Pastor With Mesothelioma Shares Progress and Hope
Stories from Survivors
Written by Travis Rodgers | Edited By Amy Edel
To read our first conversation with Dr. Berlinda Love: Pastor Talks About Her Recent Mesothelioma Diagnosis
Pastor, podcaster and writer Dr. Berlinda Love says soon after her pleural mesothelioma diagnosis in June 2024, she began receiving infusions of chemotherapy. But after months of her chemo regimen, she says she began immunotherapy and right now she’s feeling great.
Initially, she received a combination of chemo drugs. Her regimen included Alimta, Avastin and carboplatin. Berlinda says chemo caused several side effects, including a decreased appetite and a metallic taste in her mouth.
“The chemo did affect my hair. It did thin out quite a bit so I have to get that growing back right again,” Berlinda tells us. “I was tired quite a bit, lethargic a lot. I wanted to sleep for 2 or 3 days, but I don’t have those symptoms now.”
Berlinda now receives the immunotherapy drugs Yervoy and Opdivo every 2 weeks. She started the regimen in January 2025.
While she says side effects from immunotherapy pale in comparison to what she experienced while undergoing chemo, she is experiencing joint and nerve problems in her hip. Potential side effects of Yervoy and Opdivo include pain in muscles, bones or joints along with nerve problems.
Berlinda’s Treatment Shows Promising Results
Results show Berlinda’s current immunotherapy regimen is making a significant difference. Berlinda says her most recent CT scan shows her tumor has shrunk to half the size it initially was.
“When we started out it was about 10 ten centimeters, so they started the treatment with the chemo drugs and I believe I had 2 CT scans during that time,” Berlinda tells us. “The second one was the one the doctors were really impressed. It had shrunk down to about 5 centimeters.”
She explains that the tumor’s location ruled out some other potential treatments. She and her doctors also didn’t like the idea of undergoing major surgery.
“The tumor was pressing up on the bottom of my heart and that’s why they couldn’t do radiation.,” she explains. “The only other option was to do surgery, which the doctors didn’t want to do. I’m just looking forward to doing my next CT scan at the end of April, so I can see that it has gotten even smaller.”
Balancing Work and Treatments While Preparing for the Future
Berlinda is still pastoring at a church during her treatment. She was pastoring at 2 churches before her diagnosis, but she chose to reduce her workload while managing her health.
“When I was undergoing chemo, I was so lethargic that I actually paid one of my colleagues to take over some of the duties,” Berlinda says. “I did that for about 7 months. I gave him half of my pay because I needed the help. That way, I have time to regroup and get stronger. This is working out a lot better for me. I don’t have the stress of having to get up at 5 in the morning anymore and go to one church by 9 and then leave there and go to the other church.”
She’s also staying busy doing podcasts and writing articles for magazines. Berlinda wants to continue working in ministry for now, but she’s also laying the groundwork for her future goals. She hopes to transition to online seminars one day.
Berlinda adds, “I’ve been writing and submitting articles and trying to set up a system where I do Christian seminars. That would be something that will allow me to continue ministry work without being in the pulpit. This way I can begin doing other things that I’ve always wanted to do.”
