Dallas Morning News: Christopher Reeve's widow has lung cancer

[rainbow4321]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/080905dnnatreeve.57ed057a.html


Dana Reeve, who spent nine years caring for her paralyzed husband, Christopher Reeve, until his death last year, announced Tuesday that she has lung cancer.

Reeve, 44, said she decided to disclose her illness following rumors about her health in the media.

“I have recently been diagnosed with lung cancer, and am currently undergoing treatment,” Reeve said in a statement. “I have an excellent team of physicians, and we are optimistic about my prognosis.”

“Now, more than ever, I feel Chris with me as I face this challenge,” she said. “As always, I look to him as the ultimate example of defying the odds with strength, courage and hope in the face of life's adversities.”

;( ;( ;(


On edit: A Yahoo link

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050809/ap_en_mo/dana_reeve

[musiclawyer]

1. I take it she was a smoker.

The stress of her husband's disability probably didn't help, in terms of kicking the habit. Very sad.

[Missy M]

4. According to some articles she was never a smoker....

not all people who get lung cancer are smokers, or any other type of cancer for that matter.

[femmecahors]

15. my friend is dying from lung cancer . . .

and he never smoked or worked around asbestos . . . but somehow, an asbestos fiber got lodged in his lung . . .he never drank in his life and ate better than any one I know.

And the other person I know who died from lung cancer was a nurse, and she never smoked . . . but got it second-hand from her husband.

[DELUSIONAL]

18. My aunt died from lung cancer -- she never smoked

but she worked for YEARS in an office full of heavy smokers.

So I am all for no smoking in the workplace -- or any other public place. Second hand smoke can kill!

[rainbow4321]

5. Actually, from what I read yesterday...

she is not...I saw this sad news on another website that had a link to one of those rumor rag mags (so I didn't want to post it at DU) and it said she didn't smoke.
But smoker or not, this is so not fair or right.

One report said that her mother died of ovarian cancer a few months ago...family history of cancer plays a part in someone's own health, also.

[CountAllVotes]

7. it sure does

My own mother died of lung cancer and it was not from smoking. It had metastasized from her ovaries was the belief. Then, just last year, my brother died of cancer also - metastasized; point of origin unknown. And these doctors wonder why I don't like x-rays?

It is a scary reality having a genetic form of cancer that runs in your family believe me.

I hope she gets well soon and recovers fully. Lung cancer is awful, I can attest to that.

:kick:

[Bluerthanblue]

8. sad, isn't it...

that any time someone hears 'lung cancer' they often think "it's their fault, they shouldn't have smoked"- not talking about anyone here- just an observation.
A dear friend's brother died at 36, of lung cancer last year- he'd never smoked, never worked around asbestos or talc, or any of the 'known' carcinogens- He DID grow up here in NH like me, where radon in the cellars of our old homes seeps up, unknown and unbidden.-

What pisses the HELL out of me is WHY???? why the HELL don't we wage war on the REAL 'terrorism'- like cancer, and AIDS and heart disease and all sorts of medical and health issues that truly do kill FAR more people than any 'terrorist' act ever could-???

i guess it shows where our hearts are- the trillions of money spent on 'defense' won't help a nation of people who die of disease.

sad world this, and so few seem to hear the cries, and see the sorrow.

[CountAllVotes]

9. I agree with you 100%

Yes, that has been my big question too. When my mother died of lung cancer (and oh my god what an awful way to die that is! :( ) I wanted to know why. There were no answers for me. Luckily she was in her late 70s and she had lived a full life but what a hell of a way to go. She lasted 3 mos. after the diagnosis.

As for my brother, very young too btw, he never drank, smoked, NOTHING. He was a "Mr. Clean" for all practical purposes. He didn't swear even. And now DEAD from cancer. :cry:

I wish they'd spend time and money on these awful disease. They are so fucking worried about the baby boomers collecting Social Security - that is plain assed stupid IMO as it seems to me that this generation of folks - 40-50 years old approx. is dropping dead mighty fast. And yes, I was exposed to a lot of contaminates also and likely I still am. I try to stay away from them; difficult at best.

I see MORE PEOPLE in their 40s and 50s dropping dead of cancer and other illness and I find this to be MIND BOGGLING. This generation will not live to see old age IMO. I hope I am wrong, but it is not looking good.

