Lung Cancer Awareness - Think Clear When You See Pink

As breast cancer awareness month nears, many are gearing up to spread the word. Yes, that includes me amongst the throngs who have lost mothers, daughters, sisters, or friends to breast cancer. But as I wear my pink ribbon, I will also pin on my clear ribbon – clear to signify the invisible nature of lung cancer.

Lung cancer kills twice as many women as breast cancer does each year in U.S. And it hits women with healthy lifestyles just as breast cancer does – 20% of these women have never even touched a cigarette.

Despite these statistics, women with lung cancer often lack the support that those with breast cancer receive – the walks, the runs, the conferences, the parties, the shades of pink adorning everything from clothing to jewelry to the latest household utensil. Government funding for lung cancer lags far behind that for breast cancer as well, according to the Lung Cancer Alliance, the only not-for-profit organization devoted solely to supporting those with lung cancer.

So what can we do as pink becomes a fall color in October?

Certainly investing time and resources towards lung cancer research is important, but not always feasible in our current economy. Each of us can make a difference, however, by simply keeping our eyes open and raising our awareness. Offer a smile or lend a hand to a loved one with lung cancer. Step past the stigma that lung cancer is a “self-induced” disease, and provide the same sense of respect and empathy to someone with lung cancer that you would for someone with breast cancer. Those little steps may ease a bit of the burden during pink October - for someone feeling invisible with lung cancer.

Further Reading:

12 Tips for Supporting a Loved One With Cancer