Charities & Causes

Lung Cancer Awareness

Charities & Causes

Posted by: wendiau

18th Apr 2011 08:33pm

I would like to make People aware... Lung Cancer is not only from Smoking...

I have Lung Cancer, and had my left lung removed along with 17 Lymph nodes...1 with Cancer.
Back a little way....July..2009.

Went to Skin Specialist...had frekle on my nose and something above my top lip.The Dr confirmed Skin Cancer (SCC) from sunbaking all those years ago (plus adding oil to burn!!)
One on my Nose..cut out..one above my Lip, Radiation for near 6 weeks.
Just about 12 month to the Day...the same "Cancer" in my left lung.
Lung Cancer doesn't care who it takes anymore.....and too many people are dying...that have never smoked.
I would like to see the comments of people ...what you think about this subject...as I feel there is a Real Stigma between Lung Cancer and Smoking.
The first question asked is...are you / do you Smoke?
Thank you in advance xo

Comments 26

Blossom
  • 6th Apr 2014 10:43pm

A lady I worked with was a heavy smoker and always had a cough. She started coughing a lot more and getting bad headaches. She had lung Xrays and they were clear. Further rests revealed she had a Brain Tumor which sadlu she succumbed to.

jjdrer
  • 3rd Apr 2014 09:42am

A relative of mine recently had part of one of his lungs removed because of Lung Cancer. His parents were heavy smokers (especially his Dad). In early adulthood both he and his brother started smoking as did a lot of their friends.He now has to have regular check-ups, tests etc. At least all those years ago they didn't start smoking in their early teens as a lot seem to do now. Sadly some fall victim to peer pressure, including brutal harrassment. The price of cigarettes and other tobacco products doesn't seem to deter people from smoking - or from starting. I know a woman who was home sick enough to need a home visit from their local Dr. He is one of a very few who has to be very, very sick before he will complain. She rang her Mother-in-law a few days later and during the conversation she told her that he had been given a perscription for antibiotics because he had severely infected tonsils but she didn't go and get them. When her Mother-in-law asked "why not?" The reply was "no money"
She was very tempted to tell her to return packets of cigarettes that she hadn't unsealed and use the money for what it should have been used for. End result - a few weeks later - surgery to remove tonsils followed by a bad infection which caused severe difficulty swallowing and almost re-admission to hospital.
She as good as said she wouldn't try to give up smoking for her family's benefit, including her 2 gorgeous little daughters. Maybe it was co-incidence but they both had to have their tonsils removed by the time they were 6years old. One had to be rushed to a specialist following a home visit by their local GPas she was delirious. In fact the younger one had to have hers removed before she was old enough to start school. The infections were constant and so bad that they were actually going into her bloodstream. The woman couldn't even talk on the phone without smoking at the same time. I witnessed this several times and you could tell by her hesitation and breathing when she was talking. You could hear it from the "other end of the phone". She had to get me to "hold on" one day while she lit another one, then accidentally dropped it a minute or so later.

Anonymous
  • 28th Mar 2014 03:06pm

cancer is usually some blocked resentment surfacing. i think meditation and a spiritual outlook helps.

liz
  • 5th Oct 2013 01:04pm

I feel for you with this terrible diagnosis, and wish you all the best. My sister died from lung cancer some years ago, she was only 50 and had never been a smoker. Hers was secondary to breast cancer of 13 years previous, even though she has a mastectomy and chemotherapy. It came back just two months after our dad died and she was just getting over that. Life really is so unfair sometimes. We have the assurance that she is in heaven as we are all committed christians and know that Jesus is our Lord and Saviour, and He can carry us through the toughest of times. God bless you.

Amandaa
  • 21st Aug 2012 10:25am

I am not please to hear you have lung cancer but pleased you are making people aware of the fact that lung cancer isnt just from smoking. my nan died earlier this year from pulmanary fibrosis she was on oxygen for 5 years and everyone commented on it like "dont you wish you gave up smoking sooner" my nan never smoked. more people die of non smoking lung dieases then those with smoking related. I wish you all the best and i hope this opens peoples eyes up to non smoking lung cancer and the next person they meet that has a lung problem they wont assume they smoke/smoked.

