There’s a lot of talk amongst lung cancer survivors about the stigma of having lung cancer. Many lung cancer survivors resent it when people ask them, “Did you smoke?” But, I feel differently. Go ahead and ask me. Why? Because I’m pretty damn sure that even if you don’t ask, I know what you are thinking. If you’re anything like I was pre-diagnosis, you’re assuming I’m a smoker, or a former smoker, or, at the very least, that I’ve been exposed to lots of second-hand smoke. But, you’d be wrong. And, I’d love the opportunity to educate you and as many others as possible about the realities of lung cancer. I think I can do more to dismantle the stigma by inviting the conversation, rather than stifling it. The “Did you smoke?” question is offensive, of course, because it implies that the person deserves their cancer more than other types of cancer patients, and thus merits less support or inferior medical care. The question is sometimes motivated by the inquirer’s need for a false sense of security (the “I’m safe because you smoked and I didn’t” line of thought), which is understandable, albeit patently wrong. But, the inquirer won’t learn how wrong they are if I don’t get a chance to talk with them. If you ask me if I smoke(d), here’s what I’d say (sweetly, of course; I’ll roll my eyes at you later): I am a healthy, never-smoker with lung cancer (I’ve never lived or worked with smokers either, so you can forget that loophole). My story shocks a lot of people, but it shouldn’t. Lung cancer is the #1 cancer killer worldwide. And two-thirds of us are either never-smokers, or long time non-smokers. I am not a fluke, some crazy exception to the rule, easily dismissed. Lung cancer strikes tens of thousands of non-smokers every year. Let’s talk about that stigma head on, as well. What if I did answer that question “Yes, I smoked”? Should that change anything? I’m no tobacco company apologist. I find the habit repugnant, but I separate that from the people who partake (so long as they don’t partake near me). 90% of smokers started their habit before they turned 18, prey to the Svengali marketing magic of a billion dollar industry. Many GIs received cigarettes in their rations from our government. Tobacco is notoriously more addictive than heroin. Can we really abandon people who got hooked on a bad habit in their youth or while serving our country, essentially leaving them for dead? And if so, why only abandon smokers unlucky enough to get the stigmatized lung cancer, even though smoking is a major risk factor in many other maladies (e.g. bladder cancer, stomach cancer, breast cancer, heart disease)? Finally, religion isn’t my area of expertise, but I think the Bible says something about “don’t throw stones because those stones can hurt when they come back in your direction” (I’m paraphrasing) — smoking is a bad choice, but there are plenty of other bad choices that can impact your health. Poor diet, lack of exercise, excessive alcohol, insufficient sleep, these are just a few things that can cause disease. Should we dismiss a patient with breast cancer because of her sedentary lifestyle or potato chip habit? Lung cancer, as my friend Janet says, “has an image problem.” “Stigma” is an ephemeral thing, but it has concrete effects. It is the reason why lung cancer receives dramatically less funding, both federal and private, than any of the other major cancers. And – as a consequence of the insuffiient funding – it’s the reason lung cancer is the most deadly cancer in the world (there is a direct correlation between funding, which supports research, and survival rates). If we can dismantle the stigma, funding and research will increase, and survival rates will improve. My way of combating the stigma is by being as public and vocal as possible. When an infusion lab nurse whispers my diagnosis conspiratorily, as though it’s something I should hide, I respond in full sotto. When someone asks how I’ve been, I share my story, even if it’s a little uncomfortable. Sometimes it’s not easy, but it’s important. It could save lives. It could save MY life. So, go ahead and ask. Make my day. - Lisa Goldman
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The following was originally published by Jen Todd in The Tennessean on November 18th, 2014. Local breweries are pouring a special beer to fight lung cancer and inviting the public to taste. Stephanie’s Dubbel, a Belgian-style beer made with imported Belgian malts and Dark Candi sugar, was created in honor of Stephanie Weins, the Blackstone Brewing Co. co-founder who died of lung cancer in February. On Sunday, beer lovers can grab a bottle of this limited release brew, with all proceeds going toward lung cancer research, as well as taste beers from Blackstone, Jackalope, Yazoo, Black Abbey, Tennessee Brew Works, Little Harpeth and Fat Bottom. Due to the limited availability of Stephanie’s Dubbel, attendees are encouraged to reserve a bottle with a $20 donation to the cause at www.stephaniesfight.org. The release party is from 4-8 p.m. Sunday at the Nashville Farmers Market, 900 Rosa L Parks Blvd. This blog post was originally published at Chicago Now on November 11th, 2014 by Kerri K. Morris. As the pink glow that illuminates this nation in October fades, let me ask you this. What cancer kills more women each year? Breast cancer or lung cancer?
