Stories of Lung Cancer
We tell ourselves stories in order to live. ~Joan Didion
About
Me, Before Lung Cancer
I was a teacher for most of my career, beginning as a 12th grade English/writing teacher and then a teacher of grad students who were on the path to teaching certification.
I had brief stints in freelance writing and marketing communications.
I loved riding my bicycle, hiking, gardening; these were active parts of my life.
Me, After lung Cancer
Not much has changed.
I never smoked.
The top four pictures, above, are me BC (Before Cancer). The bottom two are AC (After Cancer.)
Can you see any difference?
Did you expect to?
The waterfall photo shows what a high dose of prednisone can do to the body — besides heal it, of course. (You can learn more about prednisone here and get a sense of adventures with prednisone here, here, and here.)
What’s my point, you might be wondering. Simply this: Lung cancer people look like regular people. (Except not goats. The goat’s there because everyone needs a goat.)
About The Website
I didn’t set out to create a website. I only wanted to keep friends and family updated about this catastrophe. Because, let’s be honest: it is.
As Dr. David Carbone, a renowned researcher and oncologist at The Ohio State University, said in a recent webinar, “Lung cancer is a horrible, horrible disease.”
In fact, he says he used to be able to see 70 patients a day because there was nothing to talk about. (Those days are long gone….)
Focus on that long enough and you’ll start planning to jump off a bridge.
BUT
As you can see, that’s a big but. And, as you read the posts in this blog, you’ll be heartened by new research findings and treatment options that are announced daily.
Every day, we come closer to making lung cancer a chronic disease.
This blog may talk about lung cancer, but it’s really a blog about hope,
especially for folks living with this stupid disease.
Just The Facts
Lung Cancer is the leading cause of death by cancer among women in the U.S.– it surpassed breast cancer in 1987.
Each year, more people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death, yet only 6% of the federal dollars earmarked for cancer research are spent on lung cancer.
You can change that.
Write your Senators and Congressperson. Tell them we need research dollars, and we need them NOW.
Because your letter might help save someone’s life.
Literally.
Click here to find your Representative and Senators.