Isildae
  • 4th Aug 2012 01:33pm

Hi, a friend of a friend died recently of lung cancer. She was 31, mum of two young children, and had never smoked. Despite this, people assumed she must have had some previous cancer although I'm not aware any was diagnosed. I know of another young mum that had breast cancer which was found to be secondary to a melanoma.

My partner is one of those who tends to think people who get cancer have brought it on themselves but I disagree. I remember quite a well-known musician in the UK dying of lung cancer - he had never smoked but claimed he got lung cancer from playing in bars (before the ban). There is so much pollution around nowadays and goodness knows what chemicals and additives are in our food and water supply. I don't automatically judge people with lung cancer because I'm hearing more and more stories like yours and the lady I mentioned.

I smoked between the ages of 14 and 21, gave up almost two decades ago. I hope I didn't do any lasting damage.

Good luck with your treatment and good on you for raising awareness.

bobdown
  • 14th Jan 2012 10:40am

My wife has never smoked in her life, no one in the household ever smoked but unfortunately she was diagnosed with lung cancer on November1,Cup day. She has a battle ahead of her but we are very optomistic. There is no ryme or reason to this hideous disease in all forms.

marg
  • 17th Mar 2012 10:07am
My wife has never smoked in her life, no one in the household ever smoked but unfortunately she was diagnosed with lung cancer on November1,Cup day. She has a battle ahead of her but we are very...

good luck to u and ur wife do hope all goes well and yes I gave up smoking 12 yrs ago and i also believe that there is too much blame on smoking all the pesticides that they put on our fruit and veg and all the artificial stuff used in everything has a lot to do with it too .....

Anonymous
  • 26th Dec 2011 11:09am

Im not a smoker... because i really hate smoking and its very dangerous to our health...

sherri
  • 22nd Nov 2011 03:23pm

Hi Wendiau - no, I don't smoke.

But interestingly enough I bumped into a friend yesterday who told me that her non-smoker mother had just been diagnosed with lung cancer.

I think that the point is that though the link between smoking and cancer -especially lung cancer has been incontrovertably proven, the ensuing media hype and the legal arguments with the tobacco companies has meant that the fact that smoking is not the ONLY reason for lung cancer. - and that a minority of people who are diagnosed with this terrible disease will never have smoked in their life.

pietam6
  • 4th Nov 2011 11:51am

having watched my mother die of lung cancer, which is not pretty! I feel it is imperiative, especially for young people to become aware of this terrible habit and it's consequences. It may help, if people who thought 'it will not happen to me!' ... walk through a palliative care unit and talk to some-one undergoing this appalling consequence. Having watched both parents die of cancer, realistically the chances of going the same way are 'odds on'. Not pessimism, just reality! Plenty of people who have never smoked die of lung cancer, what about passive smoking? For the record, I don't smoke, never have. I learnt by observing my parents...does anyone remember the stains of nicotine on ceilings? And it doesn't do any harm, really!

Ellessri
  • 20th Oct 2011 10:58am

I don't smoke and I think you can get lung cancer for no reason whatsoever.
My dad got lung cancer and three months later he was dead - he never smoked a day in his life. Scientists don't know what causes cancer, hopefully they will have luck finding better treatments or a cure in the nrear future.

Annie
  • 5th Jul 2011 05:39am

no i dont, but hubby does and that leads to irritation by all

ClairLouise
  • 4th Jul 2011 06:32pm

Thanks for that. It was a real shock. My husband flew over to UK on Friday. You just never know what is going to happen in life. It is best to practice as healthy a lifestyle as you can (this includes some treats!)

ClairLouise
  • 4th Jul 2011 05:14pm

Hi Wendiau
I am sorry to hear about your cancer. My mother in law has just been diagnosed with liver cancer and everyone is asking if she was a big drinker. She only had the occasional drink. Heavy drinking can contribute to liver cancer just has smoking can contribute to lung cancer. But this does not mean that people who do not drink much will not get liver cancer, and that people that do not smoke will not get lung cancer. These cancers have many triggers and heavy drinking, and smoking are just two of them. Genetics also play a part, and some people are more susceptible than others.

wendiau
  • 4th Jul 2011 06:28pm
Hi Wendiau
I am sorry to hear about your cancer. My mother in law has just been diagnosed with liver cancer and everyone is asking if she was a big drinker. She only had the occasional drink....

