Make Some Noise About Lung Cancer - Dr. Lung Love Style

As an oncology nurse I am deeply disturbed by this video’s portrayal of nurses. I am so disappointed in the Lung Cancer Alliance.

The first comment is rediculous. This nurse does not understand what LCA is trying to do. EDUCATE YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT LUNG CANCER.

You can still educate people in a fun way without degrading nurses.

Hi GC Jimenez,
If it’s any consolation, I thought the portrayal of nurses in the videos was anything but degrading. It shows nurses having passion, enthusiasm, and a love and voice for those living with lung cancer. Something, that unfortunately, I don’t see often in my fellow physicians, who often help to make lung cancer survivors feel invisible at best, and responsible for being sick at the worst. Nurses carry the load, and deliver the care that makes survivors understand someone is fighting for them personally. Thanks for being a nurse!

Dear friends,

A lot of awareness should be created in children, the next generation about the ill effect of smoking and use of tobacco. Drawing competitions, oratorical competetions, debates and more such activites should be conducted in a very wide range among the children and teenagers with lots of prize money(A Quater of what is being spent on cure for cancer).I think this should reduce lung cancer incidence by more than 50% in the coming generation. I am sure this may have impact on the current smokers who are parents of those children taking part in these events.

“Hats off?” Are you kidding? Dr. Eldridge should be supporting nurses, not assisting in their degradation. These depictions are of sexualized, unskilled doctor chasers – far from respectful. It’s shameful.

This video is useless. I will eat my shoe if even one dollar is raised for lung cancer research as a result of it. I am an oncology nurse and I’ve lost two parents to lung cancer. The only way to stop people from dying from lung cancer is to teach our youth about the dangers of tobacco smoke. If the LCA wanted to make a rap – it should have been about smoking . . . not this nonsense about naughty nurses gyrating around the hospital. Sheeesh . . . this sexed up video might even make a teenage boy WANT to get sick and go to the hospital.

In my clases with BSN students, we talk about the image of nursing and how the media portrays nursing. I am appalled at this ad and the message it sends. We are legimate professions and deserve to be treated in that manner. PULL THE AD IMMEDIATELY!!!!!

Nurses could have still been portrayed fun, friendly and helpful without all of the degrading used in this clip!

This is so embarrassing to the profession of nursing! Time and money would be much better spent on teaching our youth how to prevent lung CA in the first place by not smoking, rather than promoting the degrading image of the “naughty nurse”. This video has no place being used as a PSA.

This is so embarrassing to the profession of nursing! The degading image of the “naughty nurse” in this video does nothing to promote prevention of lung CA in young people. Time and money could be much better spent in teaching our youth on preventing lung CA in the first place by not smoking. This PSA should be pulled immediately as it muddies up any good message that may have been intended.

Never stops and we wonder why there is a nursing shortage. dr love is degrading.

Do the depictions of a nurse gyrating in a patient’s hospital bed, or a woman allowing herself to be groped by the lecherous Dr. Lunglove during an elevator exam really elevate the cause of early detection of lung cancer? And what message does it send to young men and women who are considering a nursing career?
It is time that healthcare organizations, advocacy organizations like LCA in particular, take the lead in reinforcing strong, empowered images of nurses, depicting us as the highly educated, patient-focused professionals we are.
Lung cancer is the number one cancer killer of men and women in this country. It is also a largely preventable disease. Where in this supposedly lung loving PSA is the message to young people about the dangers of smoke and tobacco use?
Oncology nurses work hard to attain the skill and knowledge needed for the vital role we play in saving and prolonging the lives of our patients. Please show your respect for me and my colleagues by urging LCA to cancel their “Dr. Lunglove” PSA campaign immediately.

Your ad producer is seriously misogynistic and out of touch. Fire ‘em. PULL THE CAMPAIGN. RNs should actively sabotage this campaign.

WHile I agree that the image of women in this film leaves plenty to be desired, I have to comment on the statements that say to educate people about lung cancer the video should have been about smoking. Not necessarily.

Of the 200,000 patients expected to be diagnosed with lung cancer this year, 20,000-30,000 will have NEVER smoked. An additional 100,000 will be former smokers. So you see, focusing on smoking isn’t the issue, focusing on research into detection, treatment and cure is. Once people realize that ANYONE can get lung cancer the game will change.

