Jessica’s life as a thirtysomething was upended by a rare diagnosis. Now, she shares her remarkable journey of survival, hope, and family in the face of mesothelioma.
At just 32 years old, Jessica Blackford-Cleeton’s life changed overnight. What began as unexplained stomach pain became a diagnosis few young women ever hear: peritoneal mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the abdominal lining caused by asbestos exposure.
Today — more than 10 years later — Jessica is not only a long-term survivor of this rare cancer, but also a mother of two boys. Her journey has taken her from months of dismissed symptoms and shocking biopsy results to major surgery, ongoing treatment, and the decision to hold asbestos companies accountable.
Along the way, she and her husband, Brandon, navigated newlywed life, uncertain survival statistics, fertility concerns, and the daily realities of living with a rare disease.
“It’s important for me to share my story about mesothelioma so others with the disease, especially those being newly diagnosed, know that they’re not alone.”
– Jessica Blackford-Cleeton, 10+ year peritoneal mesothelioma survivor
Read more about her fight for an accurate diagnosis, the challenges of treatment at a young age, and how medical care and legal support helped make long-term survival and motherhood possible.
Fighting for a Diagnosis Through a Year of Doctor-Ignored Symptoms
For over a year, Jessica experienced severe stomach pains that had her in and out of doctors’ offices looking for answers. Throughout this time, her mesothelioma symptoms were misdiagnosed as less serious conditions. Doctors told her it was anxiety, a stomach bug, or menstrual issues rather than investigating further.
Research shows that up to 14% of mesothelioma cases are misdiagnosed. Women with mesothelioma may face even more delays in getting the proper tests to confirm a diagnosis. In fact, it can take two months longer for women to get a mesothelioma diagnosis than it does for men.
“My symptoms were written off, as is the case with a lot of young women who are diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma. I’d say every woman that I’ve talked to, especially a young woman who has had peritoneal mesothelioma, was misdiagnosed at first.”
– Jessica Blackford-Cleeton, 10+ year peritoneal mesothelioma survivor
Finally, she got a biopsy that revealed the shocking truth: hundreds of tumors spread throughout her abdomen. Jessica’s care team had never seen anything like this before, so they referred her to specialists at Cleveland Clinic.
Three weeks after her appointment, Jessica got the unexpected news: she had mesothelioma. Shocked by such a rare diagnosis — especially for her age — she became determined to learn as much as possible about this cancer and face it head-on.
Read about how other peritoneal mesothelioma survivors coped with their diagnosis in our Free Survivors Guide.
Learning the Dangers of Asbestos Exposure
As Jessica learned more about her diagnosis, she discovered the primary cause of her cancer was exposure to asbestos. Before the 1980s, the heat-resistant, durable mineral was a sought-after component in many construction and other industrial products.
However, when these asbestos-containing products are disturbed or worn down, they release asbestos fibers into the air that can be easily inhaled and swallowed. And while those working directly with asbestos-containing products faced the greatest danger, family members and others in the community could also be affected.
“You can be exposed to asbestos and not see any symptoms for years. There is no safe level of exposure. You can be exposed to a lot or a very, very small amount of it and still develop this disease.”
– Jessica Blackford-Cleeton, 10+ year peritoneal mesothelioma survivor
Not realizing that any amount of exposure can cause cancer can create a false sense of safety, allowing people to believe they were never at risk. Jessica stresses that the danger is real regardless of the amount of exposure.
Advocating for Herself During Treatment
After fighting to have her symptoms taken seriously, Jessica knew she would need to keep advocating for herself during her mesothelioma treatment. She understood that while her cancer had no cure, there were ways to improve her chances of long-term survival.
Still in the early years of marriage, she and Brandon dreamed of having children someday. So when Jessica discussed treatment with her care team, she let them know she wanted to keep that possibility open.
“I had great doctors who listened to me when I said, ‘I want to preserve that option should I ever have an opportunity to have children in the future.’”
– Jessica Blackford-Cleeton, 10+ year peritoneal mesothelioma survivor
With the support of doctors and her husband by her side, Jessica was able to receive care that honored her hopes for the future.
Does Jessica’s story resonate with you? Our team can help you advocate for yourself and your family after a diagnosis. Reach out today for personalized guidance and support.
Jessica was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma in 2015 at just 32 years old following a year of severe stomach pain. By working with Mesothelioma Hope and our legal partners Simmons Hanly Conroy, she was able to afford treatments. Jessica is now celebrating over a decade of survivorship. Visit https://www.mesotheliomahope.com/ or call (866) 608-8933 now to find out if we can help your family. View Transcript.
Duration: 4 min 42 sec
What makes me laugh the most is my husband, but also my kids. My kids make me laugh a lot. I don’t know what it’s like to be a mom without cancer in my life—it’s just our normal.
My name is Jessica Blackford Catton. I have peritoneal mesothelioma and was diagnosed in 2015 at the age of 32, which is pretty young for the disease.
My name is Brandon Catton, and my connection to mesothelioma is being a caregiver for my wife. I did whatever I could to get us through the next day.
I found out about my meso diagnosis after quite a bit of testing. I was having stomach pains for about a year—some pretty severe pain—but it was kind of written off as menstrual or “woman’s issues.” In fact, I’d say every woman I’ve talked to who has had peritoneal mesothelioma was misdiagnosed, usually with ovarian or menstrual pain, or it was brushed off as a stomach bug. It was frustrating. It took about a year before I finally got the scans I needed. When we did, it was extensive—it was all over my abdominal cavity, with hundreds or even thousands of tumors. It was a complete shock. And even then, doctors didn’t know what it was, because they had never seen anything like it.
