They Called Her Family to Say Goodbye: Katherine Keys' Mesothelioma Surgery and 18-Year Survival (Part 3)
MESO: The Mesothelioma Podcast
"They Called Her Family to Say Goodbye: Katherine Keys' Mesothelioma Surgery and 18-Year Survival (Part 3)"
Katherine Keys was given 12-18 months to live after her pleural mesothelioma diagnosis. More than 18 years later, she's the longest documented pleural mesothelioma survivor in the world. In this final episode of her three-part interview, Katherine describes her extrapleural pneumonectomy surgery, the moment her family was told she wouldn't survive, and why choosing an expert surgeon saved her life.
In This Episode:
• What to expect before, during, and after extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) surgery
• Katherine's experience on life support when her family was called to say goodbye
• The 50/50 risk of nerve damage she faced going into surgery
• Why choosing a mesothelioma specialist—not a generalist—can mean life or death
Who Should Listen: Mesothelioma patients considering surgery, caregivers preparing to support a loved one, and anyone seeking hope from someone who defied a terminal prognosis.
FAQ
What is an extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP)? EPP is a radical surgical procedure that removes the affected lung, lung lining (pleura), portions of the diaphragm, and heart lining (pericardium). Surgery typically requires accessing the chest through the back and may involve breaking a rib. EPP is now performed less frequently, with many surgeons preferring pleurectomy/decortication (P/D).
What is the typical mesothelioma survival rate? Median survival is 12-21 months without treatment and 18-31 months with treatment. The 5-year survival rate is approximately 10-12%. Long-term survivors like Katherine Keys are rare but demonstrate survival is possible with expert care.
Why choose a mesothelioma specialist surgeon? With only ~3,000 U.S. cases annually, most surgeons see one or two cases in their careers. Specialists at centers like MD Anderson, Brigham and Women's, or Memorial Sloan Kettering have performed hundreds of procedures. Katherine credits her survival to choosing Dr. David Rice rather than staying with her initial physician.
About the Participants
Dave Foster — Executive Director of Patient Advocacy at Danziger & De Llano (18 years experience). Author of Beating The Odds: Surviving with Mesothelioma.
Katherine Keys — Longest documented pleural mesothelioma survivor (18+ years post-diagnosis and EPP surgery).
Anna Jackson — Director of Patient Support at Danziger & De Llano (nearly 15 years experience).
Resources
Book: Beating The Odds: Surviving with Mesothelioma by Dave Foster
Danziger & De Llano: https://dandell.com
• Asbestos Trust Funds ($30B+ available)
Episode Series:
- Understanding Mesothelioma: First Steps After a Diagnosis
- The Longest-Known Survivor of Pleural Mesothelioma: Katherine Keys' 18-Year Journey (Part 1)
- 18 Years After Lung Removal: Katherine Keys' Record-Breaking Survival Story (Part 2)
- They Called Her Family to Say Goodbye: Katherine Keys' Surgery and 18-Year Survival (Part 3) — this episode
Sponsor: 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. Free consultation: https://dandell.com
Information only—not medical or legal advice.
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.
