Real-Life Superheroes
- Late singer and philanthropist Dana Reeve, wife and caregiver of late icon Christopher Reeve, was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer as a non-smoker at just 44 years old — not even a year after her husband died in 2005.
- Dana had dedicated her life to supporting the Superman actor after a tragic equestrian accident left him paralyzed in 1995, and the pair’s advocacy for spinal cord injury patients and their families through the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation helped raise millions for medical research.
- Thought it’s unclear what specifically caused Dana’s cancer, it’s important to know that you can be at risk for getting lung cancer, even if you’ve never smoked.
- Be on the lookout for symptoms such as persistent coughing, which is what Dana experienced, chest pain, unexplained weight loss, shortness of breath, wheezing, losing your voice or persistent infections like bronchitis or pneumonia and even if you are not showing symptoms, talk to your doctor about getting screened early for lung cancer.
Dana had dedicated her life to supporting the Superman actor after a tragic equestrian accident left him paralyzed in 1995, and the pair’s advocacy for spinal cord injury patients and their families through the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation helped raise millions for medical research.
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Dana Reeve’s Diagnosis
10 months after Dana lost Christopher, she had developed a persistent cough. After getting a chest x-ray, doctors saw a shadow over Dana’s lung. A CT scan and biopsy confirmed the diagnosis.
The New Jersey-born actress, who was raised in Scarsdale, New York, had spent a lot of time performing around New York City, in regional theaters and appeared on Broadway. Not letting her diagnosis get in the way of her passion, she continued to perform at venues such at Madison Square Garden throughout her illness and a recording of Dana singing was played at the world-famous venue to honor her the day that she died.
Christopher and Dana Reeve are survived by their son Will, 31, who was just 13 years old when he lost his mom, and Christopher’s two oldest children with his former partner Gae Exton — William, 44, and Alexandra, 40. All three kids serve on the board of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation and continue to carry on the advocacy work and legacy of their parents.
Understanding Lung Cancer
While Dana did not disclose treatment details following her lung cancer diagnosis, CBS reported at the time of her death that Dana’s lung cancer was inoperable.
Lung cancer is the second most common type of cancer. Diagnosis and treatment of the disease can be challenging since symptoms often don’t appear until the cancer has spread.
An initial symptom, for example, could be as serious as a seizure if the lung cancer has already spread to the brain. But other symptoms can include increased coughing, which is what Dana experienced, chest pain, unexplained weight loss, shortness of breath, wheezing, losing your voice or persistent infections like bronchitis or pneumonia.
Lung Cancer in Smokers vs. Non-Smokers
Dr. Ronald Natale, Director of the Lung Cancer Clinical Research Program at the Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles explained lung cancer in smokers vs. non-smokers with SurvivorNet.
“Researchers have made progress in understanding the differences,” Dr. Natale said in a previous interview, stating that targeted treatments are being developed that will be able to address the genetic drivers of lung cancer in non-smokers.
“Among patients who are nonsmokers, or former very light smokers, we identify a mutation that we can target with pills in about 60% to 70% of them,” Dr. Natale said. “That leaves 30% or so, 40%, in whom we either have a target for which we do not have successful treatment.”
Targeted cancer therapy attacks very specific molecules within a tumor that are involved in its growth and spread.
Lung Cancer Screening
Many lung cancers are found accidentally, but screening can help doctors diagnose lung cancers at earlier stages of the disease when successful treatment is more likely. Early-stage lung cancers that are removed with surgery may even be curable. But more often than not, lung cancer diagnoses come after the disease has already spread to other parts of the body making it more difficult to treat.
“In about 70 to 80 percent of patients who are diagnosed with lung cancer, unfortunately the cancer has spread outside of the lung and is not suitable for surgery,” Dr. Patrick Forde, thoracic oncologist at Johns Hopkins Medicine, told SurvivorNet in an earlier interview.
But screening methods such as the low-dose computed tomography (CT) scan can save lives if those who are at risk participate. This test uses a very small amount of radiation to create highly detailed pictures of your lungs to reveal cancer long before initial symptoms. The State of Lung Cancer 2020 report from the American Lung Association found that screening every currently eligible person would save close to 48,000 lives, but only about 6 percent of Americans who are at high risk are actually getting screened.
An updated 2023 report shows hope and proves that advocacy and early screenings are working. While the disease is still the leading cause of cancer deaths in both women and men, the survival rate in the U.S. has increased from 22% to 26.6%.
Knowing When to Ask for Help as a Caregiver
Through her admirable private and public support in caring for her husband for nearly a decade, Dana really placed a spotlight on the role of caregiver in America, supplying valuable support and advocacy for others in a similar position.
Though caregiving can be a difficult job, it can be highly rewarding as well.
Prior to her death, Dana wrote a candid public letter to fellow caregivers, acknowledging the stress and exhaustion it can bring, and urged fellow caregivers to “never be embarrassed” to reach out for support themselves.
Caregiving Isn’t Easy; Recognize That You May Need Help
Dear Caregiver,
After my husband Christopher was injured, it became obvious that paralysis is a family issue. Taking care of our family’s physical, emotional, social and economic needs can be fulfilling and rewarding. But providing care to a person who is paralyzed is a job we don’t always expect to get.
We mourn our loved one’s loss of mobility and independence. We also mourn our own losses: We feel isolated; we have no personal time; we feel exhausted, overwhelmed. And we feel no one else understands the demands placed upon us.
A caregiver must deal with medical concerns, hygiene, transportation, financial planning, advocacy, and end-of-life issues. Being an effective caregiver means gaining some sense of control over the situation. One way this is done is through information, and by sharing experiences or solving problems with other caregivers.
Please know that you are not alone, that you are extremely valuable, and that you and your family can lead active, fulfilling lives despite the challenges of paralysis. Don’t ever be embarrassed to ask our Paralysis Resource Center for assistance. Just call toll-free 1-800-539-7309.
Best Wishes,
Dana Reeve
Amy Brown, nurse manager of Gynecologic/Oncology at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, echoed what Dana wrote in her letter.
“Caregiving is a huge job. It’s going to impact your health and your physical well-being. It will impact your finances, your social life, your emotions, and your mental energy,” Brown shared.
RELATED: Guidance for Caregivers
As Dana stressed, it’s important to be aware when you may need help, and there’s no shame in that.
“I learned this the hard way myself,” Brown said, noting that she had been her father’s caregiver for over a decade. “And I’m a nurse and I’m designed and equipped to handle that, and I tried to do it myself and failed miserably.”
She stressed the importance of caring for yourself while you care for your loved one. “Get sleep, eat well, exercise. Find something that brings you joy every day, whether it is going for a walk, praying, meditating, watching a movie, listening to an audio book, or getting together with friends.”
“Even though this is not what you signed up for, this is not how you planned your life, and this may be the biggest crisis of your life that you didn’t see coming, it has the potential to be incredibly meaningful,” Brown added.
Contributing by SurvivorNet staff.
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