Hell even my cousin who was only 51 died in September, 2004 in HIS SLEEP of a STROKE! :wtf:

And we also have the case of our late friend Andy Thompson too. Andy, we will not forget you! :hug:

:(

We need help, answers, research, money for this. They do not know what causes cancer (only theories and nothing more). In the meantime, thousands of people are dying on a daily basis ... POINT OF ORIGIN UNKNOWN. :grr:

[rainbow4321]

11. "increase in lung cancer in nonsmoking women under age 51"

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/D/DANA_REEVE?SITE=IAMAS&SECTION=ENTERTAINMENT

Dr. Scott Swanson, chief of thoracic surgery at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Manhattan, said that depending on the extent of Reeve's cancer, she would be treated with surgery, chemotherapy, radiation or a combination.

He said researchers have noted an increase in lung cancer in nonsmoking women under age 51 and are trying to find the cause.

-------------------

I read recently that even if a person doesn't smoke, they have an increased chance of asthma if their **GRANDparents** smoked...something passed down in the family DNA thru pregnancies. If you think about how many people in that generation smoked, we are probably all at risk even if we never lit/light up---if asthma can happen this way, maybe cancer can, also??

Probably dating myself here, but does anyone remember how shoe stores used to check if shoes fit people?? The little "x ray machines" that we would put our feet into so the store people could see where our feet/toes went to as we tried on shoes. I only vaguely remember having it done as a child so the memory may be a little off..goodness knows what else we were exposed to as kids that may have altered our genes/health destiny. I know both of my parents were chain smokers so I have inhaled way too much secondary smoke in my lifetime...I have never smoked but both my kids have a history of asthma related problems.

The list could go on and on..think of all the schools that are built next to power lines nowadays. We may not find out the health related problems from those til OUR grandkids are born.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

14. Absolutely

There's something in people that makes them want to blame the victim. I've always wondered about that.

My first husband died at 23 - never smoked. Lung cancer.

Warren Zevon died of mesothelioma, and he remembered playing in the asbestos in his grandfather's furniture store when he was a child.

But, we're doing great in terms of making Iraq into a vast wasteland, aren't we? So much for warped - or criminal - priorities.

I particularly like Fuckface's plan for universal health care for every Iraqi. Maybe they'll let us use their system, when they have it in place?

[OzarkDem]

17. Agree, blaming the victim won't find a cure or cause

Yet we seem to be doing it so much more lately. I blame right wing health care policy which would rather promote "awareness" and bogus "prevention" strategies than fund research and treatment.

[Horse with no Name]

2. This is horrible

She is such an inspiration.
I only hope her lung cancer is non-aggressive and treatable.
Thoughts and prayers going out to her and her children.

[graywarrior]

3. I heard she did not smoke

[LibinMo]

6. This is incredibly sad

Smoker or not.

[gauguin57]

10. Why do some families get all the bad luck?

Goddammit, this is sad. I have no doubt, however, that she will turn this tragedy into a positive by raising awareness.

This, plus the death of Peter Jennings, will draw attention to the disease -- for smokers and nonsmokers. I heard on NPR while driving through VA yesterday that the University of VA is working on a new technique scientists there hope will make cells of lung cancer sufferers somehow more able to accept the healing effect of chemotherapy.

[deadparrot]

12. Oh, no.

:cry:

I wish her the best. :(

[Greylyn58]

13. This is so unfair

She shouldn't be having to go through this. Not after what she has been through.

I agree with the other comments. More should be done to cure the diseases of this world, not cause more death and destruction through war.

I will certainly keep her in my thoughts and prayers. My mom is a breast cancer survivor and Dana has a tough road before her.

[1956]

16. My father got lung cancer after having quit for

18 yrs.! He lived about 2 years after diagnosis, went thru chemo, the whole bit. That was in 96... well, I have since become a health nut, and although not perfect in any way, I try to keep an almost constant flow of antioxidents going down my throat.(supplements,organic veggies,etc.), I would rather spend money at the health food stores than at the doc, and I plan to remain prescription free as long as I live. The trouble with chemo is that it robs your body of its natural immune system, so it only buys you a little time IMHO, but folks, check out Alternative Medicine magazine. From what I've read thru the years, the real cure for all cancers is extreme nutritional therapy,microbiotic diets,cleansing,etc. I don't think this is just snake oil! Maybe some cancers are totally unstoppable, but I truly believe we have to quit putting such shit in our bodies! It takes a while to shop to avoid trans fat, and nitrates, but it can be done!...Still I worry about the brief times I did smoke, and all the secondhand smoke from both my folks, and my grandfolks, and basement radon!!!.... Anyway for those interested in better health I suggest the GARDEN OF LIFE line of products!!! Do something good for your body!!!

[mikita]

19. how very sad for her and her child...

As if she hasn't been through enough....This really makes me so so sad. I'm sure the years of stress have compromised her immune system. I just wish we could transfer the hurt and stress to some other nameless turds taking up space on this planet...

Namaste, Dana.