Lung Cancer: Shame, Blame and Guilt
“The biggest risk factor for lung cancer is having lungs,” Brodsky says.
The stigma around lung cancer has effects that go beyond each individual patient. Because of the association with tobacco, lung cancer does not attract as much research funding as other cancers. According to research published in 2011 by Charity Intelligence Canada, lung cancer receives only 7 per cent of cancer-specific research funding and less than 1 per cent of cancer donations. For the 2012-2013 fiscal year, the Canadian Cancer Society will invest $5.2 million in 38 projects related to lung cancer.
Brodsky is now a lung cancer survivor but says her experience has transformed her.
“It does give you a different perspective, that’s for sure . . . I really could have lived without it and so could’ve my family. But it certainly has been an education for me about a lot of things,” she says.
“It’s made me very interested in getting involved and trying to get the facts out there. Because this lack of public education about lung cancer is killing thousands and thousands and thousands of people every year.”
The stigma around lung cancer has effects that go beyond each individual patient. Because of the association with tobacco, lung cancer does not attract as much research funding as other cancers. According to research published in 2011 by Charity Intelligence Canada, lung cancer receives only 7 per cent of cancer-specific research funding and less than 1 per cent of cancer donations. For the 2012-2013 fiscal year, the Canadian Cancer Society will invest $5.2 million in 38 projects related to lung cancer.
Brodsky is now a lung cancer survivor but says her experience has transformed her.
“It does give you a different perspective, that’s for sure . . . I really could have lived without it and so could’ve my family. But it certainly has been an education for me about a lot of things,” she says.
“It’s made me very interested in getting involved and trying to get the facts out there. Because this lack of public education about lung cancer is killing thousands and thousands and thousands of people every year.”
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