The Academy Award winner, for his role in True Grit (1969), was born as Marion Robert Morrison, in Iowa, in 1907. Appearing in nearly 250 film productions, John Wayne was a superstar of his time. While his acting career went from strength to strength, his health deteriorated throughout the years.
In September 1964, at the age of 57, Wayne had a cancerous lung removed from his body.
Then in 1978, when he was in his early 70s, the father-of-seven underwent heart valve replacement surgery.
The Duke – as he was known as – died at UCLA Medical Center, LA, on June 11, 1979.
As reported in Variety, Wayne lost his battle with cancer after a 15-year struggle.
Wayne had been admitted to the hospital around five weeks prior to his death, at which time doctors removed an intestinal obstruction.
It was during this operation that surgeons discovered more cancerous tissue.
What causes cancer?
The World Health Organisation (WHO) stated: “Around one third of deaths from cancer are due to tobacco use, high body mass index, alcohol consumption, low fruit and vegetable intake, and lack of physical activity.”
There are also “cancer-causing infections”, such as human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis.
Cancer develops when there is a rapid creation of abnormal cells that grow uncontrollably.
“Cancer arises from the transformation of normal cells into tumour cells in a multi-stage process,” the WHO explained.
These changes are the result of the interaction between a person’s genetic factors and any of these three external agents:
Physical carcinogens
Chemical carcinogens
Biological carcinogens.
Physical carcinogens include ultraviolet and ionising radiation; chemical carcinogens include asbestos, tobacco smoke, alcohol, arsenic, and aflatoxin.
Biological carcinogens include infections from certain viruses, bacteria, or parasites.
“The incidence of cancer rises dramatically with age, most likely due to a build-up of risks for specific cancers that increase with age,” the WHO added.
“The overall risk accumulation is combined with the tendency for cellular repair mechanisms to be less effective as a person grows older.”
While cancer did eventually lead to Wayne’s death, he could have died much sooner if his cancerous lung was not removed.
Biological carcinogens include infections from certain viruses, bacteria, or parasites.
“The incidence of cancer rises dramatically with age, most likely due to a build-up of risks for specific cancers that increase with age,” the WHO added.
“The overall risk accumulation is combined with the tendency for cellular repair mechanisms to be less effective as a person grows older.”
While cancer did eventually lead to Wayne’s death, he could have died much sooner if his cancerous lung was not removed.
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