My father was diagnosed with mesothelioma earlier this year. He had been feeling sick for a while and just ignored it thinking it would just go away. He developed a cough he could not get rid of and became more concerned when he experienced a significant weight loss and problems breathing. It wasn't until he started coughing up blood that he finally called me and told me about what's been going on.

Once I heard he was spitting up blood I became very concerned because I knew it was not a good sign. I called his doctor the following morning and scheduled an appointment. The doctor ran some tests and the CT scan and a biopsy revealed my dad has stage 3 mesothelioma. My dad's doctor determined he must have been exposed to asbestos through his job when he was younger. Although my father has been retired for some time now, he did work in construction for most of his life. He installed insulation for homes and businesses and that's most likely where he was exposed to asbestos which has been linked to mesothelioma.

The treatment for my dad's mesothelioma so far has been surgery followed by chemo and radiation. He has lost a lot of weight and I had to move back and take care of him because he's very weak and is unable to care for himself. His prognosis isn't very good and it's hard seeing him in pain all the time. It makes me sad that he's suffering so much and there's nothing I can do for him. At this point all I can do is pray for him and hope he recovers from this horrible disease. I never even heard of mesothelioma until my dad was diagnosed. It's actually a form of cancer and it is fatal. I have been spending lots of time enjoying my father's company because one never knows. I do believe in miracles and hope my dad is around for a long, long time.