What killed Dana Reeve?

THE AGE ^ | 03-08-2006 | THE AGE

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Did years of singing in smoky nightclubs kill Dana Reeve, the widow of paralysed Superman actor Christopher Reeve?

She died yesterday of lung cancer even though she was not a smoker.

"Ten to 15 per cent of people who develop lung cancer are thought to be non-smokers. It was said that she had, in the course of being an entertainer, spent a lot of time in pubs, in nightclubs, in which there is a lot of cigarette smoke," said Dr James Mulshine from Rush University Medical Centre in Chicago.

Reeve, 44, won worldwide admiration for her devotion to her husband through his decade of near total paralysis.

He died 15 months ago and late last year she appeared at a gala for the Christopher Reeve Foundation and appeared to be responding well to treatment.

In the US more women die of lung cancer than breast cancer, and one in five American women diagnosed with the disease have never lit a cigarette.

"We know that 90 per cent of lung cancer is linked to direct smoking, the other 10 per cent is tied to occupational exposures, radon and secondhand smoke," said Pat McKone, a senior director of tobacco control with the American Lung Association.

"Dana Reeve was not a smoker, but she did spend many years of her singing career in smoke filled nightclubs."

Her death comes amid a worldwide debate on the danger of passive smoking and attempts to ban smoking from bars, clubs and eateries.

For instance today in New Jersey a coalition of bars, restaurants and bowling alley operators sued the state claiming its ban on smoking law is unconstitutional.

Meanwhile tributes have poured in for Reeve who was best known for standing by her husband through his courageous decade-long battle with paralysis caused by a fall from a horse.

"The brightest light has gone out," said comedian Robin Williams, one of the couple's closest friends. "We will forever celebrate her loving spirit."

Reeve's death came as a shock because she seemed to have the upper hand on the deadly disease since telling the world about her diagnosis last year, only two days after the death of American ABC TV newsman Peter Jennings.

"I'm beating the odds and defying every statistic the doctors can throw at me," Reeve said just a few months ago.

Reeve said she had learned from her late husband's struggle.

"I was married to a man who never gave up," she said.

Her death sparked an outpouring from the Reeves' many friends and admirers in Hollywood and Washington, where she was a vocal backer of stem cell research.

Former president Bill Clinton and Senator Hillary Clinton described Reeve as "a model of tenacity and grace".

"Chris was America's superhero, and Dana became our hero, too," added former presidential candidate Senator John Kerry, a close family friend.

Dana Reeve is survived by her 13-year-old son Will and two adult stepchildren, Matthew and Alexandra.

Dana Reeve, who lived in Pound Ridge, New York, had appeared in Broadway and Off-Broadway productions and on the TV shows Law & Order, Oz and All My Children.

She married Reeve in 1992 and abandoned her acting career to care for him after he was paralysed when he fell from a horse in 1995.

Christopher Reeve died on October 10, 2004.

In his autobiography, Still Me, Reeve wrote that he suggested early on to his wife, "Maybe we should let me go."

She responded, "I'll be with you for the long haul, no matter what. You're still you and I love you."

Those were "the words that saved my life", he wrote.

[BellStar]

The so-called widower effect — where spouses die soon after being widowed — has been common knowledge since it was first described in 1848. But this new study of 518,240 couples shows for the first time that the illness of a spouse also can hasten death.

[DoughtyOne]

Thanks for the additional comments.

[Final Authority]

Back about 40 years ago, although one could conceivably find work where one could breath fresh air, if one had an education and worked in an office environment one had no choice but to breath second hand smoke. If one was a teacher, when visiting the teacher's lounge one had to breath smoke, and so on and so on. It was inescapable. Yes, one could have chosen to pick apples, but then unless one wished to sit alone or find personal transportation to and from the orchard, one had to put up with smokers and their exhaust.

Not 20 years ago, my director in a high tech company held meetings in his closed office so all of his buddies could smoke (it was not allowed in the conference rooms) and just about asphyxiated those who did not. If one wanted to quit a career job, yea, one could, but in these examples, who is imposing the burden of responsibility?

To not have a real choice, like 40 years ago, and 20 years ago, and even now if one wishes to work in guest services (bars and lounges, night clubs, etc.) and not be subject to second hand smoke, is to be forced to bear the brunt of another's irresponsibility.

When I wrote that reply I considered the word, forced, but I did not edit it because I knew someone would raise the issue as you did. I believe that one is not forced to do anything but when one spends six years or more in a technical college and orders their career to work in an office environment with colleagues who smoke, and can at their desks and offices, then one is indeed forced to breath that foul air.

