MESO: The Mesothelioma Podcast

MesotheliomaPodcast.com
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MESO: The Mesothelioma Podcast is a supportive, medically informed, and deeply human show dedicated to helping families navigate life after a mesothelioma diagnosis. Hosted by patient advocate, Dave Foster, the podcast brings together the voices of doctors, survivors, caregivers, and leading experts to deliver clarity, guidance, and hope when it’s needed most. Sponsored by Danziger & De Llano, one of the nation’s most experienced mesothelioma law firms, the show offers more than legal insight—it provides practical direction, emotional support, and a roadmap for getting the best medical care as quickly as possible. Whether you or a loved one has just been diagnosed or you're searching for trusted information, MESO breaks down the medical, legal, and personal impact of this rare disease in a way that’s easy to understand and compassionate at every step. Every episode delivers meaningful conversations, survivor stories, expert interviews, and actionable next steps so families can make informed decisions with confidence. If you need answers, support, or guidance—you’re in the right place. For more information, visit Danziger & De Llano at Dandell.com.

  1. Jul 13

    Surviving Peritoneal Mesothelioma

    A routine surgery turns into a life-changing phone call, and suddenly you are the rare case no one around you has seen before. We sit down with Julie Russell, a nurse and nearly 20-year survivor of peritoneal mesothelioma, to tell the full story of how an incidental pathology finding led to a diagnosis, a scramble for answers, and a decision to travel for the right care when “close to home” was not enough. Julie walks us through what it’s like to hear specialists speak bluntly, to face radical surgery, and to go through intraperitoneal chemotherapy while trying to protect your quality of life. She also shares a pivotal moment: listening to her body when her kidneys started taking a hit, and choosing to stop chemo one treatment early, a decision later validated by nephrology. It’s a powerful look at patient advocacy that stays honest about uncertainty, risk, and the pressure to follow a protocol when your gut says something is wrong. We also dig into survivorship after mesothelioma, including CT scan frequency, lung nodules, and the anxiety that can come with long-term surveillance at Dana-Farber. Along the way, we unpack possible asbestos exposure sources, the growing conversation around talc, and even a surprising lesson about cosmic radiation from flying that reframes how we think about exposure and risk. If you or someone you love is navigating peritoneal mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma, or any rare cancer, this conversation offers practical guidance and real hope. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more families can find support. MESO: The Mesothelioma Podcast is sponsored by Danziger & De Llano, a nationwide mesothelioma law firm with over 30 years of experience and nearly $2 billion recovered for asbestos victims. For a free consultation, visit Dandell.com.

  2. Jul 7

    Free Mesothelioma Information

    MESO: The Mesothelioma Podcast is sponsored by Danziger & De Llano, a nationwide mesothelioma law firm with over 30 years of experience and nearly $2 billion recovered for asbestos victims. For a free consultation, visit Dandell.com.

  3. Jul 6

    Cancer Nutrition That Actually Helps

    Googling “what to eat after a cancer diagnosis” can send you into a panic spiral fast. One page says cut all sugar, another says buy a shelf of supplements, and somehow you’re supposed to do that while managing appointments, side effects, and real life. We wanted a clear, evidence-based voice, so we sat down with Nicole Andrews, a registered dietitian who specializes in oncology nutrition, to talk about what actually helps people stay strong through treatment. We dig into why nutrition during chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery is not about perfection, it’s about being well-nourished enough to tolerate full-dose care and recover between appointments. Nicole explains why the “sugar feeds cancer” myth causes real harm, how cancer metabolism really works, and why cutting carbs often backfires when your body needs energy the most. We also talk through the practical stuff families face every day: metallic taste, appetite loss, nausea, and when water suddenly tastes terrible. Nicole shares flexible, realistic strategies like using citrus or mint, changing proteins when favorite foods become intolerable, trying smoothies for calorie and protein boosts, and making hydration easier without shame. We also go straight at supplements and cancer risk reduction. Nicole outlines why high-dose supplements can be risky unless a true deficiency shows up in labs, and what matters more for long-term health: fiber, movement, sleep, and reducing alcohol and processed meats. If you want a simple framework you can actually use, plus myth-busting you can trust, you’ll get a lot out of this conversation. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs steady guidance, and leave us a review with your biggest cancer nutrition question. MESO: The Mesothelioma Podcast is sponsored by Danziger & De Llano, a nationwide mesothelioma law firm with over 30 years of experience and nearly $2 billion recovered for asbestos victims. For a free consultation, visit Dandell.com.