As a nurse practitioner working in hospice and former oncology RN, I am appalled at the portrayal of nurses and of treatment of women in this video. I worked with a nurse who was accosted in an elevator by a physician – she didn’t find it amusing. I cannot believe you would show such activity in an “educational” video. You are pandering to base desires.
“Gonna take momma and grandmomma” to see a physician who treats his patients that way? NO!
Support an organization that degrades the image of my profession? NO!
Pull this advertisement? YES!

Many nurses have commented that this video is degrading to nurses. I’m listening – but I need suggestions so I can talk with my friends involved in the major lung cancer organizations. Until now, lung cancer has been largely an invisible disease. Funding lags far behind that of funding for cancers that kill fewer people. How can we raise awareness? (And it’s not just tobacco – nearly 70% of women who develop lung cancer have never, or no longer smoke).

So I thought about my mothers approach when we were growing up. We were strongly encouraged to use our voices and express discontent if we were unhappy about something. But she required another step. We needed to present her with other possible solutions.

So – what suggestions do you have for raising lung cancer awareness in a way that is more respectful of nurses, and, in fact, reminds the public that nurses are the backbone of good medical care? I am madly brainstorming myself.

Who knows. This PSA that has infuriated many nurses may be what we all needed to come up with better ways of raising awareness and support for the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide.

Comment here, or join the discussion in the Lung Cancer Forum under “How Can We Raise Awareness?”

Best always, Dr. Lynne

Re-do the video, keep the dancing, get rid of the writhing on the bed, the grope, the come ons and make a useful PSA. If funding is needed, are you going to get it from young people just starting out? Appeal to the demographic that can support with donations and letter writing. Maybe address early detection and funding early detection clinics.

Oy, that’s what ad people are well paid for? Is the only demographic attractive to them hormone driven, gonad thinking youth?

I agree that other solutions are the way to go- young people need to know how lung cancer can affect THEM- the song, dancing is great…don’t like the portrayl of nursing- or the doctor for that matter- the target groups need to know symptoms, diagnosis, and why their money can help!! I wouldn’t give $$ to professionals as portrayed here….the message has to be obvious!!

I’m a registered nurse with oncology experience who is also appalled by this misogynistic, sexist video. It’s ironic that a message designed to promote women’s health would, at the same time, depict sexual harassment of women in the workplace! I mean, what’s with the threesome elevator scene, and a nurse rolling around on a patient’s bed with a bunch of tongue depressors?? Please! Pull this video; surely there are many ways to communicate this message without the degrading images of female nurses. Thank you.

I did a little research and apparently it’s pretty much shot for shot a parody of a “Pitbull” video – he’s some rapper. And this song is brand new. His song I mean. So I guess it’s topical, but really I think the reference is obscure to say the least. And really, it’s not like rap stars are famous for their kindness to women.

Please nurses you miss the whole point of the video. The 18 to 20 year old audience whom this targets loves the video and is passing it around. LCA has received alot of activity from this from young people. If you want to be upset by portrayals of medical professionals try complaining about some of the TV programming, like Grey’s Anatomy or Mercy.

You can either complain or do something? To those of you complaining. This is why Lung Cancer is the #1 killer of cancers. This is why it gets so little attention for research. This is why there is no proper screening. Breast cancer decided to stand up and do something. Anyone remember “save the Tata’s”? So I guess as long as an edgy campaign lines some pockets with dollars its ok? Really guys. Get a grip and do something other than complain. Use this platform to discuss how we can save lives. Not protect an image?

Well I’m outraged that the scrubs that the nurses are wearing are Bedazzled! As a cotton fabricator I spent countless hours processing the yearly crop…not for it to be Bedazzled! This is degrading to every green thumb in America. Hospital scrubs should be worn with more sensitivity. Oh ya and lung cancer sucks? Had no idea it was the top killer among cancers? But you will pay for this Dr. Lung Love! I bet your not even a Dr?

Lung cancer does kill young peope and if this helps awareness, that’s great. But the sexualization of nurses did not have to be included. Show some damaged lungs to get their attention and set that to a beat. Or show a nurse teaching a bunch of young people about how to quit smoking.

Could have left out the female degradation because more research does need to be done.Nurses can become more active in this but don’t portray the profession in such crude terms. The figures of death from lung cancer need to beome as easy to recite as breast cancer rates. Nurses need to beome more proactive in this battle and bury this ad.

