Kate MacIntyre Foundation

Welcome

In early 2005, Kate MacIntyre had vague, but persistent symptoms: hot flashes, fatigue and pain in her chest. "Sure," she explains. "Could have been menopause, pain from too much stretching, fatigue from too much activity." She went to her doctor and ended up having an x-ray, a CT and a bronchoscopy. As a non-smoker, she was not expecting a diagnosis of lung cancer on April 29, 2005.

Kate MacIntyre, executive director of the Davidson (N.C) Business Association, died at home on October 22, 2007, after a valiant two-year struggle with lung cancer. Kate expected the best from others because it was what she demanded of herself. She loved life and that was something a diagnosis of advanced cancer did nothing to lessen.

A journalist by training, Kate tackled her cancer treatment at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill like a reporter determined to know the truth. Her spirit, the love and comfort she found in her life partner and her willingness to undergo experimental treatment kept her focused on having a good quality of life. She continued to work right up to her death. As the Davidson Business Association’s first executive director, Kate helped articulate the association's mission of promoting the town’s Main Street area, securing several thousand dollars in grants for cultural events, and launching such popular events as "Art on the Green" and "Croquet on the Green." Kate’s vision included developing the concept of ‘hip and historic” Davidson, seeing the value of applying to the Main Street Program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and considering the attraction of creating public artworks for the town as well a farmer's market with emphasis on buying local. Despite decreasing mobility, Kate felt it was important to be among the diners at the opening night of one of Davidson’s first Italian restaurants in September as well as Wayne Stowe’s thank you picnic on the Green.

The Facts About
Lung Cancer

Current smokers: 35-40% of new lung cancer cases

Former smokers: 50% of new lung cancer cases

Never smoked: 10-15% of new lung cancer cases

Although not a smoker, Kate was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2005. She volunteered to be part of a clinical drug trial for treating such cancer under the care of Dr. Mark Socinski at UNC’s Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. She later gave public testimony on her treatment that helped the center and university be designated to receive millions of dollars in state funds to accelerate research and was among the patients recently honored by the center for this at a reception at the home of UNC President Erskine Bowles.

Kate had said in her testimony that no one should "give up on stage four cancer patients."

Early on as part of the clinical trial, aware that she was part of research that would help others after her, she said her desire was to "educate the public about lung cancer, bringing to the task the same spirit I see in breast cancer advocates." She had worked to make people aware that by some estimates one out of every five women diagnosed with lung cancer is a non-smoker.

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Kate McIntyre Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.(Pending)