Connie B

Hi All, I have been reading all the wonderful posts regarding the Stigma and the issue on Quit Smoking. I have also noticed I think it was Janet who mentioned her father being angey at he Tobacco Companies for being betrayed. Boy, I just don't see it that way for me. I smoked, and the reason I smoked is I HONESTLY enjoyed doing it! I had a wonderful love affair with those darn cigarettes, and I have to say, IF I wouldn't have GOTTEN Lung Cancer, chances are I would Still be smoking today!! But, I can't blame the tobacco companies or anyone else for what I choose to do. Even after I started smoking when the NEWS came out that cigarette smoking was BAD for you, I still continued to smoke. As MANY of US DID! And if I were to be ANGEY at the Tobacco Companies for Betrail, OY VEY I would have to be man and angry at a LOT of Government situations for being BETRAYED! The list would never end, if I had to count all the Betrail we have ALL had to live with in our lives! We are lied to MOST of the time about food, health issues, taxes, what have you!!! So I guess I don't do the BLAME GAME. I did it and I am NOT ASHAMED of what I did! It's LEGAL and it USE TO BE very Socialbly Acceptable. So, I have NO SHAME nor GUILT. God know's we have ALL done something in our lives we aren't totally proud of!! I may have gotten lung cancer even if I DIDN'T smoke then who would I blame???? Food for thought! Warm and Gentle Hugs,

Hey Deb, Just wanted to mention that I just heard a couple of weeks ago that the Celebrex med's are really causing some major problems with lung cancer patients. Now, your going to say what are the problem? Well, I'm having a DAH Moment and for love nor money I can't remember what it was. But, they had it on the world news. Maybe someone else here on the board heard about it and can refresh MY memory as well. I use to say I was having CHEMO BRAIN when my brain didn't work right, but I've been off the chemo for 7 year and 2 months, so I guess I can't use that one anymore. And I'll be damned if I'll say I'm having a Senior Moment just yet, being I'm only 50?! No Offense to anyone who is a PROUD SENIOR, I'm hoping to become one some day soon myself! Well, I hope someone else can put some light on this Celebrex issue!! Warm and Gentle Hugs,

Dear Fay, I disagree. Lung Cancer DOES have a ribbon and in MOST states we do have Lung Cancer Awareness Month. I know we do in Minnesota and many other states as well. I know this because I wrote to our Gov. two years ago asking him to PROCLAIM November Lung Cancer Awareness Month and he did so! IF you want more information about this, please check out www.alcase.org website. However, not ALL states have Lung Cancer Awareness Month, but you sure can put in for it in your state. The ribbon for lung cancer is (clear) in color due to the fact this is a silent disease. Again, you can get this ribbon from ALCASE. Just my two cents worth. Warm and Gentle Hugs,

Dear Rosanne and All, Rosanne, I have had doctor's say the same thing regarding the gene issue. And I also have read that 85% of ex-smokers are dx.d with lung cancer and 15% of non smokers are dx.d with lc. I read that in the 2001 NCI Lung Cancer Report. But I also have to say that this report is very contridicting in many ways. So, who do we believe on this statistic issue? Out of all honesty, I continued to smoke until the day they took my left lung out (which was July 25, 1995) After surgery, that was the LAST thing on my mind was wanting a cigarette. But, like many, I tried repeatedly to quit, time and time again. And of course I have the factor of my father, mother and sister all being diagnosed with lung cancer and they too were all smokers. But all my Doc's have told me it's more of a GENE thing. Now I don't know if they were telling me that to make me feel good, or if they really meant what they were saying. They said the Cigarettes may be what trigered the cancer. Like Dave Grant, I too don't feel guilt or shame because I smoked. I'm sure everyone has something in there lives they did they aren't totally proud of or pleased with . But, non the less, NO ONE deserves lung cancer or any other type of cancer for that matter. I had a lady come up to me at Regions Hospital here in Minnesota one day when I was eating lunch in the lunch room just before my Lung Cancer Support Group meeting. At that time, I was wearing one of my Lung Cancer Shirts. Printed on the front of the shrit it says, "Lung Cancer Survivor" This lady, (who worked at the hospital) looked over at me and read my shirt and said, "Boy, am I glad I never took up that nasty habit"! I looked at her and said, "what habit is that?" and she very comfidently said, "SMOKING"! I just looked back at her and said, "I know a LOT of people that never took up that nasty habit and have lung cancer" But, she didn't seem to see it that way. So, I just dropped it and ate my lunch. I have also run into a LOT of people that honestly didn't know you can get lung cancer from NOT SMOKING!!! Now, that one really drives me nuts when I hear that one. And most of those people are pretty set in there thinking pattern. And our Battle Continues, in the every day life of being a grateful lung cancer survivor! Warm and Gentle Hugs,

