Former Auto Mechanic from New Mexico Battles Mesothelioma

Calvin “Gene” Durham died in May 2004 after desperately fighting for his life.  In the year between his diagnosis of mesothelioma in May 2003 and death in May 2004, his world was turned upside down.

Gene, 53, was in exceptional shape until this asbestos cancer started attacking his body.  An avid cyclist, Gene regularly rode in the 13,000-feet mountains of northwestern New Mexico and neighboring southwest Colorado near his hometown of Farmington, New Mexico.  It was through his cycling that he first realized something was wrong – he started experiencing severe shortness of breath, despite his regular, intense aerobic training.

Since May 2003, Gene’s previously fulfilling life was a nightmare. Gene was single for much of his life but was happily married to Cathie James since 1999.  Through Cathie, Gene had enjoyed his two adult step-children and more recently, two grandchildren. 

With Cathie by his side, Gene underwent nearly every imaginable and painful medical treatment to combat this deadly disease.  The most radical treatment was a surgery known as extra-pleural pneumonectomy. 

The renowned surgeon, Dr. Sugarbaker from Boston, Massachusetts, removed Gene’s right lung, the pleural linings, and parts of his diaphram, as well as the pericardium surrounding his heart. This surgery was followed up with approximately 30 radiation treatments in the fall of 2003 in an effort to rid Gene’s body of as many cancer cells as possible.  

Unfortunately, Gene never regained his strength, and the surgery failed to slow the progress of the asbestos-related cancer.  CAT and PET scans in early 2004 revealed that, in fact, the tumor had spread to more regions within his body, including his head, pancreas and kidney. 

Despite this heart-breaking failure, Gene continued to fight and seek experimental medical treatments.  Cathie and Gene spent several weeks in 2004 at the Cancer Center Treatment of America in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  There, Gene had additional surgeries, including the installation of a tube for feeding and a port so that regular doses of painkilling drugs could be administered.  The feeding tube was necessary because a tumor had attacked his esophogus, making swallowing and even talking nearly impossible.  

Gene traces the cause of his mesothelioma to his days as a motorcycle racer and motorcycle and auto mechanic for much of his life, as well as his brief jobs in insulating powerhouses near Farmington during the 1970's.  In addition to the extreme emotional toll the disease has caused, the mesothelioma left the couple in desperate financial straits.