| Author |
|
winnymac
Regular
Joined: 19 Mar 2006
Posts: 42
Location: Salem, Oregon
|
 Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 2:15 am Post subject: Nancy Grace |
 |
|
Nancy Grace had a short but informative mention of lung cancer on tonight's show. She interviewed a lung cancer survivor and Dana Reeve's sister. They gave some facts about the disease such as "Currently, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. It accounts for one-third of all cancer deaths. It kills more people than prostate cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer and liver cancer combined. And it has a survival rate that has not changed in decades". I keep hoping we can get this message out there and that it isn't just a smoker's disease. My local Safeway has asked for donations at different times for breast cancer, prostate cancer and other diseases but never lung cancer.
Thank you Nancy -
Linda Parker
Salem OR
Dad passed away 8/14/07 after being diagnosed 10/04, he is missed more than I can ever say. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
brainman
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 3697
Location: Tennessee
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
pbj11
Site Admin
Joined: 12 May 2007
Posts: 970
|
| Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 2:10 pm Post subject: Re: Nancy Grace |
|
|
The American Lung Association and the American Cancer Society can bite my butt --- and that is being extremely polite. They do nothing to promote awareness of the largest cancer killer in the U.S. and World.
I heard that Nancy Grace had done something on her show. Hallelujah! The stats that were quoted were straight out of the Lung Cancer Alliance --- one of the few groups who are actively lobbying and trying to get information out to the public. LUNGevity is another group that funds Lung Cancer research.
I write letters, talk to managers, etc. of these stores when I see the pink ribbons trotted out each year in the stores asking why they ignore Lung Cancer. It's a disgusting fact that more than twice as many women will die this year from lung cancer than from breast cancer ---- AND THEY DON'T HAVE A CLUE.
.... moving soapbox now.
PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.
Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
brainman
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 3697
Location: Tennessee
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
phxkross
New User
Joined: 05 Mar 2008
Posts: 7
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 5:13 pm Post subject: Re: Nancy Grace |
|
|
My mom was just diagnosed with Lung cancer, and I have chosen to tell a few friends about it, and the first response has typically been "Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that" followed immediately by "Does she smoke" or "How long has she smoked".
This question bothers me, and here's why:
We all know that a large percentage of Lung Cancer cases are a direct result of smoking. NOT ALL, but a large percentage, and that we've known for years that we can possibly prevent this disease by quitting smoking. Fair enough.
My mom started smoking in the mid 1950's, and from what she's told me, almost everyone she knew smoked at that time. It's no wonder she started, as the decades rolled by, new information came out about the dangers of smoking, but like so many people out there, she was hopelessly addicted to nicotene and smoking. I do believe it is an addiction, and I can't believe in this day and age that these products have not been outlawed. I am fully aware of the strength of this addiction, because, even now, I smoke. (Trying to quit)
Anyway, back to my thoughts on this subject. I think the reason we aren't seeing "Walks for the Cure" for Lung Cancer and we aren't seeing media coverage of this #1 Cancer killer because the general attitude is that this is a preventable disease, and that smokers have somehow "asked for it".
My mom has cancer. I don't care how she got it. It still will devastate the lives of my family. People shouldn't have to "earn" compassion.
_________________
Kenny Young
Phoenix AZ
Mother diagnosed NSCLC / Stage 2 / Lobectomy Performed |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
pbj11
Site Admin
Joined: 12 May 2007
Posts: 970
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 5:22 pm Post subject: Re: Nancy Grace |
|
|
Kenny,
Welcome to the "club".
AIDS has overcome the stigma attached to it and so should lung cancer -- the biggest cancer killer in the world.
Problem is, AIDS doesn't kill nearly the numbers that one would think in the U.S., so there are plenty of survivors to support the cause. Also, AIDS was selected by the darlings of Hollywood as their "cause", so they get a lot of media attention.
Lung cancer survivorship is small and no "big" celebrity has taken our cause under their wing to get the media coverage.
The American Cancer Society and the American Lung Association do NOTHING to bring attention to the high death rates for lung cancer.
We can only hope, pray, and become activists for the cause to shine the light on this disease. The key may become pushing that nicotine is an addiction illness.
My response to those who ask the "duh" question -- "Why do you ask?" Puts the ball back in their court and leaves them stammering. It works.
PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.
Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
pjean
Regular
Joined: 12 Mar 2007
Posts: 25
Location: minnesota
|
| Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 8:18 pm Post subject: Re: Nancy Grace |
|
|
| It makes me mad..this is a cancer that is discriminated against(to put it) the hle month of october every morning news or night news had something about breast cancer and when november rolled around(lung cancer awareness month) I saw nothing about lung cancer,my man was dx last march at only 36years old and does not smoke. This cancer needs to be off the back burner and put on the front for a change,but its slowly coming(I hope he lives to see some great advances in treatments) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
helensgirl
Senior User
Joined: 21 Dec 2007
Posts: 125
Location: north carolina
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 6:22 pm Post subject: Re: Nancy Grace |
|
|
All I know is that I may slap the next person who asks if and how much my mother smoked. She had quit smoking 30 years ago-- so much for quitting, huh?! My sister is a smoker and at this point she wonders what the point would be in quitting. This disease needs so much more attention that few organizations are willing to give...Someone mentioned the Lung Cancer Alliance--they do good work, but they can't do it alone. What kinds of things can I, as an individual do?! Take care, Kim
...and pbj, preach on girl!!