  4. Jun 30

    Mesothelioma Support That Actually Helps

    A mesothelioma diagnosis doesn’t just change a treatment plan, it rearranges an entire family’s life. We talk with seasoned members of a mesothelioma care team about the moments that hit hardest right after diagnosis and the quiet, practical choices that help patients and caregivers keep going when everything feels urgent. We dig into the real-world stressors families face beyond medical care: travel to a specialist, time away from work, bills that don’t pause, and the emotional whiplash of learning the cancer is often tied to asbestos exposure. When that exposure is occupational or even secondhand from a loved one’s work clothes, the grief can come with anger and a deep sense of betrayal. We also share what support can look like when it’s done well, from caregiver groups to daily check-ins that make people feel seen. You’ll hear a simple idea that carries a lot of power: head and heart have to work together. When mood drops, it’s harder to eat, walk, recover, and stay engaged with care, so emotional support becomes part of the treatment path. We close with grounded advice for the first weeks, like limiting panic scrolling, bringing someone to appointments, taking notes, asking direct questions, and seeking a mesothelioma center of excellence when possible. If this conversation helps, subscribe, share it with someone who needs support, and leave a review so more families facing mesothelioma can find us. MESO: The Mesothelioma Podcast is sponsored by Danziger & De Llano, a nationwide mesothelioma law firm with over 30 years of experience and nearly $2 billion recovered for asbestos victims. For a free consultation, visit Dandell.com.

  5. Jun 3

    VA Benefits And Mesothelioma

    Filing for VA benefits after a mesothelioma diagnosis feels like the obvious first move but it can be the wrong move if you don’t understand how asbestos exposure is argued across systems. We sit down together and walk through the real-world “should I file?” decision, especially for veterans who served for a few years and then spent decades in high-risk civilian jobs like shipyards, refineries, boiler rooms, HVAC, and industrial plants. When the record gets messy, the VA and companies can start pointing fingers at each other, and that confusion can cost families meaningful compensation. We also talk through practical steps that protect both care and financial stability: getting guidance from a mesothelioma lawyer or advocate who handles asbestos claims and VA claims, using a VA placeholder claim when it helps, and what to do when a VA disability claim gets denied. We share how appeals work, why regional VA service centers can be a powerful resource, and where families can look for strong treatment options through major VA medical centers and affiliated specialists. Finally, we outline the “big three” financial paths families ask about most: Social Security Disability benefits with mesothelioma fast track, asbestos trust funds with payments that often arrive in stages, and lawsuits against viable companies outside bankruptcy trusts. We answer common questions about timelines, whether compensation is taxable, and what “no upfront cost” contingency fees really mean. If this helped, subscribe, share with a veteran’s family, and leave a review so more people find support when they need it most. MESO: The Mesothelioma Podcast is sponsored by Danziger & De Llano, a nationwide mesothelioma law firm with over 30 years of experience and nearly $2 billion recovered for asbestos victims. For a free consultation, visit Dandell.com.

  6. May 26

    Hope After Mesothelioma

    You can do everything “right” and still get a life-changing diagnosis. Linda Chitwood is a retired RN, longtime nurse educator, and the author of Fear To Faith and she joins us to share how her husband Lenny was diagnosed with mesothelioma despite an outdoors career, no smoking, and no obvious single-source exposure. What started as an unusual cough turned into a moment that stopped her cold: she listened to his lungs and heard nothing on one side. Within days, the medical questions turned to asbestos exposure, tumor findings, and a rare clear cell subtype that required careful pathology review.  We walk through the decisions families dread making, including what it meant to pursue extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP), a major surgery that removes the affected lung and surrounding tissue. Linda explains why recovery can be so tough, what helped Lenny do well, and why pain management became one of the biggest challenges. We also talk about how mesothelioma treatment options have evolved, including newer approaches like immunotherapy, and why quality of life remains the central goal.  Just as crucial, we dig into mesothelioma caregiver support: accepting meals, leaning on church and community, taking breaks without guilt, and remembering that adult children often carry quiet fear with too little support. Linda also shares her current fight with multiple myeloma and how her family now shows up for her during chemotherapy. If you’re looking for practical guidance, honest perspective, and real hope, press play, then subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave us a review with what hit home for you. MESO: The Mesothelioma Podcast is sponsored by Danziger & De Llano, a nationwide mesothelioma law firm with over 30 years of experience and nearly $2 billion recovered for asbestos victims. For a free consultation, visit Dandell.com.

