Jump to content

Non-smokers sign petition... Please


Maryanne

Recommended Posts

http://www.neversmokers.com/

From the home page of www.neversmokers.com:

Thousands of never and nonsmokers are diagnosed with lung cancer each year. Recent studies suggest that lung cancer among never and nonsmokers may be biologically different than lung cancer among smokers.

Further studies are needed to better understand the unique characteristics of this disease and to determine the most effective treatment protocols for such patients.

Under the guidance of leading lung cancer research oncologists, including Dr. George Simon, MD at the Moffett Cancer Center in Tampa, FL, this site was developed as a registry for such patients. It is hoped that by gathering information, research in the field of lung cancer among never and nonsmokers can be greatly expedited. To our knowledge, this is the world's only such registry.

Never Smokers - those who have never been smokers.

Nonsmokers - those who quit smoking 10 or more years prior to diagnosis,

HELP US FIND PATIENTS The more registrants we get, the more useful information we have to pass on to researchers. Please tell other patients, your doctors, local support groups, online support groups, etc.

- - - - -

If you are a non-smoker or a former smoker with 10+ years of non-smoking behind you, please visit the website and register.

Joyce, Becky, Steve and Heather and all the other non-smokers, click on link and sign that petition.

Maryanne

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I wasn't going to post this...but I keep coming back to this thread and the info from neversmokers.com - and I'm bothered.

It is hoped that by gathering information, research in the field of lung cancer among never and nonsmokers can be greatly expedited.

I gotta say it.....How about expediting the research into lung cancer WHETHER OR NOT someone smoked!?? :? Don't we ALL deserve a cure for this stinking disease?

Don't misunderstand me....I don't begrudge ANY research into any cancer....and I understand that there are differences in lung cancer and in who gets what kind.

But lung cancer - overall - doesn't get the attention and research money it deserves...and separating the smokers from the never-smoked or those who quit years ago...sort of seems to divide us in the fight to get more attention to lung cancer in general, doesn't it?

Furthermore....this sort of separation brings the stigma of smoking back to the forefront....and those of us who smoked are left not only to fight for our survival as we all do....but to defend against the stigma too.

Those with squamous cell don't see themselves as any more "worthy" of research than those with large cell, do they?

I dunno...I'm just bothered by separating out any faction and calling for research for just that faction of people who suffer this disease. I mean, I have small cell. I'm among the minority in that fact...as most lung cancers are NON small cell. So I'd be willing to bet that whatever paltry amount of research is going on for lung cancer...it's concentrated on those lung cancers that affect the majority...namely, non-small cell.

The way I view it, is that ANY research into lung cancers is good...because even IF they go looking for something to impact non-small cell..they might happen to discover something that works for small cell (or vice versa!).

We're all in this thing together. There is something about drawing a big fat line between the smokers and the non- or never-smokers that bothers me. Wish I could articulate it better...and know I risk some flak for posting this....but it's how I feel.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Still working out of town, but I'll help Steve fill it out when I get home. (He can no longer see well enough to be able to fill it out without someone reading it to him.)

Addie - I do understand your feelings and I totally agree that we must fight for ALL lung cancer patients - just as we must fight for all cancer funding to be increased. It is unbelieveable to me that cancer surpassed heart disease as the #1 killer for those under age 85 and the story could only be found buried deeply in the middle of the newspapers. However, I do know that it is not until the general public understands that LC is not limited to smokers that the situation will change. Right or wrong - that's the way it is out there. I see strong parallels between what happened with HIV/AIDS after Ryan White's case was publicized. The acceptance of Gay persons with HIV/AIDS, while still having a long way to go, was improved by the change in attitude to the disease.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.