Not many years ago, say one wished to be a health food salesman and needed to fly to conferences or to the headquarters often, and maybe that person took a job in health food as a way to seek a healthly lifestyle, that person was forced to breath foul air, wasn't he? That is why airlines no longer permit smoking, and that is why in NH bars and other establishments will no longer be permitted to allow smoking as well. Unless smokers can control their exhaust, nonsmokers are indeed forced to breath it.

[BellStar]

The data suggest that the changes in lifestyle on the loss of a spouse impact on the incidence of almost every type of cancer. The effects were so large that a failure to consider marital status in epidemiological studies may be a source to bias. Understanding these lifestyle changes may provide new insight in cancer prevention.

[pepperdog]

"STRESS might be a factor"

You are right, time after time the caretakers die shortly before or after the person they have cared for dies.

[auggy]

I think you are correct about the ,"stress", being a factor. I've often thought that stress played a role in some cancers.

[Hot Tabasco]

Did years of singing in smoky nightclubs kill Dana Reeve,

Well of course it did!

Personally, I never knew she was a singer.........

In other news, reports of Dana Reeve being subjected to second hand smoke as a result of being a nightclub singer have been grossly over stated. Real News Today has just found out that the bar she sang in was nonsmoking but the bus she took to work allowed smoking........

Legal teams representing Mrs. Reeve's estate have not divulged their plan of attack but which will definitely be targeted against Big Tobacco and the bus line which allowed the smoking ......

[Hardastarboard]

For instance today in New Jersey a coalition of bars, restaurants and bowling alley operators sued the state claiming its ban on smoking law is unconstitutional.

Is it me, or is this a poorly written sentence?

[auggy]

" So why does AIDS get so much support?"

Supposedly, homosexuals are born with that behavoir. So, they can't help it.

Which is total BS.

[alpo]

The molecular weight of "air" (80% nitrogen -N2- MW 28 and 20% oxygen -02-MW 32) is about 29. The molecular weight of chlorine gas is 35 and carbon dioxide -CO2- is 44. Therefore Chlorine and CO2 are a bit heavier than air.
Gasses mix together so the heavier chlorine will be found in time in the upper part of whatever vessel it is in and if that vessel is the atmosphere it will be detected in the upper reaches.

When 1 ton chlorine cylinders are stored at water treatment plants, there are sensors and ventilation ducts at floor level. Fans on the ceiling will blow the gas out of the floor vents if there is a leak. Chlorine was particularly effective in WWI trenches as it would "fill" shellholes and trenches and drive the surviving troops out into sniper and machine gun fire. Occasionally workers die in wineries when they enter an open top tank that has fermented wine. The tank can be full of invisible carbon dioxide and you don't know it until you pass out and fall on the tank floor. Then someone will jump in to pull the victim out and end up dying too.

[BellStar]

The data suggest that the changes in lifestyle on the loss of a spouse impact on the incidence of almost every type of cancer. The effects were so large that a failure to consider marital status in epidemiological studies may be a source to bias. Understanding these lifestyle changes may provide new insight in cancer prevention.

[BellStar]

The data suggest that the changes in lifestyle on the loss of a spouse impact on the incidence of almost every type of cancer. The effects were so large that a failure to consider marital status in epidemiological studies may be a source to bias. Understanding these lifestyle changes may provide new insight in cancer prevention.

I am a new widow of 8 months and I care for my mom who has dementia. I read a lot.

[ChildOfThe60s]

You want to live a long and healthy life?

Pick the right parents before you are born.

Good genes trump good living every time.

[DesignerChick]

Makes you wonder how anybody survived the Roaring 20's....

[veronica]

It's just so sad. Her poor son...

[Godebert]

"Yep, people like Keith Richards of Rolling Stones abuses drugs and is still kicking into their 60s. Genetics and pure luck, I say."

I'd have to agree. I can't recall ever seeing a photo of him without a cigarette hanging out of his mouth.

[JustDoItAlways]

Humans have been living in smoke-filled camps, tents and caves for the last 1.5 million years. Throughout the history of our species, smoke would have been a nearly 24/7 companion.

Did every homo genus person throughout the last 1.5 million years die of lung cancer? Nope. In fact, the ability to withstand smoke would have been strongly selected for by evolution.

[Godebert]

[flaglady47]

"Dana's mother died of ovarian cancer. Where are the violins for her? Lung cancer/ovarian cancer -- just as tragic."

I don't think anyone said otherwise. All cancer is potentially deadly. Dana's mother died of cancer. That increased Dana's chances greatly that she too might die of cancer. There is a strong genetic connection for cancer. I'd go with that as a reason for her death from cancer over any second hand smoke theories from working in bars years before she ever contracted it. Combine stress because of her husband's situation w/genetic proclivities, and I believe that is what did her in. RIP.

[Howlin]

When my sister had ovarian cancer, they actually sent some of her tumor to Vanderbilt to be "typed" to see if her cancer was genetic or not.