With November being lung cancer awareness month, I feel it’s important to celebrate the white cancer ribbon, the one that goes unnoticed. Many don’t know that today, 433 people in this country will die from lung cancer, the No. 1 cancer killer that claims more lives annually than breast, colon and prostate cancers combined, yet lung cancer receives the least amount of funding.
I know these statistics because lung cancer has touched my life. In 2014, my world was changed when I received a grim diagnosis of stage-four lung cancer. The five-year survival rate for my cancer is 4 to 6 percent. I’ve never smoked, yet I’ve learned that most people think one must smoke to get lung cancer.
On Sept. 26, I took my voice to Capitol Hill, but we can make a difference in our community. If lung cancer has touched your life, tell others so they can better understand how it feels and how it impacts the lives of neighbors, friends and family. By sharing our stories, we can get a conversation going about a devastating cancer that flies under the radar — lacking awareness and research funding. We need help to win the battle against this disease. Please ask your local representatives for their support.
