Texas Asbestos Exposure: Refineries, Legal History & One Family's Story

Episode Description

Six of the top oil refineries in the United States are located in Texas—and refinery workers, construction crews, and even their families have paid the price with mesothelioma diagnoses decades later.

In this episode of MESO: The Mesothelioma Podcast, host Dave Foster—Executive Director of patient advocacy at Danziger & De Llano with 18 years of experience helping mesothelioma families—sits down with Rod De Llano, Founding Partner with 25 years of mesothelioma litigation experience, and Larry Gates, Senior Client Advocate whose father died of mesothelioma in 1999 after 22 years of refinery work in Pasadena, Texas.

Together, they cover:

• Why Texas ranks among the top three states for mesothelioma cases—alongside California and Florida—due to refineries, shipyards, and petrochemical plants concentrated along the Gulf Coast
• The hidden danger of drilling mud: asbestos-containing drilling fluids exposed roughnecks and oil field workers until approximately 1985
• Secondary exposure patterns: how wives and children developed mesothelioma 30+ years after breathing fibers from workers' clothing
• How asbestos litigation began in the 1980s and led to approximately 35 trust funds now compensating victims and families
• Larry's personal story: watching his healthy, athletic father go from active to gone in just 6 months after his 1999 diagnosis
• Why Texas law changes in 2003 made it harder to file mesothelioma cases in the state—and where cases are filed now

Whether you're a refinery worker, construction tradesperson, military veteran stationed in Texas, or a family member seeking answers about a loved one's exposure, this episode explains the industries, timelines, and legal landscape that shaped Texas asbestos cases.

Resources:

• Asbestos Exposure Sources: https://dandell.com/asbestos-exposure/
• Mesothelioma Compensation: https://dandell.com/mesothelioma-compensation/
• Rod De Llano, Founding Partner: https://dandell.com/rod-de-llano/
• Larry Gates, Senior Client Advocate: https://dandell.com/larry-gates/
• Free Consultation: https://dandell.com/contact-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.

What does life look like when one lung has to do the work of two? We sit with Katherine Keyes for a candid, hopeful, and deeply practical conversation about rebuilding a life after mesothelioma—physically, mentally, and socially. No platitudes, just real tools: how to pace exercise without crashing, taper pain meds and oxygen safely, and design a “new normal” that protects energy while making room for joy.

Katherine walks us through the slow return to movement: starting with short treadmill sessions, adding gentle cycling, and using pulmonary testing to measure how her left lung adapted. She explains why consistency beats intensity, how rest intervals prevent setbacks, and why even light activity like gardening becomes powerful rehab for breath and mood. We talk openly about off days, the sting of lost abilities, and the counterweight of daily gratitude—small rituals that anchor motivation when willpower fades.

We also explore survivor’s guilt and the complicated relief of long-term remission. Katherine shares the role of clinicians, family, and community in keeping her grounded, and why accepting help can be as brave as offering it. The episode highlights tapering strategies for opioids and oxygen, mental health guardrails, and the value of purposeful routines. Her story is both blueprint and encouragement: redefine success, move a little most days, ask for support, and pass it forward.

If you’re navigating mesothelioma, chronic illness, or any hard reset, Katherine's wisdom will meet you where you are and help you take the next steady step. Subscribe, share with someone who needs hope today, and leave a review to help others find this conversation.

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.

The median survival for pleural mesothelioma with treatment is 18-31 months—yet Katherine Keyes was diagnosed in 2007 and is still thriving 17 years later. In this episode of MESO: The Mesothelioma Podcast, host Dave Foster—Executive Director of patient advocacy at Danziger & De Llano with 18 years of experience helping mesothelioma families—sits down with Katherine Keyes, a Stage 1 pleural mesothelioma survivor who defied a one-year prognosis after extrapleural pneumonectomy.

Katherine walks through the rarely discussed post-surgery reality: managing 10-12 medications on strict schedules, oxygen dependency 24 hours a day, and the physical therapy required to retrain a single lung. Her daughters moved in and split day-night shifts to coordinate care. A close friend who worked as a nurse at Methodist Hospital in Dallas stopped by every morning before her own shift to help Katherine bathe and dress. When appetite vanished and weight dropped, marinol helped restore enough hunger to stabilize.

