Women's Biggest Cancer Enemy--Not What You Might Think

www.crazedinthekitchen.com

As you are probably aware, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. It’s impossible to miss these days; pink is everywhere. On social media, in the newspaper, on TV—I even saw our local firefighters wearing pink shirts while they cleaned their trucks recently. Breast cancer is a real threat to women, and increasing awareness, improving screening, and funding research of this disease should continue to be a priority.

But it shouldn’t be the ONLY priority, as far as women-killing cancers go. And it’s possible that it shouldn’t even be our biggest priority. Did you know that there is another cancer that kills roughly twice as many women each year as breast cancer?

It’s lung cancer.

In fact, lung cancer kills more women each year than breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers combined. And, 20 percent of its female victims—like Christopher Reeve’s wife, Dana—were never smokers. So why doesn’t lung cancer receive the attention that breast cancer does?

The main reason is that most people associate lung cancer with smoking and assume, in some way, that lung cancer victims are in part to blame for their disease. I admit, I felt this way for a long time. Until, that is, my mom was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer four years ago. Yes, she had been a smoker in her lifetime, though she wasn’t at the time of her diagnosis and hadn’t been for some time.

But the thing is, I had watched my mom try to quit smoking more than once, and I believed her when she told me that it was the hardest thing she had ever done. The truth is that nicotine—the substance in tobacco that makes smokers feel both relaxed AND alert simultaneously—is extremely addictive. (According to a 2010 Time magazine article, ex-heroin users have said that it’s harder to quit smoking than heroin.) Not only that, but between 1998 and 2004 tobacco companies increased the nicotine content of cigarettes by 10 percent. And, while they were making cigarettes MORE addicting, they were also aggressively targeting women in their advertising.

My mom and her 1st grandson. He was 7 months old when she died.

I just learned that November is lung cancer awareness month. Even now, almost four years after my mother’s death, I never knew that. I’m guessing that most people don’t know what lung cancer’s “color” is (white). And I’m guessing that most people don’t know it kills so many women each year. This needs to change. Lung cancer awareness should be on everyone’s minds in November, like breast cancer is in October.

But that’s not enough. The tobacco industry needs to be held accountable for the deadly effects its products have on women. And women of all ages—but especially teens and younger women, who are especially targeted by tobacco companies’ advertising—need to know that they are being preyed upon. Smokers who want to quit should be given the help that they need, rather than being expected to do it on their own, as many do. Economically speaking, our country needs to take further steps toward becoming independent of “Big Tobacco.” (I wish I had suggestions here, but I think I’d need another college degree to fully understand that!)

My mom had no idea back in the ‘70s and ‘80s that smoking would keep her from knowing her grandkids. She had no idea that it would make her miss her only son’s wedding. She only knew that she felt powerless to stop, even though she wanted to. In her memory, I’ll be wearing a white ribbon next month. I hope, in time, that more people will wear them each November, as well.

**ADDED 11/11/12** On December 1, my 4-year-old son and I will be walking a 5K for lung cancer awareness in honor of my mom. If you'd like to donate to this important cause, please go here: http://bjalcfyournextstepisthecureoc.kintera.org/inmemoryofgrandmagg 

Thank you!

Judges Comments:

Molly, you made me aware of an issue that I was not aware of. And right there is the underlying point of this whole challenge, isn't it? I didn't know November is lung cancer month, and my cousin - a smoker - died of lung cancer 3 years ago at the age of 45. So this post really hit home for me. Beyond that, it was well-constructed. You brought in facts and examples to support your argument and wrapped it around your personal experience. I'm sorry you lost your mom to this terrible disease, but I thank you for sharing her story. I feel if you didn't have immunity this post would be good enough to win the week. To me, you have proven the decision to save you was a good call.

-From Daddy Knows Less

I really liked this post. I had no idea that November was lung cancer awareness month. The fact that you personalized this with the loss of your mother only made it that much better. Great job!

-From Daddy's In Charge?

I liked this post for a several reasons. One is that it wasn't about politics. Points for thinking outside the box. I also liked that I learned something. Finally, I thought it was brave of you to write about your mom's death. I'm sorry for your loss. And I respect the hell out of you for writing about it. Well done.

-From The Klonopin Chronicles (Guest Judge)

This is a very good post. You wrote about the topic itself and you were able to make it personal without it being either too fact-heavy or too emotional. The links were very informative as well - I had no idea there were so many "colors" for cancer until now.

Excellent job.

-From Non-Stop Mom

Like the other judges, I did learn something from your post, and that's a great thing. Also like the others said, you made it personal by talking about your mom, appealing to my emotional side. My only issues were a few technical ones that didn't effect my overall opinion of the post.
Great job.

-From Pinwheels and Poppies

I loved this post! It was very informative. I didn't know much about lung cancer so I appreciate you mentioning the fact that it kills more women than 3 cancer types combined. I also love that you made it personal by talking about your mom. I think you opened and ended this post very well. Good job!

-From Bay Area Mommy

Wow. I had to read this a few times so I could take notes on the stats. I had no idea you could get lung cancer without being a smoker, that November is awareness month or that it kills more women than the other 3 lady cancers combined. As a mom who has a 20 year old daughter, I am guessing grand kids (slams a glass of wine) are in my future in the next 5 years or so, I can't imagine missing out on them. You made me think, have a little heart break and make a note on my writing calendar to promote this information on my blog. Well done. Very well done. Lastly, I am so sorry for the loss of you Mom- it appears she did a great job loving you up <3

-From Honey Badger Press