After a decades-long career as an auto mechanic, mesothelioma threw a wrench into Art’s retirement — but he wasn’t slowing down just yet.
Finding New Roads Together
Arthur “Art” Putt decided to retire from his career as an auto mechanic just to take it easy. Ready for a new adventure, he packed up his RV and moved from Indiana to Arizona in the summer of 1983.
That’s where he met Jan, a nurse who shared his love for travel. A few months later, Art and Jan married in Las Vegas and hit the road, exploring the U.S. side by side and loving every minute of it.
The couple ended up in Tennessee, taking seasonal contracts at Dollywood, a theme park jointly owned by country singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. Despite suffering a stroke a few days after starting work, Art continued to sell souvenirs and chat with travelers.
“I sold so many souvenir mugs that they wanted me to do nothing but that. There’s nobody ever to this day that’s sold more mugs than I did.”
– Art Putt, 6+ year mesothelioma survivor
This “short” stopover turned into over a decade at Dollywood. The Putts settled down in Kodak, Tennessee, and were living life to the fullest until a devastating diagnosis — mesothelioma — changed everything.
Get our Free Mesothelioma Survivors Guide to learn more about Art’s journey and how other patients have coped with their diagnosis.
Hitting a Roadblock
In 2018, Art’s mesothelioma symptoms began with a hacking cough that wouldn’t quit. It got so bad he had to bring a cup everywhere to catch the phlegm he was bringing up.
He decided to go to the doctor, who said Art had pneumonia. However, the radiologist wasn’t convinced and ordered additional imaging scans, which revealed pleural mesothelioma, a type of asbestos-caused cancer that forms in the lung lining.
As an auto mechanic, Art had worked with brake pads that released asbestos fibers – a hidden danger that only surfaced decades later because of mesothelioma’s long latency period.
“We did brakes the old-fashioned way. We did a lot of grinding with sandpaper to prepare the brake pads we put in and the new ones. We had dust everywhere. We didn’t know any better.”
– Art Putt, 6+ year mesothelioma survivor
Many companies knew asbestos was dangerous but kept it a secret, exposing millions, including mechanics like Art.
If you were exposed to asbestos in a high-risk occupation and developed mesothelioma, we can help. Contact our team today for free medical, financial, and supportive resources tailored to your needs.
Taking a Detour for Treatment
When doctors confirmed his mesothelioma diagnosis, they gave Art a prognosis of just 6 months to a year — news that hit Art, Jan, and their children hard. But with his wife’s encouragement, Art fought back.
“I survived mesothelioma because of my wife talking me into getting treatment, which I wasn’t going to do.”
– Art Putt, 6+ year mesothelioma survivor
He endured chemotherapy sessions every three weeks, followed by days of recovery due to fatigue and dietary side effects. His doctors were honest: the treatments wouldn’t cure him but might slow down the cancer’s spread.
Unfortunately, adding immunotherapy to Art’s treatment plan worsened his side effects, leaving his throat so irritated that swallowing solid foods became nearly impossible.
Getting Back on the Road to Health With Alternative Treatment
Jan refused to give up on Art’s treatment. She and her daughter leaned on their experience as nurses and began researching alternative mesothelioma treatments to help him.
With Jan’s nursing background, she crafted a nutritious blend of asparagus, beetroot powder, cottage cheese, and oils, fed through a tube twice daily. This new mesothelioma diet helped reduce inflammation, and, over time, Art regained enough strength to eat solid foods again.
“At one time, doctors told me I’d never eat solid food again, but we showed them wrong.”
– Art Putt, 6+ year mesothelioma survivor
Thanks to treatment and the dedication of his wife and daughter, Art beat his original prognosis and is still alive today, over 6 years later.
Get our Free Mesothelioma Survivors Guide for nutrition tips and practical advice from other patients and their loved ones.
Refueling With Positivity
Art continues to hold on to a hopeful outlook and savor every minute with his loved ones. “I would tell people diagnosed with this cancer to make the best of it. Stay positive and keep a positive attitude,” he says.
As they navigated their cancer journey, the Putts decided to seek financial compensation through a mesothelioma lawsuit against the companies responsible for Art’s asbestos exposure. Though he initially worried about the stress of a legal fight on top of his illness, a visit from one of his lawyers reassured both him and Jan.
With support from our partner law firm Simmons Hanly Conroy, Art won a $34 million verdict against Ford Motor Company, the manufacturer of the asbestos-containing brake pads he worked with. This financial security gave him the peace of mind to focus on treatment and create more memories with his family.
“We gave all that money to our kids, paid all their debts, and paid our house off. It made our life easier because we had no financial worries. We still don’t have any financial worries because of it.”
– Art Putt, 6+ year mesothelioma survivor
We’re Here to Guide You on the Road Ahead
A mesothelioma diagnosis can be devastating, but Mesothelioma Hope is determined to help patients like Art become long-term survivors.
By working with our team, you and your family can access:
- Top specialists and treatments
- Trusted medical guidance
- Financial resources
- Support for navigating life with mesothelioma
Contact our Patient Advocates today at (866) 608-8933 or get your Free Mesothelioma Survivors Guide to see how we can help you.
