Steve McQueen was known for being an ultra-cool movie star as well as for his real life battle with mesothelioma which he lost on November 7, 1980 at the age of 50. Today is the twenty-nine year anniversary of his death.

His exposure to asbestos was attributed to several instances throughout his life. He worked at construction sites in his junior years and later on at shipyards scraping off asbestos from pipes while at service in the Marines. His fascination for race cars and motorcycles also implied exposure to asbestos through his use of safety helmets and driving gear required for the sport.

It was in 1979 when he was diagnosed with mesothelioma. It not only affected his lungs but also advance to other organs in his body. He was informed by his doctors that nothing can restore one’s health when diagnosed with this disease since no medication or procedure had been invented yet. For lack of possible treatment choices he turned to odd practices involving fetal animal injections to consuming more than a hundred vitamins a day. McQueen found favor and hope when his status got better in October of 1980 although this did not last long. In November of the same year, he underwent a medical procedure to extract malignant masses found in his neck and abdomen. He endured the operation but failed to live through the following day.

Mesothelioma doesn’t choose its victims. Steve McQueen’s superstar status didn’t keep him from this fatal disease. And sadly a great number of mesothelioma patients don’t have the resources to put up with the expenses that go along with it. That is why it is so important to spread awareness concerning this fatal disease.

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