Mesothelioma Takes Life of Merlin Olsen

Posted: Nov 24, 2011 |
Merlin Olsen was one of the strongest players in NFL history, but malignant mesothelioma proved to be one rival he could not defeat.   NFL Rookie of the Year in 1962.  NFL player of the year in 1964.  A Football Hall of Famer, television actor and commentator, Olsen died of mesothelioma on March 11, a disease he and his family claimed he contracted from exposure to asbestos.  A football standout early on at Utah State, Olsen went on to a successful 15 year career with the Los Angeles Rams and was elected to the Pro Bowl in 14 of those seasons, starting with his rookie year in 1962.  He remains the Rams' all-time leader in career tackles.   At 6' 5"and 275 pounds, the soft spoken Olsen was often called the "gentle giant."  He had said, "At an early age I was big and strong, but I always had to be careful that I didn't lose my temper…I was also awkward enough and slow enough and rebellious enough that I got teased a great deal…So when I finally grew coordinated enough to catch up with the guys who hit and ran, I only wanted to be able to say to them, never again.  I didn't have to beat up on them.  I didn't have to prove to them how strong I was. "    After retiring from football, Olsen continued to be active as a sports commentator and reinvented himself again as a television actor.  His most memorable roles were that of mountain man Jonathan Garvey on ‘Little House on the Prairie' and NBC's ‘Father Murphy' in which he played a travelling priest.   But Olsen and his family believe that his acting career may have played a role in the illness that eventually killed him.  In 2009, Olsen was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a deadly type of cancer that affects the lining around the lungs and is caused by inhalation of asbestos fibers.  In December of 2009, the Olsens filed suit against a long list of businesses, including NBC Studios, NBC Universal, 20th Century Fox and even Sherwin Williams alleging the companies negligently exposed him to asbestos.   That same month, Olsen was honored by Utah State at a half-time ceremony praising his contributions to the University, but he was too sick to attend.  The school announced that the football field at Romney Stadium would be renamed "Merlin Olsen Field" and is also planning a statue of Olsen at the corner of the stadium.   In his mesothelioma lawsuit, Olsen also claimed he was exposed to asbestos early in life doing manual labor after school as a child, and then again as an adult doing drywall work.  Construction jobs carry a high risk of asbestos exposure because of the number of asbestos-containing products on job sites, including some insulation, roof and floor tiles.  Mesothelioma can take 20 to 40 years after asbestos exposure to develop, and most cases are the result of the inhalation of the tiny fibers.   Olsen underwent three rounds of chemotherapy for his illness, but, like many patients diagnosed with mesothelioma, he died within a year of diagnosis.  He was married with three children and four grandchildren. He was 69 years old.

Questions and Answers

Ask
200 Characters left
Rate this Article
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 0 vote(s)
    Feedback
    Print
    Re-Publish
    Source:  http://www.articlesbase.com/cancer-articles/mesothelioma-takes-life-of-merlin-olsen-5425797.html

    Article Tags:

    mesothelioma

    Mesothelioma Attorneys

    Mesothelioma, cancer of the mesothelium, is a rare cancer taking too many lives today.

    By: Mesothelioma Attorneysl Health> Diseases and Conditionsl Apr 27, 2011 lViews: 107
    Mesothelioma Attorneys

    Mesothelioma is one of the rarest forms of cancer and it originates in mesothelium.

    By: Mesothelioma Attorneysl Health> Diseases and Conditionsl Apr 27, 2011
    Mesothelioma Attorneys

    Mesothelioma lawyers are available to discuss the potential compensation for mesothelioma cases.

    By: Mesothelioma Attorneysl Health> Cancerl Feb 22, 2011 lViews: 109
    Mesothelioma Attorneys

    Diagnosis of mesothelioma can change the entire life of patients and their families in a moment. A cure for mesothelioma has not yet been discovered.

    By: Mesothelioma Attorneysl Health> Cancerl Apr 27, 2011
    Mesothelioma Attorneys

    Mesothelioma is a serious disease that is caused by exposure to asbestos and a very rare form of cancer.

    By: Mesothelioma Attorneysl Health> Cancerl Feb 22, 2011
    Mesothelioma Attorneys

    The deadliest and most dreaded disease of all, in the present day, is Cancer. Sadly, Cancer has been taking its toll for many ages.

    By: Mesothelioma Attorneysl Health> Diseases and Conditionsl Apr 27, 2011

    Cancer translational research brings together scientists' and clinicians' suggestions to develop solutions to biomedical complications. This kind of applied research strives to offer strategies to questions surrounding the etiology, pathology, diagnosis, prevention and treating cancer.

    By: Terry Dancerl Health> Cancerl May 30, 2012

    Orbs are actually a lumpectomy or quadrantectomy combined with rotating the breast tissue or mobilize the flap into the cavity of the surgery time fill is removed. It also includes the comparative change in shape and size is doing in relation to breast and moved if necessary, does not affect the conversion of the breast. The deferred plan the reconstruction is not part of endoplasmic techniques. Both procedures are performed by specific thoracic surgeons.

    By: Omer Faroohl Health> Cancerl May 28, 2012

    What every woman fears for is losing her self confidence , losing hope and losing her personality. The term "Breast Cancer" is a very negative word and that it creates negative vibrations in her heart. So, to make her comfortable with the basics of breast cancer and to make her means any woman understand that this type of cancer is the least dangerous than all cancers and that if it is detected early then you will fight with it successfully. Causes, Symptoms, treatment, discussed in detail.

    By: Medha Srikanthl Health> Cancerl May 27, 2012
    Myra Foreman

    Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that originates in the mesothelium. The mesothelium is the protective lining that covers the body's internal organs. Mesothelioma occurs when the mesothelium cells start to divide uncontrollably.

    By: Myra Foremanl Health> Cancerl May 27, 2012

    Chemotherapy is a treatment for killing cancerous cells which is given intravenous or extra-venous to the cancer patient. Even breast cancer patients have to go through the treatment. This treatment mainly focuses on the cancerous cells that are spread in the blood stream in the whole body . If any cancerous cells are there then they are killed by the chemotherapy medicine. The medicine is very costly and it has to be taken for one or two days continuously for every 21 days .

    By: Medha Srikanthl Health> Cancerl May 25, 2012

    Asbestos fibers are microscopic, though they are also quite durable. For this reason, asbestos was used in a number of different industrial compounds to enhance strength and resistance to temperature extremes- two properties at which the mineral is highly adept.

    By: Agatha Simonal Health> Cancerl Dec 11, 2011

    It has long been known that smoking is hazardous to one's health, causing a marked increase in instances of mesothelioma lung cancer among those who smoke regularly.

    By: Agatha Simonal Health> Cancerl Dec 11, 2011

    Exposure to asbestos particles is one of the principal causes of mesothelioma cancer, also known as asbestos cancer. As a naturally occurring mineral with useful commercial applications, asbestos is found in plumbing, insulation and other building materials and products.

    By: Agatha Simonal Health> Cancerl Dec 11, 2011

    There are several risk factors that increase the likelihood that a person will develop mesothelioma.

    By: Agatha Simonal Health> Cancerl Dec 11, 2011

    Mesothelioma Information – Basics Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is usually caused by previous exposure to asbestos.

    By: Agatha Simonal Health> Cancerl Dec 11, 2011
    Author Box
    Articles Categories
    All Categories
    Quantcast