November is World Lung Cancer Awareness Month

Let's all try and spread the word about early detection of this awful disease.

And also support all who are affected by it.

Stay strong for each other.

Rab.

[jillygirl]

So true Rab. Hope you are coping . I am an administrator for quit support community, and try and warn people of the danger of smoking has.

Take care.

[Hidden in reply to jillygirl]

Hi Jilly,

Keep the good work.

Rab

[Inula]

Im spreading the word.

When my husband started smoking in the early 1970s it was still a very sociably acceptable thing to do.

It saddens me to see so many youngsters still taking up this habit even though it's so much less acceptable.

During my husbands (very short) illness I saw a neighbours lad who is about 14 rolling a cigarette. I sobbed as I asked him to stop and think what he was doing (he must have thought crazy old lady - because let's face it - to a teenager a 54 year old is pretty much waiting for God!) I sobbed as I told him my husband was dying of lung cancer. A few days later his dad approached me in the street and I thought - Ay up! He's going to tear a strip off me for telling his boy off - but no. He thanked me and asked me to tell his boy again if I saw him smoking.

Too late for Neil but let's all do our bit to make people aware of the signs and symptoms of this vile disease an to encourage young people to give up smoking.

Netty

[Hidden in reply to Inula]

Well done Netty.

Rab

[Hidden]

Hi , those were my thoughts exactly ,I have wrote a letter Plymouth Herald our local newspaper ,which has been printed ,so far so good and I am promoting lung cancer awareness month and early detection with the Lung Care Nurses at Derriford hospital Plymouth, main entrance on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week .I shall be wearing an attractive lung cancer t shirt with blue lungs upon it ( courtesy of Roy Castle) .I just feel if I could help one person to detect this disease early all the better .Just to be able to stop one person having to have extensive surgery or having to have chemo by getting a grip of it early would make my day .

If nothing else could my fellow sufferers think about writing to their local newspapers and promote lung cancer awareness month. Just get it out there,to get the press to recognise it and perhaps lung cancer may get more attention and eventually more research funding . I am in a place where I can do this now a few months ago I couldn't so I know it's not for everyone. If only we could get lung cancer as much attention as breast cancer ,it may help treatment programmes etc .No one wants any cancer but it seems a fact of life for some of us, no cancer is better to have than another ,I wouldn't want any cancer at all in my world but there you go ... Diane

[hilde in reply to Hidden]

Hi Diane

Just read your post. I am new to the site, was operated on last year Christmas Eve, followed by four sessions of chemo. I was lucky my surgeon managed to remove tumor and left me with 40% of my right lung. I had non small cell lung cancer, never smoked, kept very fit so you can do all the right things and still some nasty gets you. Didn't realise until recently that lung cancer has the least spent for investigation etc because if the stigma attached. So I agree with you, we need to let the population know moreabput lung cancer awareness Where did you purchase your T shirt from.

Hilde72

[hilde]

Hi Rabbi, I am new to this site but was just scanning through at different posts etc and noticed yours. I think you are doing very well coping with all your troubles, and have given me added strength.

I was diagnosed last November with non small cell lung cancer, operated on Christmas Eve, was very lucky my surgeon managed to remove all the tumor from three lobes, which left me with 40% of my right lung. Came out with a flutter drain, and had four sessions of chemo.

So now it's just Chest X-rays and check ups every 3 months. I don't have the energy or stamina I had before But my oncologist said that is normal, so it's getting used to sedentary life, but at least I have one.

You say you visit your family in Singapore, how do you manage with the flights.

Hilde72

[Hidden]

Hi Hilde,

Glad to hear that you seem to coming to terms with the new you after the surgery and chemo. As you have had surgery and I assume the chemo was adjuvant you will have a good chance of the big C, that is a Cure that I think it should mean not what most people think of the words.

Anyway I would suggest that when your consultant decides to increase the interval between appointments that you ask for annual CT scan as I think this gives most people the assurance that they should have.

With regard to Singapore and Sydney I'm afraid that I haven't managed the trip this year due to all my treatments and I doubt if I'll ever manage it now.

After my first cancer 4 years ago I did start flying abroad after 12 months although at first it was very expensive travel insurance wise. However as time went by the price dropped dramatically.

If you check the Roy Castle website they have a list of travel insurers and you should shop around, if the price is prohibitive and you are recovering well and your medical team say you are ok to fly then you can get a quote without the cancer cover. In fact I think that's what we did the first time of flying out to see the family. During the long 13 hour flights I didn't have any problems, just made sure I had any medications, wore the stockings etc and moved around the cabin to avoid any DVT.

Stay well

Rab