James “Rhio” O’Connor – A Survivor’s Story

This is not the typical story of someone famous or well-known to the masses that has made their mark on the endeavors of mankind. In fact, until this topic was introduced to me in my scholarship search, I had never heard of him before. That man is James “Rhio” O’Connor. He wrote a book about his survival story called, "They Said Months, I Chose Years: A Mesothelioma Survivor's Story." In his book, he discusses how he managed his life after being diagnosed with mesothelioma to include researching the disease, its treatments and taking dietary supplements.

Mesothelioma, according to the National Cancer Institute, is a disease in which cancer cells are found in the sac lining the chest (the pleura), the lining of the abdominal cavity (the peritoneum) or the lining around the heart (the pericardium). Mr. James "Rhio" O’Connor had pleura mesothelioma, to be specific. At the time of his diagnosis, Mr. O’Connor was 61 years old, but learned that he had been exposed to asbestos when he was much younger. Mesothelioma has a long latency period (or time between contracting a particular disease or illness and its diagnosis). For mesothelioma, that time frame can be anywhere between 40 and 60 years. He learned that this disease can be contracted from even very brief exposures to asbestos; even as short a period as one to two months.

Surprisingly, Mr. O’Connor’s oncologist offered no positive suggestions, feedback or recommendations for Mr. O’Connor. In fact, Mr. O’Connor was told to get his affairs in order , take a cruise with his wife and to start hospice once they returned from that cruise. The doctor had only given him only a few months to live! Where was the “bed-side manner” from this doctor? Mr. O’Connor completely rejected this prognosis and began his own research.

While surgery is an option for this disease, he learned that surgery was not possible because of the position of the tumor near his spine. He also learned that chemotherapy would decrease his quality of life and not significantly improve the length of his life. So he began studying alternative treatment methods.

He began working with clinicians with whom he changed his diet, began a routine of taking over 100 supplements each day, started practicing mind-body medicine which focuses on the interactions between mind and body and the powerful ways in which you can use meditation, guided imagery, biofeedback, words, drawings and group support to help yourself. Its focus is to relieve stress that significantly contributes to chronic illnesses.

Mr. O’Connor began to rely on his discipline, knowledge, his enduring spirit, his ability to make his own choice and his belief in something greater than himself. As it is mentioned in the title of the book that he wrote about his battle with mesothelioma, instead of only living a few months, Mr. O’Connor actually lives 7½ years before he passed at age 69. He truly fought a good fight.

As I learned what I did of Mr. O’Connor, this disease and how he managed his life thereafter, I began to think about how I would react if given the same disease, with the same situation. I began to think about the many jobs I’ve had over the years in shoe stores and clothing stores, working security on construction sites and even working in the basement of government buildings (where I currently work). Since the latency period is 40 to 60 years, I could very well contract this disease as well. This could serve as a precaution to have my physicians look for early signs and symptoms of this disease.

Too often, we take the advice of the doctor at face value: the doctor said it; therefore it must be true and there must not be any other options or she or he would have given them to me. We must become more proactive in our own health care. We must ask our doctors if there are other options and/or alternatives to their diagnosis. That’s my manta now.

Taking over 100 supplements a day can be quite costly, but what is the alternative? Mr. O’Connor prolonged his life and maintained a relatively high quality of life versus that which he would have had with the chemotherapy.

It is unfortunate that too many of our doctors are unwilling to suggest that we adjust our diets when we are younger, but wait until we are older and illnesses or diseases are apparent in our bodies. I am fortunate to have a doctor who has told me to change my diet in addition to the exercise that I am doing.

Researching Mr. O’Connor’s life and this disease mesothelioma has given me an upper-hand on looking for signs of it in my body. Had I not found this information while looking for scholarship information, I could have been blindsided. If I were given a dire cancer prognosis, I would join a mesothelioma support group and interview those who are undergoing alternative treatments. I would also seek out doctors in my area who support alternative treatment methods. Now, I have websites to the different forms of mesothelioma, its treatments – both surgical and non-surgical, and a story of one man’s life who, through discipline, mind-body medicine, belief in something higher than himself (I presume God), was able to cast off the death-sentence of a few months and was able to live for 7½ years. I would use the Internet, health journal websites and support groups as my primary resources of information that I to make informed decisions of my treatment and lifestyle. In fact, when I had an elective operation 10 years ago, I joined an online support group which had men who had undergone the same operation I was contemplating. These men offered advice that I did not necessarily get from my doctor. I also joined another online support group when I was contacted by the American Red Cross - Bone Marrow division. They told me that I was a match for a bone marrow recipient and that there were some risks involved for the donor. I found both of these groups a valuable source of information.

If I considered chemotherapy and/or surgery as methods of treatment, they would be last resorts to alternative measures. Too often, we hear in the news that a new drug is introduced to the market only to later be taken off of the market due to the numerous side effects versus its benefit. With the alternative measures, as I have come to learn, there are no side effects.

To learn more about other mesothelioma survivors, their survival stories and more on the alternative treatments of mesothelioma, view the information at the hyperlinked: mesothelioma.

-Galen Muhammad