Tamron was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma — a rare cancer caused by asbestos exposure — in 2007, as a 21-year-old new mother. As a woman diagnosed at just 21 years of age, she was anything but the typical mesothelioma patient. After more than a decade of living with mesothelioma, she began to share her experiences with others by blogging on 

Tamron Little

COVID-19 really came through and shook up everyone’s lives. It caused pain, fear, anxiety, loss — you name it.

For someone like myself, a cancer survivor, or those currently going through their cancer journey, all those descriptions were magnified by 10!

COVID has altered the way we do things, even when it comes to traveling, and has raised some valid cancer/COVID-related concerns. Of course, traveling doesn’t feel the same, or even look the same. One huge difference in planning a trip now versus pre-COVID is the million-dollar question, “how many people are going to be there?”

With the summer season making her lasting impression and places opening back up, it really makes me want to just go! After being in the house for two years, I didn’t care where I went.

But then again, here comes my reservations playing in my head and the “what ifs” on repeat. “What if I get COVID-19 again? What if the cancer comes back? What if I catch something else?” All the noise and the chatter prompted me to retreat back into the house.

My family and I moved to Flordia last year, and one thing I can say is that the move really caused us to slow down and enjoy the moments. It prompted me to be more intentional about being present.

It’s hard not to go outside when most activities are outside. I’m a mom of four active kids so you can imagine what our house sounds like day in and day out with everyone in the house.

So the question is: are you in or out? Well, I’m out — outside that is. I know it may seem a little liberal to some, but we still must live and not just exist, no matter our cancer status.

Personally, I’ve been traveling short distances throughout this summer season, exploring my new surroundings and getting out and about with my family, while still taking precautions.

I’ve came up with a list of tidbits that helped decreased my anxiety about traveling with cancer/COVID concerns.

Speak with your health care provider and get clearance if needed.

Plan, do your research and notify the appropriate people if you have any needed accommodations

Don’t forget to pack your meds (if flying,make sure your meds are in your personal bag or carry on)

Remember to rest but also enjoy yourself, be present, take pictures, and soak up each and every moment.

For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget to 

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After being homebound for two years from the COVID-19 pandemic, I was eager to get out, though I did have many cancer/COVID-19 concerns. 

Summer Travel Amid Cancer/COVID-19 Concerns: Are You in or Out?

Just by looking at me, I bet you couldn’t guess that I am a 15-year and counting peritoneal mesothelioma survivor. Most times when I tell people their mouth drops. Then they proceed to ask, “what’s mesothelioma?”

To be honest, when I first found out I had peritoneal mesothelioma, I didn’t know what it was either.

When I was pregnant, I was misdiagnosed with a fibroid tumor, as I certainly did not fall into the patient population that typically gets diagnosed with mesothelioma, a type of cancer that’s caused by asbestos exposure. If you look online now you will probably see that the statics show that the typical patient is an older man in his mid 60s, who has worked in the blue-collar industry. I didn’t check all the boxes being that I was a 21-year-old African American female … talk about not being your typical patient.

In the beginning of my journey battling cancer, I was determined to overcome it. My faith kicked into overdrive and was motivated by my newborn son to push through. Imagine being told you have cancer and 18 months to live with a cancer you’ve never heard of before.

After going to an oncologist who knew nothing about the cancer, I was referred to a specialist who introduced me to hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), a treatment method where chemotherapy is delivered directly to the abdomen. This procedure was a groundbreaking one and changed my life for the better. I responded well to the treatment and surprised my medical team.

Throughout my journey, I remained hopeful. I kept pushing and never gave up. When I couldn’t see the light, I searched for it and thought about being present for my son.

I’ve been told I have a way with words and I use my talents and story to inspire others — whether it’s patients with cancer, caregivers or anyone else. The hope and joy that I see in people when they hear my story just confirms I’m in the right space. I’m grateful that I can share my experience and story.

Learning that hope is what so many people need, and I’m elated that I can give it out.

I don’t fit the profile of someone who gets diagnosed with mesothelioma, so my diagnosis came as a shock.

My Story of Hope After Being Diagnosed With a Cancer I’ve Never Heard Of

About 99% of the time when I tell people the type of cancer I had, I’m met with blank stares. My favorite comeback line now is, “Have you seen the asbestos exposure commercials? Well, that’s where mesothelioma comes from — exposure to asbestos.”

Then they nod and say, “oh yeah”, and then here comes another blank stare, because they are wondering how I got it when all they see are older men in the commercials. To be honest, I can’t fault them for that, because I thought the same thing. Before I was diagnosed, I had never heard of mesothelioma, let alone peritoneal mesothelioma. When I was first diagnosed, I was like, “What in the world is that and how in the world did I get it?” Oh, did I tell you how old I was? I was a 21-year-old college student who had just had a baby six months prior.

My family did not know what it was either. As a matter of fact, not a single person I told knew what it was. I remember I found out in the recovery room, right after I had surgery to take out a fibroid — or at least that’s what my gynecologist thought it was. When he told me it was mesothelioma, I just stared, like, “Huh? What’s that?” My family was a little shocked that I had cancer at such a young age, and they didn’t know what it was either.

While I was still in the hospital, here comes my mom and husband with papers they printed off with what they could find on the internet about mesothelioma. They were telling me bits and pieces, but I saw their reaction to what they were reading and just knew it was not good.

It was a bit overwhelming for all of us. My mom kept saying, “But this is an old man’s disease!” The information they found on the internet categorized it as an “older persons” disease and the prognosis was grim.

Side note: We all know people who have used the internet and “Father Google” to look up things, diagnose themselves, you name it. But when you’ve just been told you have cancer and you go searching Google, it can lead you into the wrong head space.

As my family read more and more, it’s kind of added fuel to the fire and emotions ran high all day — all week for that matter, for all of us.

With any situation, not knowing much about a particular thing can be scary, but when you’re told you have cancer and you know nothing about it, it is like walking into the unknown darkness.

In the Right Place for Mesothelioma Guidance

Nurses and the case manager came in to set my family up for grief counseling because of the bleak prognosis of the cancer. My mom was so distraught she went and confided in her coworkers. Being that my mom worked at the hospital at the time, when she broke down and told her coworkers, they told her what she needed to do.

They advised her that mesothelioma needed to be treated aggressively and put us in contact with Dr. Edward Levine, one of the best in his field for treating peritoneal mesothelioma. Talk about being in the right place at the right time. My mom’s coworkers gave us more knowledge about what it was and different treatment options.

I underwent hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy, or HIPEC. As my doctor describes it, I am a walking miracle. I have been cancer free for 14 years and counting and was able to have three more children even after the surgery. I am a happy wife and mom of four sharing my story while inspiring others.

Tamron Little was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma at the age of 21. Because of her experiences as a mesothelioma survivor, Little has firsthand knowledge to share with those facing this devastating disease. It’s one of the reasons she became an Asbestos.com contributing writer in 2018. She also hopes to inspire others with her positive outlook on life

Mesothelioma has been categorized as an “older persons” disease, writes a 14-year survivor. Which is why, she writes, her and her family were completely caught off-guard when she was diagnosed at 21.

Tamron Little

Summer Travel Amid Cancer/COVID-19 Concerns: Are You in or Out?

My Story of Hope After Being Diagnosed With a Cancer I’ve Never Heard Of

Overcoming a Mesothelioma Diagnosis at a Young Age

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