_________________
...keeping the faith in n.c.
Helen, my wonderful mom, diagnosed May, 07
fought-stage 4 NSCLC, (adenocarcinoma)
earned her place in Heaven, Dec. 14th, 07 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
stown
New User
Joined: 27 Oct 2007
Posts: 4
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 8:57 pm Post subject: Re: Nancy Grace |
|
|
You know, this conversation means a lot to me.
I am a smoker. Have been all my life. My grandparents were smokers. My parents were smokers. When my parents divorced, they married smokers, both of them!
Once I went to a doctor and in discussing my history, he said I was smoking in the womb!
Yes, my mother smoked throughout her pregnancy with me.
I arrived in a family of smokers, amongst people who all smoked, and became a smoker.
For those of you who have never smoked, you should consider yourselves lucky. Sometimes becoming a smoker is not so much a choice as you might think.
And quitting? HA! Quitting smoking is difficult to say the least.
I happen to believe it is more difficult than quitting, say, heroin addiction. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
pbj11
Site Admin
Joined: 12 May 2007
Posts: 970
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 9:22 pm Post subject: Re: Nancy Grace |
|
|
Stown,
You are correct -- nicotine is more addictive than heroin. The pity of it is that the tobacco companies have been allowed to increase the nicotine levels in cigarettes over the past decade or so by 20%. Big tobacco lines our politician's pockets so they look the other way. It's pretty twisted. Stown is right -- the issue is addiction to nicotine, not pointing fingers at the victims. I understand what "Helen's girl's" sister is thinking. I too am a nicotine addict and figure that if my husband died after quitting smoking 23 years before he was diagnosed, my damage is already done. The old "your lungs become normal after 10 years" was a bunch of hooey. The DNA is permanently damaged but cancer may not surface for years. Let me say, quitting smoking is ALWAYS the best thing regardless of how long you have smoked. I do hope to quit myself someday. There are also other factors that contribute to lung cancer such as genetics, radon, diesel fumes, teflon, and many other environmental pollutants.
There are two organizations that I'm aware of, that either fund lung cancer research or raise awareness and beat down the doors in D.C.
Lungevity.org funds research through donations and fundraisers (individuals can organize walks, or participate in them, etc.)
Lungcanceralliance.org is big on pushing awareness, especially in D.C.
I'd like to see groups approach major store chains to have marketing items in place for Lung Cancer Awareness Month (November), the way other cancers are represented during their "special" months. I don't know why some of the major groups are not organizing these types of things. These and many other issues remain for me. I hope to be out there advocating some day, when I can locate my brain again. 
The biggest problem for awareness is the low level of survivorship for lung cancer, compared to something like breast cancer. Lung cancer 5 year survival rates are 15% whereas breast cancer has an 85% survival rate. Early detection is the key. We just don't have the numbers of people surviving to get out there and bang the drum, so we MUST rely on very tired caregivers who have lost loved ones. It's a toughie. But, to our advantage, there are so many of us left because lung cancer is the number one cancer killer in the U.S. Gosh, nice distinction huh? Biggest, but most invisible. Females in your family will be twice as likely to die from lung cancer than breast cancer and men will be three times as likely to die from lung cancer than prostate cancer. Most people have no clue.
Oh dear -- I'm ranting again. 
PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.
Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
passcon93
Regular
Joined: 25 Oct 2007
Posts: 11
Location: CT
|
| Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 8:28 am Post subject: Re: Nancy Grace |
|
|
| I was a smoker, from the time I was 11 to 22. When my grandmother was diagnosed with lung cancer and I watched her die in Hospice I made it my goal to quit. It was very hard, but I quit because for some reason I was able to see how everyones life was being affected from my grandmothers lung cancer and it was only because she smoked. I don't know what gave me that insight, but I quit, plain and simple. It's not a matter of it being harder that Heroine, it's wheather you are ready to quit. It can be done. Now, my life has been turned upside down because my mom did not want to quit. I was not important to her. I dont have a choice to care for her, I am all she has. I have a daughter whos life I am missing out on because of ciggarettes. I hate the tabbacco companies, I hate smoking and everytime I see someone smoking I see lung cancer. I am angry and Im sure my rant tells you this. Please if you smoke, you can quit. It is possible and your life will change forever, you will be free and able to conquer anything. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
Search 
Email Digests
Register to post
Profile 
Check private messages 
Log in
What is this ?
We subscribe to the HONcode principles. Verify here. All content and posts are copyright.
