The Full Spectrum Blog

Unite to Reduce Lung Cancer Stigma, Infuse Lung Cancer Respect

"Reducing lung cancer stigma is central to promoting respect for lung cancer" was my message to about 60 oncologists, oncology nurses, and other professional and patient advocates at a scientific session on advocacy and the media at the 13^th World Conference on Lung Cancer in San Francisco Sunday morning.

Convened by our client, the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, this year's meeting gathered more than 6,400 researchers to share in the latest in lung cancer findings.

My charge was to present an overview of lung cancer awareness in the media, but I decided several months out to redirect my talk and target mass stigma as the underlying reason that the leading killer among all cancers ranks as one of the poorest funded. Too many people, including members of Congress, decision-makers at NIH, the general public, as well as lung cancer patients themselves conclude that since smoking leads to lung cancer, why should we prioritize and adequately fund research on this disease? After all, smokers chose unwisely. Why should policymakers show deference?

But beneath all stigmas lies the truth. I compared patterns of stigma in HIV/AIDS and mental illness, where advocates have made varying degrees of progress to reduce myth and stereotypes in the past 25 years. I underscored a handful of pivotal moments that if applied in lung cancer could help open some doors and change attitudes.

I was privileged to join principals from the Lung Cancer Alliance  (another Spectrum client), the National Lung Cancer Partnership, the Bonnie Addario Lung Cancer Foundation, the UK-based Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, and Selma Schimmel of Vital Options, who co-chaired the panel with Bonnie Addario herself.

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