I, too, was diagnosed with Malignant mesothelioma, epithelioid type a little less than a year ago. I underwent 4 rounds of chemotherapy (Carboplatinum/Pemetrexed), and as of January 24, the cancer (stage 3) was arrested. The chemo wasn't bad; in fact the steroids they administer with it gave me new energy for a few days. When I started maintenance chemo (Altima?), they cut the steroids back to practically nothing, and I started experiencing unpleasant side effects such as nausea, loss of taste, fatigue, and weight loss. My oncologist asked me to consider taking a three-month break from chemo, and I did. I have a CT scan on Monday, April 22 to see how or if the hiatus affected me, and I am scheduled to resume maintenance chemo next Wednesday. I am 79, so I have a few years on you, and your experience may be different from mine. One thing we share though is the devastating diagnosis of mesothelioma. Not many people on this site have experience with mesothelioma, so it is good to communicate with those who do. My oncologist's first estimate was 1 yr, but the chemo seems to have slowed things down. I wish you well as you begin your journey . . .

Sue, have you had any genetic testing to identify inherited mutations or somatic mutations specific to your cancer?

When my dad was first diagnosed with mesothelioma, his oncologist (who I wouldn't even recommend to my enemies) didn't think any genetic testing was appropriate, but when I finally got a word in edgewise and told him about my own ATM mutation and pancreatic cancer, he relented and agreed to order the Invitae germline test.

Sure enough, Dad had the same ATM mutation. Although it's not commonly considered a trigger or increased risk for mesothelioma, it might just be that mesothelioma is rare enough that the link hasn't been studied or recognized. Shared, inherited mutations (ATM or other) that you have (and your dad had) might be a factor that increased the susceptibility for both of you. It's worth checking because there might be other targeted treatments specific to your genetic makeup.

Speaking of makeup... The talcum powder in some makeup products may be contaminated with low levels of asbestos. I'm not aware of any direct link between makeup and mesothelioma, but it has been acknowledged that there is a _possible_ risk, perhaps made worse by any mutations you have. And I think I read that it's almost a 50-year average between exposure to asbestos and the development of mesothelioma/symptoms -- almost 60 years in my dad's case from his days in the navy until diagnosis.

Cancer can be weird like that... unknown or very surprising causes you never expected.