Lynette - Thank you for this important information. I hope it will get the attention of readers who may be under the false impression that the greatest health risk to women is dying from breast cancer, a statement that is sometimes tossed around loosely during "awareness" activities.
We need to know, as you stated, that more women die of lung cancer than any other cancer, including breast cancer, ovarian cancer and uterine cancers combined.
It is also important for readers to know that non-smokers also get lung cancer.
A friend of mine, a non-smoker, was diagnosed with lung cancer about six years ago and immediately fired by her employer. She has been repeatedly subjected to judgmental statements regarding smoking although she has never smoked in her life. What's truly sad is that she hasn't gotten anything close to the level of support and sisterhood that patients with other cancers receive. She decided to speak out publicly and was recently interviewed for a national magazine. We need to do more to assist her, and others like her, regardless of whether they ever smoked or not. All cancer patients deserve our support.
Take care,
Pat
Comment Reply
Lynette - Thank you for this important information. I hope it will get the attention of readers who may be under the false impression that the greatest health risk to women is dying from breast cancer, a statement that is sometimes tossed around loosely during "awareness" activities.
We need to know, as you stated, that more women die of lung cancer than any other cancer, including breast cancer, ovarian cancer and uterine cancers combined.
It is also important for readers to know that non-smokers also get lung cancer.
A friend of mine, a non-smoker, was diagnosed with lung cancer about six years ago and immediately fired by her employer. She has been repeatedly subjected to judgmental statements regarding smoking although she has never smoked in her life. What's truly sad is that she hasn't gotten anything close to the level of support and sisterhood that patients with other cancers receive. She decided to speak out publicly and was recently interviewed for a national magazine. We need to do more to assist her, and others like her, regardless of whether they ever smoked or not. All cancer patients deserve our support.
October 7, 2010 - 6:06pmTake care,
Pat
This Comment
Reply