Heather Von St. James

Mesothelioma Survivor and Advocate

Heather Von St. James is a 20-year mesothelioma survivor who writes and reviews content for Mesothelioma.com. She brings unique perspectives on mesothelioma, asbestos and survivorship to all her work.

Heather was diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma at age 36, shortly after delivering her first and only child. Doctors originally said she had just 15 months to live, but Heather and her husband Cameron fought to defy that. She sought treatment from renowned mesothelioma expert Dr. David Sugarbaker.

Heather received an array of treatments, starting with extrapleural pneumonectomy. The surgery left her with only one lung. But this aggressive treatment plan made her a mesothelioma survivor. She now uses her voice to raise awareness about the dangers of asbestos and mesothelioma.

“I met more and more patients and families and saw the devastation caused by this disease. I wanted more than ever to give people hope and to inspire them. As my health returned, so did the fire.”

Heather speaks at conferences, makes guest appearances on podcasts and does television interviews. She also shares her story and honest takes on survivorship through her personal social media accounts. She even holds a certification for rare disease advocacy.

Heather uses her energy and resources to support those affected by mesothelioma and tries to prevent future cases. In addition to her content work, Heather also speaks directly with patients and loved ones who visit this site. She hopes her knowledge and experience can provide some level of reassurance to others facing a mesothelioma diagnosis.