PLEASE READ – Research, awareness and survival rates for lung cancer continue to lag other major killers » The Commercial Appeal

Research, awareness and survival rates for lung cancer continue to lag other major killers » The Commercial Appeal.

The NUMBER ONE KILLER AMONG ALL CANCERS.  NUMBER ONE.  NUMBER 1.  Lung cancer is the #1 cancer killer.   

There.  Do I need to say it again?  LUNG CANCER IS NUMBER ONE.  Kills more folks than ANY OTHER CANCER.  I knew that before I read it in the article above written by Mr. Don Wade.

This month is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Some awareness. Many of us fighting this battle are spending more time trying to remove the stigma.  Yep. I’ve written about that in previous posts...the stigma that surrounds lung cancer.  It’s so bad that even those non-smokers with lung cancer seem to look down on those who smoked.  Why is THAT?  Why do we treat people with such disdain? No one wants this nasty disease.  Family members who support non-smokers with lung cancer sometimes look at family members of smokers and say ‘it’s not the same because my mom/dad/friend didn’t smoke’.  It IS the same.  Lung cancer didn’t go eeny-meeny-miny-mo. Or did it?  The fear of the unknown is the SAME.  The pain felt by the lung cancer patient is the SAME.  The hurt the family members feel is the SAME.  But the divisive nature surrounding lung cancer is the main reason I think  it’s been hard to increase funding for research or awareness.  If those of us affected by lung cancer can’t get together, why should anyone else offer support?

I resigned from my job last month so I could focus on helping take care of mom.  I didn’t have to think twice about doing that. I knew it had to be done.  Best decision I’ve made in a long time.  My career working in college athletics administration took a back seat.  Fine by me.  My mom is in the front seat. Always.

I think my purpose now is to help with awareness and support for ALL lung cancer patients, not  just a few.

This disease doesn’t discriminate.   LUNG CANCER IS FIRST ON THE LIST OF CANCERS THAT KILL.  FIRST.  Being #1 ain’t always cool.