  7. May 18

    A Nurse Learns To Choose Faith Over Fear

    A single, quiet moment can change everything: a nurse listens to her husband’s lungs and hears nothing on one side. From there, life moves fast. We’re joined by Linda Chitwood, an RN, longtime nurse educator, and author of Fear To Faith, to share how her family faced a mesothelioma diagnosis that didn’t “make sense” on paper and what they did next. We talk about asbestos exposure that isn’t obvious, the shock of learning how many older products contained asbestos, and the whirlwind from imaging to biopsy to pathology, including a rare clear cell mesothelioma finding. Linda walks us through why their team considered extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) at Duke, what the surgery removes, and what it really takes to recover and adapt to life with one lung. We also get practical about quality of life, including the toughest part for them: pain control, medication fears, and the relief of finally working with pain specialists. Just as important, we slow down for the human side. We share what caregiver support actually looks like, why accepting help is a gift to both sides, and where families often feel overlooked, especially grown children. Linda also opens up about her current fight with multiple myeloma and how her kids and grandkids now show up for her through chemotherapy. If you know someone navigating mesothelioma, caregiver stress, or asbestos related cancer, subscribe, share this conversation, and leave a review so more families can find support and hope. MESO: The Mesothelioma Podcast is sponsored by Danziger & De Llano, a nationwide mesothelioma law firm with over 30 years of experience and nearly $2 billion recovered for asbestos victims. For a free consultation, visit Dandell.com.

  8. May 11

    How Mesothelioma Cases Really Get Built

    Mesothelioma commercials make it sound like there’s one easy path to compensation, but the real work happens in the details most people never see. We sit down with Leslie Cooper, a mesothelioma investigator with 23 years of experience and roughly 1,000 client interviews, to explain how a strong case actually gets built from the first in-home meeting forward. We talk through why mesothelioma is rare, why these lawsuits are not class actions, and why one client often has multiple defendants tied to different asbestos-containing products. Leslie explains her step-by-step approach to reconstructing a person’s exposure history chronologically, starting at birth and moving through childhood, military service, career, and household exposure. Along the way, we dig into the moments that surprise families most, including secondhand exposure from a parent’s job and “forgotten” asbestos contact from home projects or hobbies. We also clear up a major misconception about asbestos trust funds. There is not one giant trust you can call for a check. There are dozens of separate bankruptcy trusts, and compensation depends on identifying the right manufacturers and documenting the exposure. Finally, we cover how records help shape the legal strategy and why the state where a claim is filed can matter more than people expect, plus a candid warning about high-volume “meso mills” that don’t treat cases as truly individual. If you or someone you love is navigating mesothelioma, listen, share this with a caregiver, and subscribe for more practical guidance. After you listen, leave a review and tell us what question you want answered next. MESO: The Mesothelioma Podcast is sponsored by Danziger & De Llano, a nationwide mesothelioma law firm with over 30 years of experience and nearly $2 billion recovered for asbestos victims. For a free consultation, visit Dandell.com.

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About

MESO: The Mesothelioma Podcast is a supportive, medically informed, and deeply human show dedicated to helping families navigate life after a mesothelioma diagnosis. Hosted by patient advocate, Dave Foster, the podcast brings together the voices of doctors, survivors, caregivers, and leading experts to deliver clarity, guidance, and hope when it’s needed most. Sponsored by Danziger & De Llano, one of the nation’s most experienced mesothelioma law firms, the show offers more than legal insight—it provides practical direction, emotional support, and a roadmap for getting the best medical care as quickly as possible. Whether you or a loved one has just been diagnosed or you're searching for trusted information, MESO breaks down the medical, legal, and personal impact of this rare disease in a way that’s easy to understand and compassionate at every step. Every episode delivers meaningful conversations, survivor stories, expert interviews, and actionable next steps so families can make informed decisions with confidence. If you need answers, support, or guidance—you’re in the right place. For more information, visit Danziger & De Llano at Dandell.com.

Information

  • Creator
    MesotheliomaPodcast.com
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 MESO: The Mesothelioma Podcast
  • Show Website
    MESO: The Mesothelioma Podcast