By the way..I am very saddened to hear about you Mum in Law.... cancer sux big time :(

wendiau
  • 4th Jul 2011 06:27pm
Hi Wendiau
I am sorry to hear about your cancer. My mother in law has just been diagnosed with liver cancer and everyone is asking if she was a big drinker. She only had the occasional drink....

Thank you for that Clair.....I just worry as funding for Lung cancer in particular doesn't get a lot of funding...in regards to other cancers...
the stigma will be around for a long time..( smoking = cancer )
Just too many people including kids getting Lung cancer.....that's the worry....
I have a page on Face Book "Lung Cancer Awareness in Australia" would love to have a lot of people join...we have to make a noise...:(

Anonymous
  • 4th Jul 2011 04:53pm

just getting used to using this new computor. Yes I am a smoker and do not believe smoking causes cancer. We are all born with cancer cells and it takes something to trigger the cancer cells. What about babies and small children with cancer?? People tend to blame whatever they can as the cause,because they themselves dont know the cause.

jjdrer
  • 3rd Apr 2014 09:13am
Hi Wendiau
I am sorry to hear about your cancer. My mother in law has just been diagnosed with liver cancer and everyone is asking if she was a big drinker. She only had the occasional drink....

Possibly one or both of the parents had been exposed to either cigarette smoke or other dangerous chemicals.
During Military training and service in the Vietnam War many were exposed either directly or indirectly with Agent Orange (and other colours in Vietnam) There were many who died from Liver Cancer. I personally knew one who had trained interstate didn't serve overseas. Several others in his Division also died from Liver Cancer. His wife campaigned to get public moral support to get the message home to the Commonwealth Govt. She got a lot of responses from other widows, children, grandparents etc. whose relatives had also been exposed and had already passed away or were suffering terminal Liver Cancer...or in a few cases Leukenia. One of my friend's mates served in Vietnam and has been fighting Leukemia since within 3 years of returning from Vietnam. He goes into remission for a year or so then flares up again. When we were taling about his condition he said that Orange wasn't the only colour that was used. He was given a Medical Discharge and later managed to get a good job. He has since retired because he can't work because of constant bouts of illness, partly because he can't re-build him immune system enough, despite a lot of different things including herbs he has tried.

Anonymous
  • 30th Jan 2012 09:35pm
Hi Wendiau
I am sorry to hear about your cancer. My mother in law has just been diagnosed with liver cancer and everyone is asking if she was a big drinker. She only had the occasional drink....

Hi frangipani, I believe you may have a point there, and I used to be a smoker but owing to heart disease in my family, I gave up because my Dad died at 48 from hardening of the arteries that was definitely caused by smoking. Whilst smoking might not necessarily cause heart attack or lung cancer, I think if we keep continuing to put bad chemicals into our bodies, then we are only reducing our chances of longevity. Just my thoughts, who really knows, but I do admit I have been healthier and fitter since quitting smoking.

wendiau
  • 4th Jul 2011 06:22pm
Hi Wendiau
I am sorry to hear about your cancer. My mother in law has just been diagnosed with liver cancer and everyone is asking if she was a big drinker. She only had the occasional drink....

hey...I agree with you and I was a smoker up to 3 years ago...
I think smoking has a role in cancer though...
Too many of my friends have gotten really sick after giving up smoking...I started when I was 14years old... I am 54 now...and gave up when I got a scare with skin cancer....and then the big one....
I am really sick and tired of people and Doctors singling out smokers..... damn I could go on with this for a long time...
Better get off my soap box.....
Wendi

Anonymous
  • 4th Jul 2011 04:44pm

Hi,Yes

wendiau
  • 4th Jul 2011 04:51pm
Hi Wendiau
I am sorry to hear about your cancer. My mother in law has just been diagnosed with liver cancer and everyone is asking if she was a big drinker. She only had the occasional drink....

did you read it ?

Anonymous
  • 4th Jul 2011 04:44pm

Hi,Yes

Anonymous
  • 4th Jul 2011 04:44pm

Hi,Yes

Anonymous
  • 30th Oct 2011 09:46am
Hi Wendiau
I am sorry to hear about your cancer. My mother in law has just been diagnosed with liver cancer and everyone is asking if she was a big drinker. She only had the occasional drink....

hello there my answer to your question is yes i to am also a smoker

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