After my mesothelioma diagnosis, everything changed. I never went back to work because of the extensive treatments. Life was completely flipped upside down. But it’s something I live with and battle every day. I’m just really lucky to even be here.
You cannot have mesothelioma without asbestos exposure. Asbestos is deadly. It’s a horrible substance. Companies knowingly exposed workers, consumers, and bystanders, despite knowing the dangers. That made me feel very angry—there was supporting evidence and data at the time. Protective equipment should have been used. There should have been processes in place to wash after work and to dispose of contaminated clothing. These are very simple measures that could have prevented catastrophic, life-changing conditions down the road.
I was 32 when I was diagnosed. Most research is focused on older people, so there was really nothing about someone like me—nothing about my future, what it would look like if I wanted to have children, or even if I had that option. We were newly married. We wanted to have kids. At that point, we were just trying to preserve life.
Mesothelioma doesn’t have a cure, and I know that—we know that. But we desperately wanted information.
I contacted Simmons Hanly Conroy about a month after I was diagnosed. They were recommended to us as a good firm for asbestos cases. It’s expensive being sick. Any help you can get, especially with this disease, really matters. There are very few experts, and you’re going to be traveling, using a lot of your financial resources. Healthcare is expensive. The support we received definitely helped curb those expenses.
Simmons Hanly Conroy was just easy to work with. They made everything simple. They worked around me and everything I was going through with treatment. It was an easy process. They were also quick. I never had to call them to ask what was going on—I always knew what step we were on, where we were going, and what things were looking like.
Hiring Simmons Hanly Conroy was a good decision. There was a high level of personal care. Everyone we spoke to at the firm really invested in our story.
If someone asked me whether it’s worth going through litigation for mesothelioma, I’d tell them: it is worth it. It’s not an easy decision—I understand that. I know what headspace they’re in at that time. They don’t want another thing on their plate. But in the long run, it makes sense. This is a way for them to get justice.
Fighting to Hold Asbestos Companies Accountable
Initially, Jessica felt overwhelmed by the idea of taking legal action against asbestos companies for her mesothelioma diagnosis. Balancing a legal battle with treatment seemed daunting. But as her medical and travel expenses grew, she also felt anger toward the companies that hid the dangers of asbestos.
“These companies knew exactly what they were doing, and it was profit over people. It just makes me absolutely sick that they would knowingly put people — families — through the pain and suffering they did. It’s just unimaginable.”
– Jessica Blackford-Cleeton, 10+ year peritoneal mesothelioma survivor
A month before starting treatment, Jessica and her father began looking for a mesothelioma law firm. When she first met the team at Simmons Hanly Conroy, their compassion and dedication reassured her that she was in the right hands.
“The firm worked around me and everything I was going through with treatment,” she explains. “It was just an easy process.”
Her lawyers fought hard to secure the financial compensation that helped cover the cost of treatment. Although the money was helpful, Jessica would gladly give up every penny to have her health back.
A Whole Family’s Fight Against Mesothelioma
“Mesothelioma isn’t just a one-person disease,” Jessica recalls when thinking back to the early days of her diagnosis and treatment. She and Brandon were thrust into a new stage of marriage that most couples never experience.
As a new husband, Brandon hadn’t expected to be stepping into a role as caregiver — but his love for Jessica carried them through. Following surgery and chemotherapy, the couple welcomed their first son, Avery, two years after her diagnosis.
“Being a caregiver to somebody with mesothelioma and a dad at the same time is pretty exhausting. But I’m going to do whatever it takes to get my family across the finish line.”
– Brandon Cleeton, husband of peritoneal mesothelioma survivor Jessica Blackford-Cleeton
Thanks to her treatment, Jessica continued to defy the odds of mesothelioma survival. She and Brandon later welcomed their second son, Elliot. Although they don’t know what it’s like to be parents without mesothelioma in their lives, they are determined to keep fighting for their family.
Celebrating Survival and a New Normal
Today, Jessica has survived over 10 years with mesothelioma — a milestone that once felt uncertain. Life may look different from what she imagined, but she and her family have embraced their “new normal.” Even on the harder days, they cherish the time they have together.
“To be able to share my story — hopefully, I give somebody a little bit of hope.”
– Jessica Blackford-Cleeton, 10+ year peritoneal mesothelioma survivor
Jessica also finds joy in the simple things: enjoying fresh espresso, traveling, and spending time with friends and family. “It’s never fun spending time alone,” she says, and with her loving family by her side, she never truly is.
Don’t Fight Mesothelioma Alone: We’re Here to Support You
Jessica’s story shows just how much a mesothelioma diagnosis can change the course of someone’s life. However, with the help of her support system, she was able to complete treatment, have two beautiful sons, and celebrate over 10 years of survival.
If you or someone you love is facing this diagnosis, you don’t have to do this alone.
Our team of Patient Advocates is here to help connect you to:
- Top mesothelioma specialists
- Experienced asbestos attorneys
- Support groups and peer mentors
We’ve helped thousands of families get the care they need, and we’re ready to help you, too. Call us at (866) 608-8933 or download our Free Survivors Guide to learn more about finding support after a mesothelioma diagnosis.
