Hollywood columnist Army Archerd died of mesothelioma this week.  Archerd was a legendary reporter who is remembered fondly for his work at Daily Variety, where he wrote about Hollywood stars for over 50 years. Archerd collapsed on Monday and passed away on Tuesday. He was 87 years old.

Army Archerd was diagnosed with mesothelioma five years ago. In a Chicago Tribune news story, Archerd’s wife noted that doctors who diagnosed him with mesothelioma ascribed it to his asbestos exposure while working in a shipyard when he was in the Navy during World War II.

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that currently has no cure. Mesothelioma attacks the lining of various organs and areas of the body, causing victims tremendous pain and suffering. It’s also called asbestos cancer due to asbestos exposure being a cause of mesothelioma. The first signs of mesothelioma can take between 10 and 50 years to show up after a person has been exposed to asbestos. There is treatment available, but, again, there is no cure.

People who worked in the construction, ship building and general industries can be at risk for mesothelioma, as these industries were affected by asbestos exposure. Asbestos was a commonly-used material in construction in the 1900s up until 1978, used in roofing materials, siding, pipes, boilers and even automobile brakes. What’s more is that workers who endured years of asbestos exposure also put their families at risk — asbestos fibers could have been tracked into their homes by shoes and clothing.

Asbestos exposure and mesothelioma are nothing short of serious. Army Archerd is one of many, many people affected by mesothelioma, and he will no doubt be missed. Archerd’s passing brings up the importance of mesothelioma victim’s rights and knowing what should be done if you or a loved one has mesothelioma. To speak with someone to find out more information, call 1-888-370-0121.

Tags: army archerd, asbestos, asbestos cancer, asbestos exposure, mesothelioma, mesothelioma attorney, mesothelioma deaths

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 10th, 2009 at 5:15 pm and is filed under mesothelioma. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.