The short answer
John Wayne, the iconic Western film star, was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1964 and had a lung and two ribs removed, then was declared cancer-free. Years later he developed stomach cancer, diagnosed in January 1979, and died from it on June 11, 1979, at age 72.
John Wayne was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1964 and had his left lung and two ribs removed.
He was declared cancer-free about five years later and spoke publicly about beating 'the Big C.'
In January 1979 he was diagnosed with stomach cancer during surgery, and it proved fatal.
He died of stomach cancer on June 11, 1979, at age 72, at the UCLA Medical Center.
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The full explanation.
Who he was
John Wayne, known to fans as "the Duke," was one of the biggest stars in Hollywood history, the rugged face of the Western in films like "Stagecoach," "The Searchers," and "True Grit," for which he won an Academy Award. Over a long life on and off screen, he also faced cancer twice, and his openness about the first bout helped change how Americans talked about the disease.
The diagnosis
In 1964, Wayne was diagnosed with lung cancer. Surgeons removed his entire left lung and two ribs, and after roughly five years he was declared cancer-free. A longtime heavy smoker, Wayne chose to speak publicly about his illness, famously saying he had "licked the Big C." At a time when cancer was often a hushed, shameful topic, his candor encouraged others to face the disease and seek care.
Years later, in January 1979, Wayne underwent an operation expected to deal with a gallbladder problem. Instead, doctors found stomach cancer and removed his stomach in a long, difficult surgery. This time the cancer was advanced.
The story
Despite treatment, Wayne's stomach cancer progressed over the following months. He died on June 11, 1979, at age 72, at the UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. His death was national news, and his family later lent his name to cancer research and education efforts, extending the public advocacy he had begun after his lung surgery 15 years earlier.
What his story teaches
Wayne's two cancers carry two lessons. His lung cancer reflects the powerful link between smoking and the disease; smoking is by far the leading cause of lung cancer, and the best protection is to never start or to quit. His early diagnosis and surgery bought him 15 more years, a reminder that lung cancer caught before it spreads can sometimes be removed.
His fatal stomach cancer illustrates a different challenge: it often causes vague symptoms such as indigestion, appetite loss, or belly discomfort, and can go unnoticed until it is advanced, as it was when found during his 1979 surgery. His experience is also a reminder that surviving one cancer does not rule out a separate, new cancer later, so ongoing attention to your health remains important. Above all, Wayne's willingness to talk openly about "the Big C" helped chip away at the silence and stigma that once surrounded cancer.
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The bottom line
John Wayne beat lung cancer in the 1960s after losing a lung, lived 15 more years, and then died of stomach cancer in 1979. His story links the dangers of smoking, the promise of catching cancer early, and the quiet difficulty of stomach cancer, and it stands out for the openness that helped a generation talk about "the Big C."
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Common questions
▸What cancers did John Wayne have?
John Wayne had two separate cancers. In 1964 he was diagnosed with lung cancer and had his left lung and two ribs removed. He recovered and was declared cancer-free. Then in 1979 he was diagnosed with stomach cancer, which led to his death that June.
▸Did smoking cause his lung cancer?
Wayne was a heavy smoker for much of his life, and smoking is by far the leading cause of lung cancer. He later became an advocate for cancer awareness after his lung surgery, publicly urging others to take the disease seriously.
▸How was his stomach cancer found?
In January 1979 Wayne underwent surgery that was expected to address a gallbladder problem, and doctors discovered stomach cancer. They removed his stomach in a long operation, but the cancer had advanced, and he died a few months later.
▸What did he mean by 'the Big C'?
After his 1964 lung surgery, Wayne spoke openly about having 'licked the Big C,' his phrase for cancer. His willingness to talk about it publicly, at a time when cancer was rarely discussed, helped reduce stigma around the disease.
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