Lung Cancer Awareness Month

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, which creates mixed emotions for me. I believe everyone has the right to smoke if that’s what they choose to do. I, however, would have loved to spend my childhood and adulthood with my grandmother, who died from lung cancer when I was 3. She never got to meet my husband or my son. My only memory of her is in a hospital bed, very sick… and dying. My grandfather hid me under his overcoat because that was the only way I could sneak into her room and say goodbye without the nurses seeing me.

How can you help before you lose someone close to you?

Educate – Make sure they know the facts.
According to an article on Medicalnewstoday.com, “Smoking and tobacco use are the leading cause of preventable death in the US. An estimated 438,000 people in the US die prematurely from smoking or secondhand smoke exposure, with an additional 8.6 million having a serious illness caused by smoking.” It’s unfortunate and sad to me that this is the leading cause of preventable death. 

Raise awareness – Help the cause.
The Lung Cancer Alliance has several ways you can get involved in your community, including ideas for sponsoring events in your area and providing information to the media. It’s a great way to get information to the public and try to raise awareness. There are other options, too, like donating time and money to fundraisers such as the American Lung Cancer Association. Do a Google search and I’m sure you can find something to donate to.

Help – Get them the help they need.
I’m sure you have heard of several different ways to quit smoking. There are pills, patches and gum, and then there are things that don’t cost money, like just stopping cold turkey and dealing with the withdrawal. Some people switch to “light” cigarettes, thinking they won’t get as much nicotine. However, people often end up smoking more to make up for it.

What you really can do to help is be there for them. Let your friends and family know you will stick by their side and do anything to help. You’ll slap them on the hand if they reach for a cigarette, you’ll lock them in a room so they can’t get a cigarette, you’ll bring them ice cream (it does make everything better) – you will do whatever it takes to keep them in your life as long as you can.

I hope this brings a little more awareness to the statistics, and maybe even inspires you to get out and show your support for all those that are still trying to quit, and for those who have quit.

- Jessica