One Army Veteran's Battle With Mesothelioma

After witnessing her father’s health rapidly decline for more than a year following a mesothelioma diagnosis, a determined daughter steps in to help him find life-changing medical care

Karen D’Alessandro faced her worst nightmare in 2021 when her father, Gene V. D’Alessandro, was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer caused by asbestos exposure.

Originally complaining of physical pain, the U.S. Army veteran believed that his immense discomfort was associated with gout — a type of inflammatory arthritis that causes joint swelling and tenderness.

But the surprising diagnosis of mesothelioma changed everything for the D’Alessandro family.

Looking for Answers to Medical Questions

Over the year and a half after his mesothelioma diagnosis, Karen’s father lost weight dramatically.

To manage bloating and fluid buildup in his stomach, Gene was meeting regularly with his local oncologist — whose only suggested solution, despite Karen’s long list of research-based questions and concerns, was chemotherapy.

“My father is not the type of person to cause problems or pursue confrontations with anyone,” Karen said. “But I am the opposite. If I see a problem, I tackle it head-on. That’s why I started fighting on his behalf from the beginning of his diagnosis.”

When Karen asked the local oncologist about any special dietary restrictions or recommendations to help Gene, the New Jersey native was told that her father could eat whatever he wanted because nothing has been scientifically proven in this regard one way or the other.

Karen was left surprised by this reaction. Feeling dismissed and wary, she could sense that this doctor was not professionally or ethically invested in saving her father’s life as her family had hoped.

“Only seeing a local oncologist for a long time was a mistake,” said Karen, who now advocates for mesothelioma patients to immediately visit a specialist with advanced knowledge of this particular disease.

“Mesothelioma specialists are the only doctors who can provide the public with the right education and information about this form of cancer.”
—Karen D’Alessandro, daughter of peritoneal mesothelioma survivor Gene

Learn how other mesothelioma survivors have improved their prognosis by working with specialized doctors. Get our Free Mesothelioma Survivors Guide now.

Discovering the Game-Changing Power of Immunotherapy

“For over a year, my dad’s health kept getting worse. We thought he was going to die within the next six months,” recalls Karen. “That’s when I started looking around for a doctor who focuses primarily on mesothelioma.”

Locating the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey in nearby New Brunswick offered the family a glimmer of hope in an otherwise bleak situation.

There they met with Dr. H. Richard Alexander, an internationally recognized surgical oncologist with extensive experience treating peritoneal mesothelioma.

“It’s crucial to see a mesothelioma specialist. No one else will know how to help you properly or effectively. Your regular doctor might say you have 6 months to live, but a specialist will have more accurate information.”
—Karen D’Alessandro, daughter of peritoneal mesothelioma survivor Gene

During their meeting with Dr. Alexander, the family discovered that in addition to chemotherapy, Gene was eligible for immunotherapy — a key treatment that no one had ever mentioned before.

“Dr. Alexander gave us hope by prescribing cancer medications,” Karen said. “I didn’t realize that there are drugs that can act as life-savers for mesothelioma patients.”

Within a week, Karen’s father started his new regimen of nivolumab (Opdivo®), a medication that helps the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells.

“Everything got better with this medication,” Karen said. “Dr. Alexander saved my father’s life. I wish we had accessed this level of expertise from the start so that my family wouldn’t have been so distressed and depressed, thinking my father was going to die soon.”

Fighting Together: The Power of Advocacy and Legal Aid

Karen’s involvement in her father’s mesothelioma treatment is a shining example of the importance of patient advocacy. Without her dedication and resolve, her father might not still be alive today.

In addition to finding him a mesothelioma specialist, Karen also encouraged her father to seek legal help. In 2022, Gene’s attorneys successfully filed asbestos trust fund claims against the manufacturers of the asbestos-based products that caused his cancer.

“You must go to a reputable law firm. If your loved one is a veteran, make sure the law firm has a lawyer who specializes in dealing with veterans’ cases.”
—Karen D’Alessandro, daughter of peritoneal mesothelioma survivor Gene

Karen and her father worked with Simmons Hanly Conroy, a veteran-founded mesothelioma law firm that’s secured over $9.6 billion for victims of asbestos exposure.

Mesothelioma Hope partners with Simmons Hanly Conroy to help patients and their families access experienced, compassionate legal help. Get a Free Mesothelioma Case Review to learn how to pursue compensation for treatment.

Finding Strength in Connection

To promote her own emotional healing, Karen has joined several mesothelioma support groups on social media, where she has connected with other families going through similar experiences. She also reads self-help books to gain a better understanding of her situation.

With a new outlook on her father’s future, Karen finds comfort in knowing that she did everything she could to assist him at a time when he was the most vulnerable.

“My father is still a blast to hang out with and he loves to have fun,” she says. “He always tells us that he is going to outlive us all.”