A California man diagnosed with mesothelioma is not letting his ailment stop him from doing what he loves, stand-up comedy. In 2015, doctors told Quincy Jones, a 32-year-old comedian, that he was diagnosed with mesothelioma and had under a year to live. A rare cancer linked to asbestos exposure, mesothelioma is particularly deadly and can develop in any of four different areas of the body: pleura, pericardium, testes, and peritoneum. Jones was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the stomach. Jones knew something was wrong with his health when he found that his stomach was distended, requiring bi-monthly visits to the doctor to get fluids drained. Sadly, as is true with most mesothelioma cases, doctors found it when it was in the advanced stages.
Jones, who has been performing stand-up comedy for years, founded a Kickstarter campaign in order to raise funds for a comedy special. Little did he know that his Kickstarter would get the attention of philanthropist and fellow comedian Ellen DeGeneres, which led to him performing on her show twice. Seeing how talented he truly was, HBO contacted Jones and offered him his own comedy special. In April of 2016, Quincy Jones performed “Quincy Jones: Burning the Light” at the Teragram Ballroom in downtown Los Angeles. Jones, realizing just how serious his sickness is, opened up with a joke about mesothelioma, disarming any feelings of discomfort the supportive audience may have had.
Jones however did not let his cancer overshadow his performance, and spoke about numerous topics, from recent politics to online dating. Critics have praised his charisma and thoughtfulness, and lamented the fact that his great potential to develop further is constrained by his illness.
Philadelphia Asbestos Lawyers at Shein Law Advocate for Victims of Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Quincy Jones is one of the many people diagnosed every year with mesothelioma. While his routine ended in a standing ovation from the audience, it is truly sad to realize that a wholly preventable disease is impacting his potential to develop as an entertainer. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with any form of mesothelioma, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact the skilled Philadelphia asbestos lawyers at Shein Law at 877-SHEIN-LAW (743-4652), or submit our online contact form to schedule a consultation today. Our offices are conveniently located in Philadelphia and Pennsauken, New Jersey, allowing our Philadelphia asbestos lawyers to serve victims of peritoneal mesothelioma throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania and South Jersey.