Since 1987, lung cancer has killed more women than breast cancer every year. In fact, 90% of people diagnosed with breast cancer survive. Only 16% diagnosed with lung cancer do. You would think the savagery of the disease would spark the biggest of all awareness movements, wouldn’t you? Well, November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. You know how I knew? I was walking with my dog on Saturday in a forest preserve and I saw a group of about 12 people walking together. One was holding a sign. I stopped to talk to her and found that her mother died of lung cancer three years ago. This was her memory walk. I thought of the dozens of photos on my newsfeed in October of pink-clad crowds, the status updates about breast cancer, the overwhelmingly supportive feedback extended to those diagnosed. As a person with another of the “smokers” cancers, bladder cancer, I can tell you that I long to see crowds of people dressed in orange during our May walks. Our local Chicago group has been so encouraging, gathering about 50 or 60 people each year, producing t-shirts, raising money. But I can't imagine the army of support that breast cancer survivors receive. It feels so good to be around people who’ve been where I’ve been, among families who’ve lost someone, to honor their memories. It doesn’t cure cancer, but it brings comfort and relieves the alienation and shame. The worst part about lung cancer is its physical brutality and power to destroy. The second, I’m going to guess, is the stigma attached to it. I’ve been present when someone said to a group, “I have a lung cancer.” Another person responded, “Oh, you smoke?” Can you imagine saying to someone with breast cancer, “Oh, you drink too much?” “Oh, yeah, you are overweight.” “Oh, bad genes, huh?” or “Oh, why didn’t you have kids?” I get it. None of these things have the same impact that smoking does in causing lung, bladder, and other cancers. But even if they did, it would be cruel to say them to someone with breast cancer. When we tell people about the calamity afflicting our lives, it’s just plain cruel to shove it back in our faces. It’s true that the vast majority of folks with lung cancer are or were smokers. A friend of mine, who recently died of lung cancer, hadn’t smoked for more than 30 years when she was diagnosed. I’ve never been a heavy or regular or consistent smoker. But apparently Stephanie and I both smoked enough to do the trick. Let me assure you that judgment from nonsmokers, folks who may have never been addicted to nicotine, in no way enlighten, empower, or comfort those of us who are suffering more than you can imagine because of our sins. In fact, that judgment and stigma make it worse and may also create an environment where smokers avoid or delay diagnosis and treatment, encounter a lower quality of care, and face isolation and depression. And, nonsmokers, listen up. Here’s the other thing. Of the people who die each year from lung cancer, 16,000 to 24,000 never smoked. Lung cancer is in the list of the top 10 fatal cancers for nonsmokers. So, please, don’t sit back in your chairs, breathe a sigh of relief and pride because you don’t smoke. Know that our entire community is threatened by this cancer. More people die from lung cancer than breast, prostate, and colon combined. And yet, the National Cancer Institute spent $285.9 million on research for lung cancer in 2013. The NCI spent $559 million on research for breast cancer the same year. If you combine research dollars spent on breast, prostate and colon, you end up with more than $1 billion dollars of research money despite the fact that lung cancer is a magnitude more deadly. It's time we all stepped up to support people with lung cancer and the research to improve the care and treatment of a terrible disease. Join us today. http://jointhefight.yournextstepisthecure.org/ In 1971, Richard Nixon declared war on cancer, but the war against lung cancer never even got started. TODAY is the DAY. The Joan Gaeta Lung Cancer Fund is a VERY proud affiliate of the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation (ALCF). Join the Fight and tell them that you won't quit on lung cancer patients until we WIN this war.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths WORLDWIDE, with an estimated 1.4 million deaths each year. More people die of lung cancer in the United States than of breast, prostate, colon, liver, kidney, and melanoma cancers COMBINED. We won’t QUIT fighting for lung cancer survivors and neither should you. |
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