“Mayday” Film & Mesothelioma: What U.S. Veterans Need to Know

Apple TV recently released a new movie that highlights the dangers of mesothelioma for U.S. veterans, particularly ones who served in the Navy.

The film, titled “Mayday,” stars Ryan Reynolds, a U.S. Navy pilot shot down over enemy lines while his father, a veteran, suffers from pleural mesothelioma due to shipyard asbestos exposure.

Sadly, for thousands of veterans and families, concerns about mesothelioma are not just limited to the silver screen. Every year, approximately 1,000 U.S. veterans develop mesothelioma, with many having been exposed while serving in the military.

The Mesothelioma Veterans Center is ready to support veterans with mesothelioma. Get a Free Veterans Packet to learn more about your military mesothelioma risks and benefits that may be available to you.

How “Mayday” Highlights the Dangers of Mesothelioma Among Veterans

For the men and women who served aboard Navy ships, the film may stir up more than entertainment. It may raise concerns about military asbestos exposure that can lead to mesothelioma decades later.

The film notes how U.S. Navy veterans and shipyard workers risked exposure to asbestos. David Morse portrays Harold Kelly, the father of Ryan Reynolds’ Troy “Assassin” Kelly, who is dying from pleural mesothelioma following a decades-long career as a Navy shipyard worker in San Diego.

Navy shipyard asbestos exposure occurred through products like:

• Boilers
• Engines
• Gaskets
• Insulation
• Lagging
• Pipes
• Tiles

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  “Navy vessels were using asbestos for so many things — insulation, soundproofing, fireproofing — throughout vessels that were produced from the 1930s into the 1980s. Anybody who worked in a boiler room or many other places on ships would've been exposed through anything from insulation to floor tiles.”

  – Major Jonathan Nelson (Ret), VA-accredited attorney & Marine Corps veteran

Asbestos was widely used across all branches of the U.S. military, but the dangers were especially high for those in the U.S. Navy.

U.S. Navy ships were very cramped, so disturbed asbestos could remain airborne for hours. Shipyards were often clouded with asbestos-contaminated dust, creating a daily risk of exposure.

The Long-Term Risks of Mesothelioma Among Veterans

As “Mayday” highlights, Navy personnel didn’t fully understand the health hazards at the time. By the time the truth was revealed, an entire generation of U.S. veterans had already been exposed through ships, shipyards, bases, and more.

These veterans decades earlier are still in danger of mesothelioma today. This is because the cancer has a long latency period, forming 10-50 years or more after initial exposure.

While major steps were taken to remove and renovate asbestos from many military assets, there’s no way to lower the risk among those already exposed. As a result, mesothelioma continues to be a significant problem for older veterans and their families even in the present day.

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  “By the time someone receives a mesothelioma diagnosis, the exposure that caused it may be a distant memory For veterans, that can mean going back decades to understand where they served, what they worked around, and what products they encountered. The diagnosis is where those questions often begin.”

  – Ricky LeBlanc, VA-accredited asbestos attorney at Sokolove Law

Supporting Mesothelioma Veterans Facing Their “Mayday”

Films like “Mayday” help raise awareness about the dangers that asbestos poses to U.S. veterans, even if decades have passed. For many older veterans and their families, mesothelioma is still a real threat that could prove to be life-changing.

At Mesothelioma Veterans Center, we're here to support those affected by asbestos exposure. Our team consists of fellow veterans, nurses, Patient Advocates, and VA-accredited attorneys ready to support U.S. veterans with mesothelioma throughout their cancer battle.

We offer free help with:

• Exploring mesothelioma treatments
• Filing for mesothelioma VA benefits
• Pursuing asbestos compensation
• Getting support for veterans and families

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  “I joined the Mesothelioma Veterans Center because I wanted to provide for people who had served their country, fought in wars on our behalf, and now they're diagnosed with a cancer that was caused, for many of them, by their active duty service itself.”

  – Major Jonathan Nelson, VA-accredited attorney & Marine Corps veteran

You never deserved to develop a serious cancer like mesothelioma. At the Mesothelioma Veterans Center, we’re ready to walk with you every step of the way.

Get our Free Veterans Packet now to find out how we can support you or someone you love.