Infamous pornographer Bob Guccione died Wednesday, he was 79. He was the publisher of Penthouse magazine which was notorious for leaving little to the imagination unlike its tamer counterpart Playboy. His empire broke many taboos and made him billions which were lost due to bad investments. With the increasing popularity of internet porn Penthouse saw readership decrease. The legendary Guccione died in Plano Texas after a long battle with throat cancer which afflicts about 36,000 people per year.
The Asbestos Connection
Over 8,000 people die annually of oral cancer including. The factors contributing to the development of throat cancer include smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, the HPV virus and exposure to asbestos which also causes mesothelioma a rare form of cancer. It is unclear what contributed to Bob Guccione’s cancer. Asbestos is a mineral that was commonly used as a building material as a flame retardant and insulation. It is present in older homes and buildings between built between 1930 and 1950. Asbestos was used prevalently occurring in over 5,000 different products. The EPA outlawed its use in 1989. Breathing in asbestos is thought to increase the risk of developing throat cancer among other forms of cancer.
A Rare Form
Asbestos is the leading cause in the development of a rare cancer called mesothelioma which affects the lining of the lungs and abdominal cavity. Mesothelioma is a deadly form of cancer that can be treated but not cured. People who work with asbestos or live with someone who works with asbestos are at a high risk of developing this fatal cancer. Many of the workers cleaning up 9/11 tragedy have develop mesothelioma even though its occurrence has decreased since the ban on new asbestos use. If a person feels like they belong to a high risk group they should see a doctor regularly.
