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Heather Von St. James

White checkmark on a red shield indicating page is reviewed by an expert Mesothelioma Survivor and Advocate
Heather Von St. James is a mesothelioma survivor and advocate.

Heather Von St. James

White checkmark on a red shield indicating page is reviewed by an expert Mesothelioma Survivor and Advocate

Heather Von St. James is an 18-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.

Selected Publications

Baylor College of Medicine. Surviving Mesothelioma, One Appointment at a Time. June 2017.

Canadian Cancer Survivor Network. With Hope, The Odds Don’t Matter – Heather Von St. James.

Darisipudi S and Fanichel M. From a 15-Month Prognosis to 17 Years of Survivorship: Heather Von St. James’ Mesothelioma Story. Cure. November 2022.

EHS Today. Heather Von St. James: Why I Fight. May 2017.

Union of Concerned Scientists. Heather von St James: The Asbestos Industry and Mesothelioma. April 2018.

Women’s Voices for the Earth. Heather Von St. James.

Top Videos

Heather speaks to what it is like to survive mesothelioma and offers patients an important piece of advice.

Heather describes her personal experience with the chemotherapy regimen used to treat her mesothelioma cancer.