I loved the video – the only image I was not comfortable with was the nurse laying down on the gurney. Otherwise, I want nurses and doctors that are that fit, that passionate, and that hip to the times. And even though I write about breast cancer, I’m not jealous! Gotta go make my own video tho…

As a former marketer (and advertiser) I can tell you that the Lung Association has missed its mark. The messages are so mixed that it’s tough to tell what they are trying to accomplish! My first takeaway was that they wanted everyone to get screened — and that’s a lousy idea. My next idea was that they wanted donations — but if that’s true, then there should be a statement about donating at the very end. If what they want to be is “cool” — well — cool to whom? The only audience they will attract is lascivious young men (or even old ones, too.)

A waste of resources… it could have really been good. Too bad.

I can only say that it is unfortunate some of you feel this way. If you weren’t in the nursing feel, I wonder if you understand more clearly the message being sent.

And if you took the time to watch the Pitbull video, you would understand the parody. The original music video is incredibly misogynistic and deserves your ire not as a nurse, but as a woman! This video, in my opinion, pokes fun at how crude the Pitbull video is. They have middle aged women as video girls!

The video says to embrace the medical industry! How many people have medical issues and fail to do anything about it b/c they are scared. And then it’s too late.

I have been a nurse in critical care and oncology for over 20 years and you know what??? This ad is doing just what it’s supposed to do STIR PEOPLE UP!!! We have allowed NO dent in Lung Cancer mortality to exist for nearly 30 years now since Nixon Declared war on cancer in 1975…in the meantime, we watch people continue to get diagnosed at late stages and die within a year….I didn’s see such uprise from professionals when the “save the ta-ta’s” campaign came out for breast cancer…hey that’s just fine right???
This is a parody people….it is meant to do just what it’s doing…get people talking…this isn’t a REAL DR….these are not real nurses…although I agree we might get more people to get checked out if they were…this isn’t a personal assault on Oncology nurses, or women in elevators it is an effort to finally get people to look at something different and realize that TWICE AS MANY WOMEN DO DIE FROM LUNG CANCER….it is time THAT stops and it is time the people who are supposed to advocate for them stand up against the stigma and say BRAVO to ANYTHING that wakes people up to the reality of Lung Cancer being the BIGGEST cancer killer. 30 years of smoking cessation certainly hasn’t put up any numbers in reducing mortality….why don’t we try finding it earlier….and funding research, it has worked in nearly every other cancer. Women marched with their bras in hand on DC to get this type of attention for Breast cancer back in the day…radical is what it will take to get this turned around…I say BRAVO and be part of the solution.

Just saw the “former” ad exec comment above. Actually this is dead on messaging. It’s a term called “Branded Entertainment”. A fairly new tool used in the Ad world. Obviously this campaign is meant to attract young people and encourage dialogue with loved ones at risk. Pretty brilliant. The demo they are going after is an online demo: younger, savvier and who would know of this video and what it parodies. The demo that is afflicted by Lung Cancer are older smokers who don’t care to quit, are never online and probably don’t know who Pitbull is? So where do you hit them? Via a loved one talking about Lung Cancer who is much younger. “Branded Entertainment”…Look it up?

While I usually cringe at nurses portrayed by the media as sex symbols, I think this video is brilliant. There are a lot of women in this video of different shapes, sizes, ethnicities – exactly the target audience for this message. Lung cancer is a rising diagnosis in women, even women who never smoked. It’s imperative that women get the message to get their lungs checked because lung cancer survival rates increase with early detection. I think the video is doing exactly what it’s intended to do – getting people talking and thinking about the message.

Grateful to the Lung Cancer Alliance! My grandfather was eaten alive by lung cancer. Literally. I was 13. He died. THAT was disturbing. I think the video message will reach the demographics for which it is intended. Getting the word out is what is important. “If its T1, something can be done!” Or what about…. just being aware…… It can happen to you…… or someone you love……… I assure you….. your heart will break…….. and perhaps then ~ a bold, fun, compelling, and “in your face” message that is intended to reach out to young people ~ (who might just be your children) will be of value to you as well!!!!!!!!

The video…… definitely an attention getter! Is that not the purpose????????

P.S.
Don’t smoke!!!!!!! Pass it on!!!!!!!!!! Tell someone you love!

As a Physician’s Assistant and patient advocate, I can say with confidence that the video certainly serves it’s purpose: raise public awareness of the seriousness of lung cancer.

I don’t think it’s degrading and people simply need to RELAX and realize the intentions and results the Lung Alliance.

