Following a milestone birthday celebration, a mother’s visit to a gynecologist leads to a baffling diagnosis of peritoneal mesothelioma
Since being diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2009, Jill Litton has met the pain and confusion of her situation with grace and faith as she continues in her 16+ year fight against this rare cancer.
“I don’t accept death,” said the West Virginia native with seriousness behind her soft laughter and calm voice. “My family needs me, and I have to keep living my best so I can take care of them.”
She attributes her survival to her unwavering faith in God’s plan for her life and her belief that she would survive.
Confusing Symptoms Lead to a Mesothelioma Diagnosis
After celebrating her 50th birthday, Jill started to have some unexplained symptoms, such as a prolonged menstrual cycle that lasted weeks rather than a few days.
Confiding in a handful of coworkers, the mother of two was assured that the symptoms she was experiencing were caused by “the change,” a euphemism for menopause. She also experienced discomfort, but took the symptoms as a natural part of aging.
However, during a gynecological exam the following month, Jill was told she was hemorrhaging and required emergency care. Three exploratory incisions showed an unidentified, grayish-white substance covering her reproductive organs.
A biopsy confirmed it was peritoneal mesothelioma, a type of this cancer that develops in the abdominal lining.
“I didn’t even know what mesothelioma was. The medical staff didn’t know how to handle it, either. They kept saying that my test results were so unusual that they must be wrong.”
The following days were hazy with questions and tests, which ultimately led to a complete hysterectomy. And while her family’s medical history included various cancers, mesothelioma was unfamiliar territory. “No one believed me,” she recalls. “Even when new tests confirmed that I had peritoneal mesothelioma, doctors were again confused.”
Like Jill, many mesothelioma patients have felt confused or shocked by their diagnosis before settling into their new normal. Read their stories in our Free Mesothelioma Survivors Guide.
The Importance of Finding a Mesothelioma Specialist
When Jill was first diagnosed, she met with her primary care doctor for guidance on what to do next. But because the disease is so rare, these doctors didn’t know how to treat mesothelioma and told her there might not be much they could do.
Jill refused to accept this and started looking for a mesothelioma specialist who had experience treating cases like hers. Once she found the right doctor, she was able to get cytoreductive surgery with heated chemotherapy (HIPEC) to remove her tumors and kill any cancer cells left behind.
“Just because you have cancer and your doctor says you have a year to live doesn’t mean you must suddenly agree to those terms and begin preparing to die.”
Patients with peritoneal mesothelioma who undergo cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC have an average life expectancy of 53 months.
Jill has lived nearly four times longer than the average, a fact she connects to her strong faith.
“Most doctors tell you that you only have a year to live. From the moment I heard those words at the hospital, I completely trusted God with my whole heart,” Jill said. “He has continually blessed me, and I am still here more than 16 years later.”
Calling on Faith to Overcome Treatment Challenges
In addition to the HIPEC procedure, Jill also underwent regular chemotherapy appointments, spaced three weeks apart. These sessions were particularly hard on Jill, taking such a toll that her doctor said he had “never seen anyone react this badly to it.”
For a week after chemotherapy, Jill experienced such intense nausea that she had to stay at the hospital for several days to receive 24/7 medical care. By the second week, she usually felt strong enough to continue recovering at home before her next session.
“Each time I go through chemotherapy, I ask God why it has to be this hard on me. But then I realize that I would rather vomit for several weeks in exchange for remaining alive for another several years.”
Survivor’s guilt is another area of emotional, social, and spiritual struggle for Jill.
“I have lost people who should have outlived me, and I went to their funerals,” she said. “Sometimes I cry and wonder why another mom died when she had a young daughter or son to raise. As much as I am thankful that I am still alive, I also struggle with extreme guilt because not everyone is this lucky.”
Tracking Down Her Source of Asbestos Exposure
How Jill had been exposed to asbestos — the only known cause of mesothelioma — confused her doctors, nurses, and lab technicians.
But Jill suspects her exposure happened indirectly through her late father, who served in the U.S. Navy for seven years. As a child, Jill played on the floor near her father’s asbestos-contaminated work clothes.
Since asbestos was durable and affordable — and because manufacturers of asbestos-containing products hid its dangers for decades — it was frequently used in military bases, ships, equipment, and more.
Because the U.S. military relied on asbestos products for much of the 20th century, veterans now make up about 33% of all mesothelioma cases. Their families were also put at risk through secondhand exposure, just like in Jill’s case.
Many mesothelioma patients don’t know when or how they were exposed to asbestos. Our team can connect you with legal experts who can help trace the source, giving you peace of mind and access to financial compensation. Call (866) 608-8933 now to get the answers you need.
Letting Go and Finding Peace
Jill’s diagnosis was heartbreaking for her mother, who blamed herself for her daughter’s illness.
But asbestos was so commonly used and the dangers were unknown to the public, Jill doesn’t hold her mother or any of her other family members responsible.
Despite what may have happened in her life that led to this diagnosis, Jill doesn’t hold feelings of resentment or anger.
“I don’t feel bad about having mesothelioma. I have never felt sorry for myself. Worse things have happened to other people. This is something that I will never totally understand, and that’s okay.”
Learn more about how patients managed mesothelioma treatment and the emotional impacts of a diagnosis in our Free Mesothelioma Survivors Guide.
Finding Strength in Caring for Others
In the face of her mesothelioma diagnosis, Jill found strength not only in her faith, but in her family.
For example, she stepped in to raise two of her granddaughters after her son experienced a series of traumatic events.
Her now-teenage and pre-teen granddaughters, both of whom are fully aware of her diagnosis, have been homeschooled under her supervision.
“Although their story is sad, and I have cried a million tears over it, it’s also a gift from God that I get to nurture them. I don’t know how their story will end, but I know it will be great,” Jill said.“They have watched me suffer tremendously, and they are so kind, loving, and helpful to me.”
When her granddaughters were babies, Jill was worried that the weakness and pain she experienced from her chemotherapy sessions would prevent her from properly caring for them.
However, she soon discovered that the girls gave her the motivation, emotional support, and strength needed to get out of bed every morning and continue living her life as normally as possible.
Now, Jill believes that raising her granddaughters is a huge part of her will to survive.
“These children have given me the courage and determination to continue fighting. My life is absolutely wonderful. What more could I ask for?”
Get Help Fighting Mesothelioma
A mesothelioma diagnosis can be emotionally and physically draining for patients and their families. If you or someone you love is facing this cancer, know that you are not on this journey alone.
Mesothelioma Hope’s caring team of Patient Advocates provides personalized medical, financial, and supportive care to ease your stress and inspire hope.
We can help you:
- Understand your diagnosis
- Find a mesothelioma specialist
- Get help paying for treatment
- Connect with support groups
Call us at (866) 608-8933 now for help, or get a Free Survivors Guide to read more stories of resilience directly from mesothelioma patients.
