom and I have wanted to get Ron's story out so that it could maybe help someone going through what we did. I believe that getting his story out for people to hear will keep his memory alive.

MCA:If you could say one thing to the world about cancer or mesothelioma specifically, what would it be?

Kayla:Mesothelioma is a killer. I feel it is the worst kind of cancer because often times you don't know until it's too late.

MCA:Is there anything else you would like to say to the MCA community?

Kayla:I would like to tell the MCA that we are all linked by this horrible disease and that if we all work together, mesothelioma won't have a chance.

 The Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance would like to introduce you to a wonderful woman and our advocate of the month for October – Susan Ralston. Susan kindly shared with us the story of how her life has been affected by mesothelioma. Read more about her family and inspirational stepfather, and watch for her throughout the month as she plans to be a big contributor to our social community!

Cancer. My memories of cancer. I had a lovely stepsister named Lyndsay, who was the same age as me. She was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer in her late teens - Cushing's syndrome. I did not know anything about this disease, and was probably a bit naive about it all. All I could see was my stepsister gaining weight without an explanation and after several misdiagnoses, finally a right one. I have never known such a young person to show so much determination and fight in her. You could see the fear in my stepdad Ronnie's eyes, but she battled. Unfortunately, 10 days after her 19th birthday we got the dreaded call. Lyndsay had passed away. That was the day part of Ronnie died too. But you know, I think that he has somehow found that part again and is using it to fight his mesothelioma.

The worst and most painful memory of cancer has been my stepdad’s diagnosis with mesothelioma. In the summer of 2011 he developed a persistent cough that just wasn't getting any better. After a few visits to his doctor, he was sent for a scan. It showed fluid in the lung, so he was given medication. It didn't help. After several hospital appointments and a few admissions, he was told he had cancer the week before Christmas.

Everyone was a wreck. Ronnie was Ronnie-- calm and strong. All I've ever known him to be. Over the Christmas season, we tried so hard to put it at the back of our minds. With the focus on my two children, we managed a bit of normalcy, but it was always there. New Year's was specifically hard, trying to toast a new year of health and happiness when we had this going on. It was tough, especially for my mum, as she is fighting a battle of her own with a fatal kidney disease. She has been putting her own health on the back burner for a while throughout all this.

The biopsy was finally done in the New Year. We finally had a diagnosis. Sitting in the doctor's room; my mum, Ronnie and myself. We were shaking and trembling. Then the doctor said, "mesothelioma", "9 months from diagnosis", "very serious".

I couldn't believe this. It was February. The doctor had just given my stepdad 7 months to live, as he was technically diagnosed in December.

That day was awful with everything floating around in my head. Frantically, I started researching on the internet this "meso-whatever-thing" that I couldn't even pronounce. How on earth do I tell my kids that their papa is seriously ill? My 7-year-old son, Liam, and his papa are the best of friends. My 18-month-old daughter, Olivia, dotes on her papa. Ronnie worships his grandchildren. They are his strength in every way. They keep him going.

I was supposed to be getting married in April 2013. How on earth could I wait until next year? Ronnie might not be here. That's all I could see. He needs to be at my wedding. He was like a second dad to me. The only option was to bring the wedding forward. So it was decided, and the wedding was rearranged within 12 weeks, eleven months ahead of plan. A determined Ronnie kept wondering what all the fuss is about. "But I'll still be here next April" he reassured us, and we hope to God he is and we will have another party then to celebrate!

The wedding came and it was a great, but very emotional day. Our family had been through so much this year that we were ready for a party. And a party we had. My husband Scott has been my rock. Dealing with my moods, my bad tempers, and he has stood by my side throughout all of this.

Ronnie endured chemotherapy every few weeks and was wasting away in front of me. This once strong, sturdy man was becoming very weak and thin. It was all starting to get to him, and his emotions started to show. This was hard to see, especially for my mum. How on earth could she cope with this, I will never know. She has been a star for my kids, my step dad, and me.

The next consultant appointment came and extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) was thrown around the room. We were lucky enough to have the only doctor in Scotland that performs this procedure, as it is still only a trial here. "Lucky" is actually not a word I feel I would use in making the decision that could kill Ronnie on the table or make his remaining life a painful one. The doctor decided that Ronnie wouldn't be able to cope with the lifestyle that would follow an EPP and operation and was set for pleurectomy instead. They wanted to perform the operation a week before the wedding. Ronnie was adamant. "No operation at that time." So it was scheduled for the 27th of June.

The time for the operation came and Ronnie was a wreck, as were my mum and I. She was shaking; her nerves making her sick. Ronnie said goodbye to my kids. He did not take that too well. They give him strength and courage; a courage I have seen continuously grow in Ronnie. He has been determined from the very start of this journey to fight mesothelioma with every tooth and nail of his body. It is a courage and strength I admire with all my heart. After a long day of wondering what was happening and how the operation went, he finally came up to the intensive care unit. He looked awful, but he was doing ok.

After recovering in the hospital and eventually going home, he endured an awful lot of pain, but was on the mend. A scan was performed and the doctors were happy with the results. The scan looked good and the 7-month life expectancy was taken off the table. I could not believe it, such wonderful news! But there is mesothelioma still lingering in his chest and it's also surrounding his heart.

Ronnie has a rest from chemo for right now to help his body recover from the operation. He is due back in December to see what happens next, although that may be brought forward a bit as his symptoms and pain are returning. My main worry is how they will treat around the heart.

I have never seen such fighting spirit. Ronnie is determined to be here in this world for as long as he possibly can, and together we will make sure he is.

The fight continues.

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