November is National Lung Cancer Awareness Month!

November is National Lung Cancer Awareness Month. My Mother recently died of this horrid disease and as a devoted daughter I felt compelled to continue her battle against lung cancer despite her death.
Lung cancer is the leading cancer death in the United States among both men and women. Most people however are undereducated when it comes to this cancer. We know about breast cancer, which has a 5 year survival rate of 89%, we know about prostate cancer, which has a 99% 5 year survival rate, but what about lung cancer? It has a less than 16% 5 year survival rate. Despite these staggering statics little research or funding exists for the prevention and treatment of this disease.
Lung cancer is not just a smoker’s disease. Second hand smoke, radon gas, asbestos and exposure to other carcinogens also contribute. However 82% of lung cancers are tobacco related. Smoking increases your chance of lung cancer by 10times that of a non-smoker. Cure magazine states that “the end of tobacco use would STOP 30% of ALL cancer deaths”. This is a daunting statistic. It is not a question of blame, but about helping people to make better choices from this point forward.
Current smokers who quit smoking give their lungs a second chance. After 10 years their risk of lung cancer drops 1/3 to 1/2 of someone who continues to smoke.
My Mother was a smoker. Did she regret it, yes? Did she want to die and leave me a motherless daughter, no? Did she NOT want to see her grandchildren grow up, no? Did she want to leave her husband of 40 years a widower….no? She was able to stop smoking upon her diagnosis but unfortunately it was too late.
This disease causes tremendous pain and suffering. Not only mentally and emotionally but physically as well. Your body and mind deteriorate until all that is left is your shell of a body .You gasp for air until you finally take your last breath. Denial is at the root of many diseases. The dangers of smoking need to be understood and taken seriously. Smoking cessation programs and early detection play a huge role in slowing down the devastating effects of this disease. Education is the key to putting an end to lung cancer.
My Moms legacy will not end with her lung cancer death. Her love, memories and fighting spirit live on within me and the rest of her family and friends. If she could tell you one thing, it would be that “tobacco WILL leave you breathless”. It is too late for my Mom but not for you. Please contact the following organizations to learn more about how you can reduce your risks of developing lung cancer.
The American Cancer Society, the American Lung Association, the Lung Cancer Alliance or the National Cancer Institute.