Remembering Steve McQueen– “The King of Cool”– Who Died From Mesothelioma- Too Little Progress

Through his acting career, McQueen established a reputation for himself, that of the cool guy who pays no mind to the rules. McQueen's legacy of being "The King of Cool" undoubtedly lives on in the antihero persona he took on during his acting career, inevitably stemming from his childhood experiences. McQueen was beloved by many and it came as a shock when he was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma in December of 1979. He may have been exposed to asbestos during his acting career as well, potentially enhancing his symptoms. He was told by his doctors that his cancer was inoperable so they began him on chemotherapy and radiation. McQueen did not want to accept this so he reached out to a friend, Dr. William Kelly, who had an alternative cancer treatment to the chemotherapy and radiation. Dr. Kelly was an orthodontist and many doctors did not agree with his cancer treatment, which was eventually cited as ineffective. The therapy was not approved by the FDA but McQueen, out of desperation, asked Dr. Kelly for help. Thereafter, even though warned against it by previous doctors, McQueen decided to consent to a procedure for removing some of his tumor. McQueen died the next day from cardiac arrest, on November 7th, 1980.

How Can Asbestos Cause Cancer?

 

RELATED: How Asbestos Can Affect Lung Function, Leading to a Devastating Cancer Diagnosis

Asbestos is a known carcinogen. It was widely used in commercial products in the U.S. until the 1970s, when reports linked it to cancers like mesothelioma. Dr. Joseph Friedberg, Head of the Division of Thoracic Surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, told SurvivorNet that mesothelioma's survival rate is generally no longer than one to two years, and it is one of the deadliest cancers.

Current Therapies for Mesothelioma

Prior to May 23rd, 2019, chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery were the three main treatment options provided for mesothelioma. Then, the FDA approved the NovoTTF-100L System, which was the first device that could be used alongside a standard two-drug chemotherapy to treat patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. NovoTTF-100L works by using electric fields tuned to specific frequencies that disrupt solid tumor cancer cell division. In a study testing the effectiveness of the new system, researchers found that median survival rate for people treated with the new system plus chemotherapy was 18.2 months. The clinical trial for the device included 80 participants and the data showed that for that patient population, the device had the potential to extend life expectancy for patients.

The NovoTTF-100L System provides hope for an alternative option to an infamously deadly disease with few treatment options. Mary Hesdorffer, executive director of the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, said that only 10 to 20% of patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma are eligible for surgery to remove a tumor so having this other option is a crucial development.

"Typically, mesothelioma patients who cannot have surgery receive palliative care to mitigate their symptoms. NovoTTF-100L provides unresectable (malignant pleural mesothelioma) patients with a treatment option that may improve survival. We are encouraged by the FDA approval and hope it is just the beginning of innovation in the treatment of this aggressive disease."

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