Christopher Reeve's nonsmoking widow has lung cancer

[silver_corolla]

(Reuters/abs-cbNEWS.com) LOS ANGELES - Dana Reeve, the widow of Christopher Reeve who nursed the paralyzed "Superman" for nine years, stunned Americans on Tuesday by announcing she had been diagnosed with lung cancer.

Reeve, 44, who earned respect and affection for devoting herself to her husband after a riding accident left him paralyzed from the neck down, said she was undergoing treatment and was optimistic about her prognosis.

But the news that the deadly disease had afflicted a relatively young woman who is also a nonsmoker came as a shock after the death on Sunday of veteran TV news anchor Peter Jennings, who had been a heavy smoker.

"Now, more than ever, I feel Chris with me as I face this challenge," Reeves said in a statement. "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."

"My family and I deeply appreciate the care and concern of our friends and supporters and trust that everyone understands our need and desire for privacy during this time. I hope before too long to be sharing news of my good health and recovery."

Reeve, a singer and actress who has a 13-year-old son with Christopher Reeve, put her Broadway and TV career on hold to nurse her husband after his 1995 accident until his death in October 2004.

Nonsmoking victims more common

She also worked with Reeve to rally support for research on the treatment of spinal cord injuries and is currently chairwoman of the Christopher Reeve Foundation. A Foundation spokeswoman said Dana Reeve was not a smoker.

Campaigners for lung cancer research said they hoped Reeve's announcement would raise awareness and funding into anecdotal reports from doctors that it is affecting increasing numbers of nonsmoking, younger women.

Ten to 15 percent of lung cancer victims are nonsmokers and women in that group are twice as likely to get the disease than men who don't smoke. Radon gas, passive smoking, genetics and pollution are some of the causes among nonsmokers.

"I know of a woman who got it at 32, one at 33, at 38 years old. They are all never-smokers, runners, healthy as a horse kind of people. There are a lot of factors that we simply don't know yet," said Regina Vidaver, executive director of the nonprofit group Women Against Lung Cancer.

Vidaver said lung cancer receives 10 times less funding per death than breast cancer in the United States yet it kills almost twice as many women as breast cancer.

"Thank God for people like Dana Reeves and Peter Jennings for coming out and saying 'I have this disease.' A lot of people will not come out of the woodwork because they feel like it's a self-inflicted disease and there is a stigma," Vidaver said.

The Christopher Reeve Foundation said its prayers were with Dana Reeve, who went public ahead of an imminent tabloid news story about her health.

"We are certain that Dana will tackle this challenge with the grace, courage and determination that have become her hallmark," Foundation President Kathy Lewis said in a statement.

[Bogeyman]

I've read somewhere that non-smokers are at least twice as prone to get lung cancer, compared to smokers. An officemate of mine cited that reason kung bakit siya nagyo-yosi.

[BoEinG_747]

I've read somewhere that non-smokers are at least twice as prone to get lung cancer, compared to smokers. An officemate of mine cited that reason kung bakit siya nagyo-yosi.

,,


baka dalawa klase na ang hangin nasasagap niya ..

iyon binuga ng cigarilyo at iyon hininga ng smoker

lalong bad ito kung may halitosis ang smoker

[CtrlAltDel]

My father died of lung cancer at age 59. He'd been smoking since the age of 16.
Good luck and God Bless to Dana Reeves.

[niky]

Non-smokers who are constantly in the PRESENCE of smokers are more at risk. But if you smoke, you're more saturated with the tar, even if you have the benefit of the filter tip.

It's good courtesy to go somewhere private and far away from others to enjoy your habit.

[FrankDrebin]

My Grandfather started smoking at age 16. He is now 85 and still smokes.

[jedi]

My Grandfather started smoking at age 16. He is now 85 and still smokes.

parang naalala ko yung sa eat bulaga.... yung tipong

"Wala ka sa LOLO ko"

pero lufet ng lolo mo... 85 na smoker pa din....

ang galing

[FrankDrebin]

parang naalala ko yung sa eat bulaga.... yung tipong

"Wala ka sa LOLO ko"

pero lufet ng lolo mo... 85 na smoker pa din....

ang galing

I dunno if Im proud of it but at his age he should stop pero ang madalas na sagot eh.."Sus! Kung kailan ako umabot ng ganitong edad eh saka inyo sasabihin".

[theveed]

2nd hand smoke siguro lagi sa mga functions nila

[IceColdBeer]

My dad also smokes 4~5 packs a day tsaka isang lapad gabi-gabi pero tinigil na nya pareho. So far walang naging effect sa kanya ganun din sa mom ko, though she passed away from a stroke.

[theveed]

hehe lola ko din ganun sinabi... nung nagtry sya mag stop around 70's nagkasakit sya, balik yosi sya, 90+ na sya ngayon

[nap123]

meron kasing tinatawag na good genes and bad genes. I read this hindi ko na matandan ang sabi kasi swerte yung may good genes na kahit anong abuso sa katawan meron silang panlaban sa sakit tulad nga ng iba kahit yosi ng yosi buhay parin kahit 90+ na ang bad genes naman meron ng bad cell na nadedevelop ng cancer. Pero tayo most of us normal genes na kapag inabuso mo magkakasakit ka pero kung inaalagaan mo okay. See this link.


http://www.indiana.edu/~deanfac/blfa...e105_0134.html

[Karding]

The irony of that, Peter Jennings died of lung cancer the day before Dana cancer was announced. Peter Jennings has been smoking ever since he was a teenager.

Kaya sabi ng nanay ko, bakit daw sya hihinto sa pag-yosi eh mamamatay lang syang hindi nag enjoy sa buhay

ops, I dont smoke nga pala but my 3-bros and sis do.