As I said in my last post, it is always important to remember that
you are not the only one who has or who ever will go through life with a
diagnosis of lung cancer. Now while
doing some research on the populations diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the
lung, I stumbled upon an interesting fact that I would like to share with you
briefly. Globally, the incidence of lung cancer (specifically
adenocarcinoma diagnoses) rose
by 51 percent between 1996-2003 and this number has only continued to grow.5 Researchers are now beginning to
question why this cancer is becoming more prevalent in developing countries. In
2010, a study was done to test whether or not changes in cigarette design were
related to the increased occurrence of adenocarcinoma. Filtered cigarettes have shown to increase
the depth of smoke inhalation and distribution of smoke to the lungs, which in
turn, intensifies the exposure of lung cells to carcinogens in smoke. This design has become more popular in the US
since the 1950’s, because of the increased effects of the nicotine “buzz” one
feels from smoking filtered cigarettes.
In the 1990’s tobacco companies began refining the filtered cigarette
even more to provide a bigger buzz and therefor a more harmful effect. Furthermore, when tobacco companies put the
word “filtered” on cigarettes it was seen as a positive addition and made the
cigarette seem healthier to consumers. 1
(3)
I apologize for my little nerd rant, but I just thought it was a very interesting fact and another great opportunity to emphasis the importance of quitting smoking.
(3)
This advertisement was one of the first ads out for filtered cigarettes. You can see why consumers would believe that a filtered cigarette is better for you, she makes them look so appealing!
I apologize for my little nerd rant, but I just thought it was a very interesting fact and another great opportunity to emphasis the importance of quitting smoking.
There is such a large and supportive
community out there for those who have been diagnosed with lung cancer. However, I want
you to think about the support system you already have in place. My support system mainly includes (but is not
limited to) my family. Here we are below :)
It is important to remember the friends and family that are
surrounding you right now, because they can be some of the most crucial people
that help you through tough times.
However, they cannot help you if they do not know what is going on in
your life, or what you need. Coping with
news of lung cancer is a long process, and many people are not ready to share
their diagnosis right away. This is just fine, you are supposed to grieve in
your own way. However, once you feel ready (if you ever feel ready) to share
your news about lung cancer with your loved ones, CaringBridge is a non-profit
website that can be a great place to start. “In
1997, good friends of mine had a premature baby, and they asked me to let
everyone know what was happening. Instead of making dozens of emotional and
time-consuming phone calls, I decided to create a website. The same night their
baby Brighid was born, so was the idea that became CaringBridge.”2 -
Sona Mehring, CaringBridge Founder and CEO. On this website you can create a personal
journal that shares updates with the people you love about your illness. You
can also receive support from friends and family that read your journal entries
and post advice and words of encouragement. This is also a great way for
caregivers to explain what assistance they may need in giving you care, or
where people can come visit you if you are in a treatment facility. Finally, it
is private and ad free to ensure privacy and respect for you and your
followers.2
Clicking on this link will lead you to the “Start a Journal” page
of Caring Bridge, and I hope you will use it and find it as beneficial as my
family has. I personally had my own
CaringBridge site when I was diagnosed with lymphatic cancer in 2010. I am happy to say I’m in remission and things
are going very well for me. The posts I
received on CaringBridge helped me fight on my weakest days, it helped me see
how many people were truly rooting for me.
My friends and family had prayer groups and daily posts and so much
advice and kind words and I honestly never could’ve gotten through treatment
without them. To this day, my
CaringBridge site is the most valuable piece of my experience. Not only do my
journal entries help me remember what exactly I went through, but the posts from
the community also remind me of how much I am loved.
Works Cited
1. Burns, D. M.,
Anderson, C. M., & Gray, N. (2010, October). Do changes in cigarette
design influence the rise in adenocarcinoma of the lung? San Diego, CA:
UCSD School of Medicine.
2. Mehring, CaringBridge CEO, S. (n.d.). CaringBridge: About us.
Retrieved June 24, 2015, from CaringBridge website:
3. Cigarette House. (n.d.). Cheap cigarettes L&M Box
Lights/Blue [Image]. Retrieved from
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