As an oncology nurse and the mother of an almost 18 you who is choosing to smoke, I can tell you that this video will not necessarily dissuade young people from smoking. Just because they listen to Rap and watch Pitbull (I did check him out) doesn’t mean this video creates a compelling reason to quit. Forget all the issues re misogynism and the poor imagine of nursing, the message itself is not compelling. The no smoking teaching that was done in elementary school was powerful – kids coming home to tell their parents to quit. That message needs to be matured to talk to young people and Rap may be the way but this video is almost uninelligible. LAC could do better.

Here’s how I am making noise about lung cancer. I have started my own personal campaign called, “WTF (Where’s the Funding) for Lung Cancer? Yes, you get the double-meaning. I have launched a Facebook group, Twitter page and blog, that chronicles my mom’s battle with lung cancer. I started this on Friday and am just 5 short of 1,000 members of my FB page. Let’s all help each other make some noise…and REAL change.
Here’s are my links:

Blog:http://wtflungcancer.posterous.com/

Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=161802317682&ref=mf

Thanks for sharing Jennifer. I joined you on facebook! What an amazing thing to do for your mom – and the world.

I am a lung cancer survivor and also a nurse. This is not a ad that would make me seek medical help. I would turn it off as quickly as I could.

As an oncology nurse navigator, the only noise I can make after viewing that video is that of disgust and distaste. Nurses are professionals and play an integral role in educating the public about cancer prevention, early detection and cancer care. Portraying nurses as sluts, groupies and sex crazed females is a slap in the face of every professional nurse. I am deeply disturbed that anyone would think that this is the way to attract young women and teach them about lung cancer. This was deplorable and should be removed. I am all in favor of getting the message out about the importance of lung cancer prevention and early detection but there is a more appropriate way accomplish this. The Dr. Lung Love video is not the way.

I don’t understand why the demoralization and defamation of nursing needs to be a part of this PSA. It needs to be stopped, rethought and redone. NOW !!!!

This video is offensive to women and nurses. There is nothing empowering about being groped in an elevator or gyrating in a hospital bed. Nurses are subjected to these lazy, ignorant marketing campaigns constantly. Why do marketers think that women what to learn about lung cancer from a video that objectifies other women?

The sad thing is that I believe they thought they were doing a good thing here and somehow, it never occurred to them that nurses would object to being portrayed as sex kittens in a lung cancer awareness campaign. Messages that continue to reinforce the sexy nurse stereotype hinder nurses and women’s health in general.

DrLynne you want suggestions- here they are. 1. Stop thinking that nurses need to “relax” about the sexy nurse media stereotype. There is nothing funny or interesting about it and I can’t believe nurses are still being stereotyped this way in 2009. Women physicians would never allow themselves to be portrayed this way so why should nurses “relax”. Treat nurses like the health care professional colleges they are instead of strippers. 2. Since this is a video meant to raise awareness of lung cancer in women, and most nurses are women, why didn’t they use nurses to provide this information? Why don’t they partner with professional nursing organization to get your message out? Nurses are trusted by the public. Why sex us up when we can give professional assistance? This makes much more sense than offending a profession with millions of members by this offensive, lazy, and antiquated campaign. 3. Why did these producers think it was ok to sex up the nurses? (laziness) How does including them make it more effective? (it doesn’t) Why not provide the same message without groping? (They’d have to actually think of something clever instead of relying on tired old stereotypes)

LLevitt- you think those of us who are offended are missing the point because the “kids love the message”. So, it’s OK for these marketers to use sexualized nurses to promote their message because the kids love it? Is it still OK if it’s not a PSA but was selling scrubs, selling makeup or advertising a home health care service? Just because someone likes an images doesn’t mean it is not offensive.

the last poster said, “I can’t believe nurses are still being stereotyped this way in 2009.”

It’s a parody of a music video!!!! How can you satire a music video w/o poking fun at the ridiculous scenes that they have women in.

And man, did Sex in the City paint journalists as sluts. And I can’t believe there are no out of shape, ugly women in Gray’s Anatomy that are married and faithful. In fact, there is a derth in general of unattractive people in entertainment.

Lighten up. It’s people like you who force network to create comedy shows that are formula and safe.

This ad is disgusting. It does not promote lung cancer research–it demeans nurses, women, and a worthy cause. It will have more negative effect than positive. It makes me want to vomit.

Educating the public about lung cancer is commendable; using “naughty nurses” to do so is NOT. Please do a remake.

As a critical care nurse I have taken care of many patients, including women, who have had lung cancer surgery. I know how important the subject is. But please, get rid of this campaign and pull that awful video. I can’t imagine a much more demeaning portrayal of nurses.

