Steve McQueen and asbestos exposure

The late actor Steve McQueen died in 1980 at the age of 50 from cardiac arrest.  He had developed cancer and he was very ill.  Steve was diagnosed with Pleural mesothelioma which is a cancer of the protective lining of the lungs.  It is caused by inhaling asbestos fibers.  Patients usually survive about 6-12 months after diagnosis but treatments such as surgery and chemotherapy can increase life expectancy.

It is thought that Steve McQueen was first exposed to asbestos during the Marine Corps where he served from 1947-1950.  He spent time working on naval ships and in the shipyards.  Also, asbestos was used a lot in Hollywood.  It was sometimes used as fake snow.  Steve McQueen also wore a flame-retardant suit while racing cars and it was made of asbestos. Hollywood loved the material on movie sets.

The microscopic fibers of asbestos can easily be inhaled and eventually lodge themselves in the lining of the lungs.  Over time, the fibers can create scarring and tumors that develop into mesothelioma.  Veterans are often diagnosed with mesothelioma.  You may have seen lots of advertisements from lawyers for class action lawsuits for those who have mesothelioma from asbestos inhalation.

Unfortunately, many older houses were built with asbestos and unsuspecting people have been exposed to it without their knowledge.  Asbestos can be found in old floor tiles, ceiling tiles, roof shingles, and flashing, siding, insulation (around boilers, ducts, pipes, sheeting, fireplaces), pipe cement and joint compound used on seams between pieces of sheetrock.  Some newer homes also contain asbestos.  The existence of asbestos doesn’t automatically mean you are breathing the fibers.  Have a professional check your house, especially the attic, to see if the asbestos has been disturbed or if it is possible you could have been breathing fibers in your lungs.  Symptoms of mesothelioma usually do not show up until 20-50 years after asbestos exposure, hence the older age at diagnosis.

Your doctor can perform several tests to learn whether you have asbestosis and to rule out other conditions that have similar symptoms.  Symptoms of asbestosis include dry cough or wheezing, shortness of breath, respiratory complications, pain in the chest or abdomen and fever or night sweats.