Together, they cover:

• Post-surgical recovery protocols: 10-12 different medications with alarm-scheduled dosing, 24/7 oxygen therapy using both portable backpack units and stationary concentrators, and the transition from walker to independent mobility
• Daily radiation at MD Anderson Cancer Center: Katherine leased an apartment near the Houston medical district and completed five days per week of radiation therapy for two and a half months, driving herself to and from treatment
• Physical therapy timeline and goals: Six months of stretching exercises to prevent chest wall adhesions, maintain lung capacity in the remaining lung, and rebuild strength after major surgery
• Family support systems that work: Daughters who created medication schedules with alarm clocks, a nurse friend who provided daily care assistance, and employers (Neiman Marcus) who allowed remote work to accommodate caregiving
• Long-term recovery realities: Katherine was not medically cleared to return to full-time work but gradually returned to part-time employment after several years, learning to balance independence with medical precautions

Whether you're facing mesothelioma surgery, supporting someone through post-surgical recovery, or navigating life after lung removal, Katherine's story offers practical guidance on oxygen management, medication coordination, rehabilitation timelines, and building support systems that sustain long-term survival.

Resources:

• Mesothelioma Diagnosis Information: https://dandell.com/mesothelioma-diagnosis/
• Dave Foster, Executive Director of Patient Advocacy: https://dandell.com/david-foster/
• Anna Jackson, Director of Patient Support: https://dandell.com/anna-jackson/
• Free Consultation: https://dandell.com/contact-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.

MESO: The Mesothelioma Podcast

Mesothelioma patients who undergo lung-sparing surgery face an average hospital stay of 3-4 weeks—and the recovery journey requires both exceptional medical care and fierce self-advocacy.

In Part 4 of her survivor story on MESO: The Mesothelioma Podcast, host Dave Foster—Executive Director of patient advocacy at Danziger & De Llano with 18 years of experience helping mesothelioma families—continues his conversation with Katherine Keys, a Stage 1 pleural mesothelioma survivor now 17+ years past her diagnosis. Katherine shares the raw reality of post-surgical recovery at MD Anderson Cancer Center, including two weeks in ICU, learning to walk again with only one functioning lung, and the moment her elderly mother climbed the front steps to welcome her home.

Together, they cover:

• The trust Katherine placed in her surgeon Dr. David Rice at MD Anderson Cancer Center—and why his no-sugarcoating communication style set expectations that held up through the hardest moments

• Two weeks in the ICU and the fatigue that comes with intensive monitoring—plus a troubling incident with an aide that led Katherine to advocate for her own safety (and how hospital leadership responded within hours)

• What graded mobility actually looks like after major thoracic surgery: using the IV pole as a walking partner, resting without quitting, and celebrating two laps around the nursing station as the discharge milestone

• The 3.5-hour drive home in 93-degree August heat with oxygen tanks, a walker, and the logistics no one prepares you for—from highway rest stops to hotel lobbies

• The gut-punch moment when Katherine's mother—newly discharged from her own hospitalization—arrived on a cane to welcome her daughter home, a reminder that healing is communal, not just clinical

Whether you're facing thoracic surgery for mesothelioma or supporting someone through recovery, this episode reveals what really happens between the operating room and returning home—and how honest communication, patient self-advocacy, and family support braid together to pull someone through.

Resources: 

• Mesothelioma Diagnosis & Treatment: https://dandell.com/mesothelioma-diagnosis/ 

• Dave Foster, Executive Director of Patient Advocacy: https://dandell.com/david-foster/ 

• Understanding Mesothelioma: https://dandell.com/mesothelioma/ 

• Free Consultation: https://dandell.com/contact-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.

"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 

• Mesothelioma Lawsuits

• Asbestos Trust Funds ($30B+ available)

• Veterans & Mesothelioma

Episode Series:

1. Understanding Mesothelioma: First Steps After a Diagnosis
2. The Longest-Known Survivor of Pleural Mesothelioma: Katherine Keys' 18-Year Journey (Part 1)
3. 18 Years After Lung Removal: Katherine Keys' Record-Breaking Survival Story (Part 2)
4. 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.

Katherine Keys was given one year to live. Eighteen years later, she's the longest-surviving mesothelioma patient to undergo extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP)—a surgery so aggressive that European studies concluded it wasn't worth performing.

In Part 2 of this two-part episode of MESO: The Mesothelioma Podcast, host Dave Foster—Executive Director of patient advocacy at Danziger & De Llano with 18 years of experience—continues his conversation with Katherine, an 18-year pleural mesothelioma survivor whose outcome defied every statistic.

