Changing the Outlook on Lung Cancer

[CindyA]

Changing the Outlook on Lung Cancer

March 3rd, 2014 - by Amy May

Most people don’t think about lung cancer until it hits the people they love. I lost an uncle to lung cancer several years ago. He was taken very quickly after his diagnosis and we didn’t really have time to wrap our heads around it. I didn’t really think about it again until my brother’s wife, Sara, was diagnosed with lung cancer at the age of 31.

She wasn’t feeling well before their honeymoon. When they returned, there were months of trying to find out what was happening with her. She was so young and looked so healthy. I couldn’t believe that she could have a terminal disease. She had no risk factors. It was such a shock to everyone.

It’s a helpless feeling when someone you care about is diagnosed with lung cancer. You want to do something but you don’t really know what to do. You want to help but you don’t really know how.

When Sara was finally diagnosed with lung cancer in 2010, Sara and John did a lot of research to find out as much as they could about the disease and what resources were out there, and they found out about LUNGevity.

When we found out about the unbelievable statistics around lung cancer survival rates, and that lung cancer could happen to anyone even if they never smoked, we wanted to do something to raise awareness about the disease. I thought, “Ok, we need to get in here. What can we do?” We decided to turn to LUNGevity and start with a running event, Breathe Deep Seattle.

We had never put on an event before. LUNGevity has an events team that walks you through the steps of organizing an event and makes the entire process less overwhelming.

The first year of Breathe Deep Seattle, my husband, Scott, and I were helped by our family and friends. Through that event we built a community of volunteers, people who had been personally impacted by a lung cancer diagnosis and people who wanted to help our cause.

I have an event volunteer page on Facebook, and whenever anybody visited the page, I asked whether they’d like to help. Nine times out of 10, they said yes. People stepped up in many ways. If we put out a call to find someone who could pick up food at Costco or who could find a sponsor or who knew a graphic designer, someone always jumped right in and took care of it. We felt incredibly supported by the people who stepped up to volunteer.

Many people ask me now about lung cancer. What I talk about first is Sara and her story. People are often surprised because, in their mind, lung cancer doesn’t happen to someone young and healthy. Lung cancer can happen to anyone.

What gives me hope is seeing what’s going on with lung cancer research and young doctors getting into the field and making a commitment to detecting and curing this disease.

I’m also filled with hope when I see survivors. We had about 20 survivors participate in our 2013 event. Our event was a place for them to connect with each other in Seattle and celebrate their survivorship.

My hope for the next five to ten years is that—short of lung cancer being gone!—people will understand more about the disease so that it’s not a forgotten or lost one. I’m hoping for more awareness and dedication to the cause. I’m hopeful that together we can really change the outlook for lung cancer patients and their families.

[nomilee4633]

I'm Naomi, the coordinator for Breathe Deep Lake Arlington in IL. I started the walk in memory of my older son who passed away from lung cancer in March 2010. My granddaughter, Riky, who lives in Seattle is walking for BD Seattle. She is walking for her dad, Mark, my son, and walking for me. I was diagnosed in November 2012. I wanted you to know that you are doing a great thing and that Riky is walking. Good luck.