learn more about the disease

Rita LeeThe national rock queen, died this Monday, 8, at the age of 75. The cause of death was not disclosed, however, the artist was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2021 and had been undergoing treatments against the disease. Lee stopped smoking after being diagnosed, but attributed the cancer to a habit she had for many years, according to information from the “Band”.

Rita Lee started smoking cigarettes when she was 22. In an interview with the newspaper “The globe”the artist said that she felt that she should stop smoking, however, due to isolation due to the covid-19 pandemic, she went back to smoking even more.

Singer attributed the diagnosis of lung cancer to having been a smoker; see morehttps://t.co/5lZu4Cwi8A

— Band.com.br (@portaldaband) May 10, 2023

_{Post on the subject. (Reproduction/Twitter @portaldaband)}

In a 2021 interview, after being diagnosed, she said: “With the pandemic, that low mood in the world, there is no way not to be affected: I started to smoke three times as much as before”.

“Toll of Life”that’s how Rita Lee defined lung cancer.

The full excerpt where Rita Lee talks about her smoking habit reads: “I knew something was going to happen. How many times have I said that I would have to pay some toll of life? It was one breath after another: ‘Stop smoking. You’ve been smoking since you were 22, stop now’. It was like a light that turned on in the back of the mind. Apart from the things that were rubbed in my face. I was going to read the newspaper, and there was a personality saying that he had stopped smoking. It was on the road, stopped behind a truck and it said: ‘Stop smoking’. With the pandemic, that low mood in the world, there’s no way not to be affected: I started to smoke three times as much as before. I have this Catholic thing, guilt, and I continued to disrespect myself. And when the doctor said: ‘You have lung cancer’, I closed my eyes and thought: ‘Naughty, sarcastic’. The ‘beings of light’ have humor! Look what a very crazy mood. It was like I could hear them telling me, ‘Dude, we told you so. Now, go stop smoking by force’. In the end, I even thanked you. It’s not easy, but I finally managed to stop smoking”.

After it was discovered, the rock queen underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy to treat the disease. A little less than a year after the diagnosis, one of the singer’s children, Beto Lee, announced the remission of the tumor.

Remission means that there are no detectable signs of the disease, however it is not the same as a cure. When it was February 2023, Rita Lee was hospitalized for a few days at Albert Einstein Hospital, located in São Paulo, to undergo tests.

Roberto Carvalho, the artist’s husband, at the time pointed out: “Like anyone who has gone through or is going through these treatments, hospitalizations for tests and evaluations may be necessary”.

According to data from the National Cancer Institute (inca), in more than 85% lung cancer is usually detected at an advanced stage. Smoking is one of the risk factors for the disease.

In Brazil, this is the form of cancer that most causes deaths among men and the second in mortality among women.

The singer’s death took place at her home, surrounded by her family, according to publications on the artist’s social networks. Her wake is open to the public and is taking place today, Wednesday, 10th, from 10am, at the Planetarium in Ibirapuera Park, in São Paulo.

Singer stopped the habit because of the treatment, but attributed the cancer to the use of cigarettes, in an interview after the diagnosis #BandJornalismohttps://t.co/wkKbDkOE0V

— Band Jornalismo (@BandJornalismo) May 10, 2023

Advertisement

_{Post on the subject. (Reproduction/Twitter @BandJornalismo)}

Lung cancer symptoms

According to National Cancer Institute (Inca), symptoms usually do not occur until the cancer is advanced, but some people with early-stage lung cancer do have symptoms. The most common are: persistent cough, bloody discharge, chest pain, hoarseness, worsening shortness of breath, loss of weight and appetite, recurrent pneumonia or bronchitis, tiredness and weakness.

Featured Photo: Rita Lee, the queen of national rock. Reproduction / Instagram @ritalee_oficial.