Together, they cover:

• How Dr. David Rice performed Katherine's EPP on July 18, 2007, removing her lung and lung lining through an incision requiring rib access—and why she credits his thoroughness for her outcome
• The six-month oxygen dependency that followed surgery—requiring supplemental oxygen 24/7, even in the shower—and the physical therapy needed to relearn basic functions like swallowing
• Why Katherine's case was discussed at the International Mesothelioma Interest Group meeting in Philadelphia, where surgeons confirmed no other EPP patient has survived as long
• The daily limitations she manages 18 years later, including nerve damage on her right side, breathing difficulties on poor air quality days, and needing to eat slowly to prevent food from going back up
• How her pre-surgery fitness level—she was an avid runner who worked out constantly—likely contributed to her eligibility for and recovery from such an invasive procedure
• The role of faith and gratitude in her survival: "Every morning I always count my blessings to be still alive"
• Why she refuses a lung transplant and continues to see Dr. Rice, who calls her a "celebrity" at the clinic
• Her message to newly diagnosed patients: "It's okay if you have a bad day"—perspective from someone who beat 12-month survival odds by more than 17 years

Who this episode is for: Patients considering EPP surgery, families weighing aggressive treatment options, long-term survivors navigating life after mesothelioma treatment, and anyone who needs proof that outcomes can exceed the most dire prognoses.

The average mesothelioma survival after EPP is 18-31 months. Katherine's 18+ years represents an extraordinary outcome—and her story offers both practical insights about post-surgical recovery and genuine hope for families facing this diagnosis.

Resources:

• Learn about mesothelioma treatment options: https://dandell.com/mesothelioma/
• Understanding your diagnosis: https://dandell.com/mesothelioma-diagnosis/
• Compensation for mesothelioma patients: https://dandell.com/mesothelioma-compensation/
• Meet our patient advocates: https://dandell.com/advocates/

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 https://dandell.com/

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.

The median survival for pleural mesothelioma is 18-31 months with treatment—yet Katherine Keys has survived for 18 years, making her the longest-known survivor of this aggressive asbestos-related cancer.

In this first episode of a two-part series on MESO: The Mesothelioma Podcast, host Dave Foster—Executive Director of patient advocacy at Danziger & De Llano with 18 years of experience helping mesothelioma families—sits down with Katherine Keys, an 18-year pleural mesothelioma survivor, to discuss her extraordinary journey from initial symptoms through misdiagnosis, surgery, and long-term survivorship.

Together, they cover:

• The early warning signs Katherine experienced—and why her symptoms were initially misdiagnosed before doctors confirmed malignant pleural mesothelioma
• Why she sought out a mesothelioma specialist rather than relying on a general oncologist, and how that decision changed her outcome
• The major lung surgery that removed her cancer—and what recovery and daily life look like 18 years later with one lung
• The mindset, family support, and medical team that helped her beat odds that give most patients less than three years
• Her advice for newly diagnosed patients: why acting quickly and finding the right surgeon matters more than anything

Whether you've just received a mesothelioma diagnosis or you're supporting a loved one through treatment decisions, Katherine's story offers proof that outcomes can far exceed expectations with specialized care, early action, and the right team.

Part 2 of Katherine's story releases next week.

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.

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.

Only about 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year—and the average patient sees three doctors before receiving an accurate diagnosis. Knowing what to do in those critical first weeks can change everything.

In the very first episode of MESO: The Mesothelioma Podcast, host Matthew Bertram sits down with Paul Danziger—founding partner of Danziger & De Llano with over 30 years of mesothelioma litigation experience—and Dave Foster, Executive Director of patient advocacy with 18 years helping mesothelioma families, to cover everything families need to know after a mesothelioma diagnosis.

Together, they discuss:

• Why the 20-50 year latency period between asbestos exposure and diagnosis catches most families completely off guard—and what that means for your legal timeline
• How specialized treatment centers like MD Anderson, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Moffitt Cancer Center approach mesothelioma differently than local oncologists
• The critical steps families should take in the first 30 days—from securing medical records to understanding your options for surgery, chemotherapy, and clinical trials
• How patient advocates help families access over $30 billion in asbestos trust funds, VA benefits, and legal compensation simultaneously
• What survivors who have beaten the 12-21 month median survival prognosis did differently—and how early action and specialized care made the difference
• The emotional and practical support available to families in the overwhelming days and weeks following diagnosis

Who this episode is for: Families who have just received a mesothelioma diagnosis, those researching options for a loved one, and anyone exposed to asbestos who wants to understand the risks.

Whether you're navigating a new diagnosis or supporting someone who is, this episode provides the roadmap for what comes next. You're not alone—and this is where to begin.

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.

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.