In the late 1970’s and 1980’s, Trevor Seaman worked as an apprentice electrician in his hometown of Wagga Wagga. He then spent the next 35 years travelling the world working on various oil rigs and mines. In 2020, Trevor and his wife Shirley returned home to Australia, planning to retire and work on the farm they had purchased in country Victoria, near the Albury-Wodonga border.

Feeling increasingly breathless, but not overly concerned, Trevor decided to seek medical advice and after numerous appointments and tests, Trevor received a call that would change his life. He had been diagnosed with mesothelioma. When his wife Shirley asked him what that was, he simply replied it’s “a death sentence.”

In this raw and inciteful conversation, Trevor opens up to James about what it was like to receive the mesothelioma diagnosis. He walks us through the radical surgery he underwent, the post-surgery complications and mental anguish he suffered. He offers insight into the support he received from his medical team, and how making contact with the ADDRI Support Service was truly life-saving. 

By sharing his story, Trevor aims to offer advice to those who may find themselves in a similar situation – and to share how he has learnt to build a decent quality of life despite the ongoing challenges – finding ways to continue doing the things he loves with this wife. 

To find out more about the Asbestos and Dust Diseases Research Institute (ADDRI) and to access support, please head to https://adri.org.au/

A clinical overview of the treatment for mesothelioma is available here 

https://adri.org.au/whocc/etoolkit-2021/treatment-of-mesothelioma/

Thank you to our Podcast Interviewer and host James O’Loghlin and Producer Rod Morri from Sydney Podcast Studios.

If you have any questions or comments, please email info@adri.org.au