Warren Zevon’s death from mesothelioma remembered
Warren Zevon was the musical talent who brought us such hits as “Lawyers, Guns and Money” and “Werewolves of London.” However, many people are unaware that Zevon died from mesothelioma, a rare lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Zevon died Sept. 7, 2003. He was 56.
Zevon, who had a life-long fear of doctors, learned of his illness in 2002 after his dentist encouraged him to see a physician about the extreme pain he was experiencing. After Zevon was diagnosed, he refused treatment in fear that it might debilitate him, and instead chose to focus his energy on completing his album “The Wind,” which won two Grammy awards.
Interestingly, Zevon never knew his source of asbestos exposure, and chose not the pursue it. However, his struggle with the cancer proves that anyone who comes in contact with asbestos can suffer from mesothelioma.
Zevon is not the only celebrity who has died from mesothelioma. Other celebrities, such as actor Paul Gleason and football star Merlin Olsen, both died from the cancer shortly after diagnosis. In both cases, a portion of their asbestos exposure could be linked to jobs they held as young men.