Dear Estrea and Janet K. Oh how true your words are. And I want to thank you for sharing them with us. In todays paper St. Paul Pioneer Press (Minnesota) One of my lung cancer support group memeber has an article on lung cancer. She too never smoked, and she is sick to death of the stigma that is attached to this monster of a disease. If you get a chance, go look up her story. It's in the Express section of our Newspaper. I'm not sure of the web address right off the top of my head. We HAVE to change this disgusting stigma that is attached to this disease. It's shameful, painful, hurtful, and down right mean!!! NO ONE DESERVES Lung Cancer or any kind of cancer for that matter. I know several of my support group members that come into group, and they are down right pissed because they QUIT smoking 15, 20 some even 30 years ago and they are now lung cancer patitents. What I don't understand about all this is, if a person QUITS smoking, shouldn't they be COMMENDED for there efforts to better there lives, rather then belittled for smoking??? What am I missing here?? In the news and in the medical profession they all say, QUIT smoking! Okay, fine and ducky, but then what about the fact that they are STILL at RISK for getting lung cancer? What then??? Or another health issue with smoking is HEART DISEASE. You never hear people say to someone with heart disease, "Oh did you smoke?" And why not? Wouldn't smoking add to heart disease? But, I have never heard that statement made. Rather they talk about what a person should or shouldn't eat and get plenty of excersize. Boy, we have our work cut out for us. And while I'm on a roll here, is the reason that Lung cancer research doesn't get as much $$$$$ toward reserach due to smoking? If so, then IF I were a person who NEVER SMOKED, I would really be pissed knowing that I can't get the BEST of treatments due to the smoking issues associated with lung cancer. Well, there you have MY HUMBLE OPINION!! Warm and Gentle Hugs To all,

Dear Ellen, Well, your words are music to MY ears, but some doc's don't feel the same way as you and I do. However, I to had my left lung removed 7+ years ago, then I underwent my chemo and radiation treatments. I seen my Onc Doc every three months for the first (three years) and in that time we did CT scan, then chest X-rays then CT scan and Chest X-ray every THREE MONTHS. So out of all honesty I had CT scans done twice a year and X-rays twice a year and we did that like I said for the first three months. Then when I went to every 6 months we stayed with the CT Scans. I did every 6 months for another 3 years. Then I was advanced to Once a year and NOW I get Chest X-Rays, Once a Year. However, I also still see my Pulmonologist once a year as well, and he toooooo does a Chest X-ray if I want one, and he never says NO! So in all honesty I still see my doc's every 6 months, I just stager them now so I see my Onc Dr. then 6 months later I see my Pulm Doc. It works well for me, and it gives me peace of mind. Now I also was a stage IIIA-B at time of my diagnosis. So....... But, like you, I would want to be right ON TOP OF IT! So, it sounds like an insurance issue more then a Doc one!! And most Doctor's do try and stay within the guidelines, and in Most cases I do understand that. It's a tough call to make. But, keep in mind, your Onc Doc has a BOSS too!!! Good luck and continued GOOD HEALTH!! Warm and Gentle Hugs.

Hi Deb, We are making a LOT of noise here in Minnesota about the stigma that goes with lung cancer. Many of my Support Group Members and myself have done (2) Lung Cancer Awareness Rallies (2 years in a row now) and that is one of our goals. I will also be doing a Newspaper Article tomorrow with one of our major Newspapers here in the Twin Cities, and that will Diffenatly be one of the things I talk about. Smokers, Non-smokers, Ex-smokers should NOT have to live with any type of stigma because they were diagnosed with lung cancer. NO ONE DESERVES Lung Cancer! (my two cents worth)! I will keep you all posted to how this article come out. Warm and Gentle Hugs,

Dear May, I am sorry to hear your dear mother has lung cancer. I know how hard this is for all to have to deal with. There are no simple answers to this disease that lurks within so many of us. As for being a non smoker, I also have to say, this isn't just a smokers disease. So many many things can and do contribute to lung cancer. Does your mother have a family history of cancers? This to can be part of the cause over and above the fact that she may not have been around chemicals. Yet, Adenocarcinoma is considered a NON smoking lung cancer, but then again, I was a smoker and I had Adeno as well, and know of many that do. I also know of many people that are non smokers that have been diagnosed with lung cancer. I have two very young gals in my support group that are lung cancer survivors and they never smoked. They are 29 and 36. As for your mother eating, you may wish to ask the Doctor for a perscription for Megace. That does seem to help many patients to build up there appetite. It works for most, but keep in mind, not for all. As for survivors being stage IV, I have a couple in my support group that are stage IV and one lady is a 3 year survivor and has no evidence of disease. She is doing very well. Her cancer had spread to her eye, and right now she is clean and clear. The other lady has it in both of her lungs and she is under going chemo. Her tumors are shinking and she too is doing well. She was a one year survivor and her's came back one year later in both lungs, she too never smoked or never was around second hand smoke. A part of me says it would be so nice to be able to blame all lung cancers on smoking, but sadly that is not the turth. But if we could blame it all on smoking, at least we would know why people get lung cancer. (sigh) I wish you and your family all the best in this battle. It's not an easy one, but it is beatable and do-able. Warm and Gentle Hugs,

He Estrea, What mumble jumble that is! Here in Minnesota the U of M and Mayo Clinic just received an 8 million dollar grant to see if CT scans are the best detection we have for early detection of lung cancer. DAH!! I also know several other states are doing the same testing and study, so my question would be, what the heck is JAMA talking about? I do know SOME doctor's feel CT scans are not a good tool for early lung cancer diagnosis and more doctor's feel it IS!! AS WE WELL KNOW!!! I wish these News article and so called statistics would get there (you know what) together! Warm and Gentle Hugs,

Hi Cel, Boy, how good to hear from you on the board! I have tried calling you but have been unable to reach you, yet I understand why!! (grin) I am SOOOO happy you found a positive, aggresive Onc Dr. God know's doom and gloom is NOT what we need when we are fighting to LIVE!! GOOD FOR YOU!!! You go GUY!! Please know you WILL be in my thoughts and prayers as you go to the Doctor tomorrow. I am sending you good wishes and hoping you hear good news. Please keep us posted on your checkup. Warm and Gentle Hugs,