Of all the confusing terms we toss out to those with lung cancer, my pet peeve is the word “inoperable.” Yes, for those of us in medicine it helps us place individuals in a category. Inoperable means that surgery is not the recommended treatment. But sitting on the other side of the table holding the hand of someone newly diagnosed with lung cancer, I know that word sounds entirely different. It sounds like a synonym to terminal!

A diagnosis of “inoperable” lung cancer does carry a much poorer prognosis than cancer that is operable, but most of the time it is still “treatable.” Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and the newer targeted therapies can often extend survival and improve quality of life. In a few cases, these treatments can even offer a chance for a cure in those with inoperable lung cancer.

Have any of you experienced this dichotomy of meaning in terms used during your cancer treatment? I would love to hear from you! Maybe we can spare someone else the agony of misunderstanding, while we remind the medical profession that what we say is not always what others hear.