Olga MacBryde,conservationist (an obituary ---what on earth is nonsmokers' lung cancer?)

The Boston Globe ^ | 05-21-07 | Patricia Sullivan

[Mears]

Olga Herrera MacBryde, 70, a Smithsonian botanist for more than 20 years and an international conservationist for whom two plant species and a tree are named, died of nonsmokers' lung cancer April 22 at her home in Fairfax City,

[Mears]

Could someone explain to me what nonsmokers' lung cancer is?

I wasn't aware that that nonsmokers had a different type of lung cancer than smokers.

If anyone can direct me to some medical information on the subject I'd greatly appreciate it.

Is there a different type of heart attack for the obese and the slender?

Hmmm !

(sarcasm off)

[Silly]

Must be their way of saying, ‘She died of lung cancer, but it wasn’t caused by smoking.”

I agree, it does sound a bit goofy.

[Mears]

Maybe you guys can help me out here!

[Slings and Arrows]

Warren Zevon, a nonsmoker, died of a raee form of lung cancer called mesotheolmia (sp?).

Click here.

[Gabz]

Wish I could........but I can’t. I’m as baffled as you.

Maybe we should ping the resident antis, they could probably tell us...........LOL!!!!!!

[metesky]

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) lung cancer patients who have never smoked before in their life.

That's all I could find.

Long time, no see, Mears. How are you? Reading El Globo is bad for your health, darling.

[Thrownatbirth]

Her job as botanist would have her inhaling spores from God-knows-what. Maybe a Little Shop of Horrors project of some kind.

[Rightfootforward]

Thirty percent (30%) of the people who die from lung cancer were non-smokers.

[Madame Dufarge]

If I had to guess, I'd say it's caused by her walking through Boston Common that one time and coming within 200 yards of a smoker.

[SheLion]

Good Lord, I never heard of such a thing!!!

[CholeraJoe]

There are six types of lung cancer based on their appearance under the microscope and the clinical features. They are:

1. Squamous Cell - Associated with smoking. Most common type
2. Large cell - Also associated with smoking, less common
3. Small cell - Most lethal - associated with smoking
4. Adenocarcinoma - Not associated with smoking. Accounts for about 1/4 of all lung cancers.

The preceding 4 account for 90% of cancers arising in the lung.

5. Broncho-alveolar cell - arises from the lining of the air sacs rather than the bronchial tubes. Association with smoking unclear.
6. Mesothelioma - arises from the lining of the chest cavity rather than the lung itself. More commonly associated with asbestos exposure but does occur in smokers without known exposre to asbestos.

As to your other question, there is no difference between a fat person heart attack and a skinny person heart attack. The mechanism is the same.

[Gabz]

Good info, CJ......however the problem becomes the way the word “associated” becomes bastardized in the media about such information. “Associated with” does not equal “caused by” and yet that is what the general public is being told when it comes to the issue of tobacco.

[Mears]

I have masochistic tendencies and read the Globe every day-——great sports pages and obituaries (often in the same section).

I’ve been totally caught up in the weekday care and training of an English Springer Spaniel (my daughter’s dog).
He is 10 months old and I’ve been his “grandma” since he was 8 weeks old.

He’s a smart little fella !!! When I open my purse and take out my cigarettes and lighter he knows we’re going outside. (This is at my daughter’s house,of course. My home still has ashtrays)

I’ll be turning 75 in a few more months,God willing, and will be sure to celebrate with all my smoking pals on FR.

[Mears]

Thanks for the info,Joe.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[metesky]

I have masochistic tendencies and read the Globe every day-——great sports pages and obituaries (often in the same section).

LOL! We've been up here in Maine ten years now and although I can't bring myself to read the Globe, I do grab the Herald for the Irish Sport page. It's amazing how small eastern MA is and how many people I know personally who kick.

[Madame Dufarge]

great sports pages and obituaries (often in the same section).

LOL!

Good to hear from you Mears, though I'm now afflicted with Puppy Envy :-)

[CholeraJoe]

“Associated with” does not equal “caused by”

In medical parlance, that means that these types of cancers occur much more commonly in smokers than non-smokers. While I have never personally treated or even heard of a non-smoker with small cell cancer, I'm certain that someone somewhere has.

The media was quick to claim that Andy Kaufman (mesothelioma) and Dana Reeve (adenocarcinoma), both non-smokers, died from second-hand smoke they were exposed to in nightclubs. The cell types say differently.

[Sunshine Sister]

Second hand smoke my dear! I’m surprised that you didn’t pick that up instantly! No you can turn my sarcasm off!

[Mears]

Boggles the mind,doesn’t it ?