Mesothelioma Deaths:  No one is Immune

Mesothelioma is a serious form of lung cancer that comes from exposure to asbestos.

Since many people who develop this tragic disease are exposed because of their work in the construction industry, many people think that only blue color laborers are at risk.  No one, no matter what their lifestyle or profession, is immune from the risks of developing this disease, even if they only had slight exposure to asbestos early in their life. 

Sadly, this is not the case, since many notable people—including actors, politications and musicians—have died from mesothelioma.

• In 2008, Hamilton Jordan, former chief of staff in the Jimmy Carter administration, died from complications of mesothelioma.
  
• English jazz musician and broadcaster Keith Shadwick died after a three year battle with mesothelioma in August 2008. Shadwick was also well known as a music journalist, authoring several several books on jazz.  Mr. Shadwick was also well known for his biographies of Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix.
  
• Actor Paul Gleason, best known for his portrayal of Principal Vernon in 1985’s The Breakfast Club, died from mesothelioma in 2006.
  
• Noted American architect Paul Rudolph, best known for his “cubist” building designs, died in 1997.
  
• Legendary actor Steve McQueen was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma in 1979. Because of the already advanced nature of his illness, his doctors did not consider him a candidate for surgery or chemotherapy. McQueen died several months later from a heart attack.
  
• U.S. Congressman Bruce Vento (D-MN) died in 2000.
  
• Rock singer and songwriter Warren Zevon was diagnosed with mesothelioma in late 2002, and died in September 2003. Zevon’s son, Jordan, is an advocate for asbestos disease and a member of the Asbestos Disase Awareness Organization (ADAO).
  
• Irish singer songwiter Christie Hennessy died from mesothelioma in 2007, only a few months after he was diagnosed.

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