I’ve never seen a more pathetic and transparent effort by an organization to demoralize the saving of lives. Whatever lobbying firm this is posing as “nurses” or insurance organization who wants to keep the cost of treating lung cancer up to make a profit…should stop. Your embarrassing yourselves. LCA should be commended for turning the lights on and watching the cock roaches scatter.

I think a new PSA should be made about the danger of having a stick up your butt.

Obviously the point of this video wasn’t to offend anyone, it was to inform.

The people who would watch a normal nurse just speaking to the camera aren’t the ones who need the information.

Everyone learns in different ways and is engaged in different ways. However, we need everyone to understand the message of this video not just the people who are offended by this type of material. So why not put your own uncomfortable feelings aside to help get a message out to people who wouldn’t get it any other way.

I have read all the blogs out there and seriously is this what you live for? To gripe about a insignificant thing as this video when there is more pressing issues in the world. To me it is a video trying to campaign about lung cancer– I think it has music that young people relate to and frankly it is not about nursing. I have been a nurse for 22 years and a professor and for me it was the hidden message itself— “Don’t smoke and be an advocate for preventative medicine. Help find a cure”

After reading the blogs again:
Hats off to Jennifer Windhrum Your support will be there
To Oncology Nurse and Mother of Teen: I do agree with you in that the vidoe was not strong enough to defer young ones from smoking
To Vincent: I totally agree with you

I was very interested to see this video-I have worked in thoracic oncology for 10 years. It maybe a parody or it may not translate very well to the non USA audience (I am English and based in London) but I did find this quite distasteful in its portrayal of nurses. It was very disrespectful. I can imagine an ad agency coming up with this kind of thing but not the LCA who are seen as a very reliable authority. Its effectiveness I would imagine, will have to be proven.

ONC nurse, My wie is 35….never smoked and noone in her family smoked…she waqs diag. in June 08 stage 4 NSCLC!
WAKE UP! Its not only smokers getting this monster.

Hey….ITS NOT ALL ABOUT SMOKING FOLKS! and thats the point. My wife is 34 diag. stage 4 NSClC and never smoked!
GET IT?

20% of women getting lung cancer are NON SMOKERS!

This video is degrading to our entire profession, the community needs to know this information, true, but to portray our profession as something closer to prostitution than to trained healthcare providers is appalling.

As a nurse, I strive to earn the respect from my patients, their families and the physicians I work with. This video is absolutely ridiculous and I would never go to a doctor that sexualizes patients and nurses in this manner!

“I’ve never seen a more pathetic and transparent effort by an organization to demoralize the saving of lives. Whatever lobbying firm this is posing as “nurses” or insurance organization who wants to keep the cost of treating lung cancer up to make a profit…should stop.”

Really Haden RN? You think that the people here who have signed on as nurses are a lobbying or insurance firm? Let me direct you to the home page of the Oncology Nursing Society who did have an official conversation with LCA about the video and the NCONN who also sent an official letter. The ANA published a strong position statement on Hawthorne RN and Nurse Jackie so why is anyone surprised that nurses are not thrilled with this video.

As for myself, it gets a shrug from me. Nurses have been portrayed as sexy for years. I think the difference here that is bothering so many people is that this is a professional organization. An organization that needs to have a good relationship with nurses. Nurses are the ones that refer patients to educational websites. I sent a patient to the LCA website yesterday but since they were very religious and older I felt the need to give them a heads up about the video prior to them going to the site.

I will say that I doubt it is “getting the message out there” as much as it is just stirring up controversy. I had my teen watch it, he shut it off after a minute, declared it a bunch of “old folks trying to do something they thought was cool so kids would listen” and headed into the other room without me saying a word other than, “Hey, watch this and tell me what you think.

Sorry to say that I think LCA missed the mark here.

REALLY?! You find this offensive to your image…Honestly, is that really all you can think about here? Want to know what is really offensive — being treated with total disregard because you were unfortunate enough to get the only cancer stigmatized by smoking! More times than not, there is such a lack of compassion from “supposed professionals” when being treated for Lung Cancer that it makes me ill! Walk a mile or two in the shoes of a lung cancer patient and let us know how you’re feeling after that!

I say thank god for this message, no matter how it is delivered – at least SOMEONE is finally getting the message out there! Perhaps my mom would be alive today with the privilege of worrying about such things as whether a video might be degrading to women in any profession!