Tamron Little: Overcoming the Odds

Diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer—peritoneal mesothelioma—at the age of 21, Tamron shares her story to inspire others impacted by a cancer diagnosis.

While pregnant with my first child at the age of 21, I was diagnosed with a fibroid tumor during a routine ultrasound. Throughout my pregnancy, I experienced severe anemia which caused me to be more fatigued than normal. Of course, I had no clue—this was my first pregnancy—but doctors assured me that my symptoms stemmed from the fibroid. The thought of cancer did run through my mind a couple of times, but the women in my family are prone to fibroids, so I figured I had them too.

Once I gave birth to my healthy baby boy, my doctor prescribed birth control to shrink the fibroid. It didn’t shrink but got larger, the size of a ping pong ball. I got a little worried at this point due to the fear of the “unknown.” Plus, surgery was advised, which I had never had before. The day came, and the surgery was quick, but I was never prepared for what the doctor would tell me. “Your surgery went well, and your vitals look good, but you have cancer; peritoneal mesothelioma to be exact. I’m sorry.”

What? It was like I heard what he said but everything just slowed down. I saw him turn and walk away and the expressions on my family’s faces were indescribable. I was in shock. I couldn’t cry or express any feelings. All I could think about was getting home to my baby.

I had never heard of this type of cancer before, and most of the information I initially found was very upsetting. I was told that I had 18 months to live and that the cancer was caused by asbestos exposure. Originally, I was referred to an oncologist whose specialty was not mesothelioma. I felt their generalized approach would not be enough to save my life. But I wouldn’t expect that as my fate. I knew that I would live, and my faith and hope kicked into overdrive.

Do you believe in miracles? I do, thanks to my mom for sharing my story with her coworkers. We found a specialist who not only was an oncologist, but who specialized in an effective treatment for peritoneal mesothelioma. He was confident that I would beat the cancer, and I did after he performed a 10-hour HIPEC (hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy) surgery.

That was 16 years ago, and I am still cancer free! It even gets better, though. I was told I wouldn’t be able to have any more kids, but today I am a mom of four beautiful children. I hope to share my story to inspire others and give them hope when all hope is lost. I stand as a survivor, a thriver, and an advocate.

Whether you are a patient, survivor, caregiver, or loved one touched by cancer, your story can have an enormous impact. You can provide hope and inspiration to someone recently diagnosed with cancer or a patient undergoing therapy.