To Whom it may Concern....
To whom it may concern:
I feel funny writing that… because it seems as though almost no one is actually really and truthfully concerned with Lung Cancer besides people who are diagnosed, family members, caregivers, a small group of advocates, and the doctors and nurses who actually treat lung cancer on a daily basis. Sad right? In my book yes!
See the truth is….Lung Cancer kills more people than breast, prostate, colon, pancreatic, and liver cancers COMBINED… Yet, it is the least funded of all of all major cancer. This is unacceptable and I will not let it hold me down anymore.
Lung Cancer is the number 1 cancer killer of men and women in this nation. Believe it or not it’s not breast for women… and it’s not prostate for men.
While I would never sit here and argue that one cancer type is better than another I will bring up a very shocking fact… Breast cancer has an 85% five year survival rate! That’s amazing and shows how much progress they have made in science for breast cancer research… but what is not talked about is the horrific statistics for Lung Cancer. Lung Cancer only has a 15% five year survival rate. This is unacceptable. And I will not stop or be quiet until someone on a national level pays attention to this!!
People argue that Lung Cancer could have the same movement as breast cancer has… but the truth is… and I am talking about the hard truth not holding back anything… but with only a 15% survival rate we don’t have the bodies for a movement. Harsh I know… but it’s the truth. Of course family members are left behind and they can pick up the fight, but after a loss to lung cancer it’s sometimes hard to just pick up and say we are going to fight for funding and research when there is so little available.
I don’t know if I am being clear and I don’t think that people realize the amount of people we lose in the United States to Lung Cancer… but we lose 160,000 people a YEAR to lung cancer. I want you to picture for a moment a big boeing 757 jet… one of the HUGE planes that can hold up to 450 passengers…. Now I want you to imagine if it fell out of the sky and crashed. Surely it would be devastation and people would be crushed because 450 innocent people lost their life. Now, can you imagine what would happen if a boeing 757 fell out of the sky EVERYDAY all year long? Well imagine that… because that’s how many people die every day due to Lung Cancer. We lose a jumbo jet EVERYDAY of people who have had to fight Lung Cancer and didn’t make it. This is unacceptable.
And before anyone says… “Well if people would stop smoking there wouldn’t be lung cancer” they need to check their facts. 60% of the newly diagnosed are either never smokers or former smokers. Thus, if we eradicated smoking today… people would still get lung cancer for years and years to come. Smoking is an addiction… and a terrible one at that… but the truth is that when these people started smoking we didn’t know it was bad for you. So the blame game is one that I am not willing to accept or play. And it’s time for the public to stop playing it as well. I would never argue that smoking doesn’t cause lung cancer or that it’s not a very big part of the disease, but it should NOT be the main focus. And it will not be the main focus as long as I’m involved!
I am 24 years old, a former division 1 college athlete, a sorority sister, a daughter, a sister, a girlfriend, a nonsmoker, and a lung cancer survivor. I am the NEW face of lung cancer. Everyone thinks that you have to be old, half dead, and a smoker and this is not the case. I am a walking, living, healthy example of how this is not the case!
Jill Costello, also a former division 1 college athlete, a sorority sister, a daughter, a sister, a girlfriend, a nonsmoker, and a victim of lung cancer. She didn’t deserve this disease. She didn’t deserve the poor statistics and the inexcusable lack of funding for research. She dedicated the end of her life to “getting the word out about lung cancer” she lived with such grace, courage, and dignity. And if there was ever one person to put up the fight it was Jill! She was amazing. I am speaking up on behalf of her.
Neither one of us deserved this horrible diagnosis. And we surly didn’t and don’t deserve the questions that are asked when you tell someone you have lung cancer. Questions like “Did you smoke” or my new favorite question after I tell people that I didn’t smoke is… “Well how did you get it?” If I could really say what I wanted to and not get killed I would…. But I always answer with southern charm and I just say “well… why does anyone get cancer?” If I could say what I wanted I would respond with “If I did smoke… would that make you care less?” I mean why do people even ask that question?
Ummmmm…. Helllloooo….. We have no freaking clue why people get cancer…. We don’t know…. So with this being said… I have no idea why I got cancer…. So please don’t ask me how I got it!!! If I knew I would be a rich woman!!!
So I charge each and every one of you who might be reading this… please please celebrate cancer survivorship and supporting all types of cancer… but the next time you meet someone who has or had lung cancer… Please don’t let “did you smoke” be the first words out of your mouth! And when you are daunting your pink ribbon during the year or the month of October… consider wearing a white or clear ribbon in the month of November and share my story with someone. I’m begging…. A simple story can break the stigma associated with the disease and you could really make a difference. Please do this for me!
IF YOU HAVE LUNGS…. YOU ARE AT RISK!!!! Always remember that!
I feel funny writing that… because it seems as though almost no one is actually really and truthfully concerned with Lung Cancer besides people who are diagnosed, family members, caregivers, a small group of advocates, and the doctors and nurses who actually treat lung cancer on a daily basis. Sad right? In my book yes!
See the truth is….Lung Cancer kills more people than breast, prostate, colon, pancreatic, and liver cancers COMBINED… Yet, it is the least funded of all of all major cancer. This is unacceptable and I will not let it hold me down anymore.
Lung Cancer is the number 1 cancer killer of men and women in this nation. Believe it or not it’s not breast for women… and it’s not prostate for men.
While I would never sit here and argue that one cancer type is better than another I will bring up a very shocking fact… Breast cancer has an 85% five year survival rate! That’s amazing and shows how much progress they have made in science for breast cancer research… but what is not talked about is the horrific statistics for Lung Cancer. Lung Cancer only has a 15% five year survival rate. This is unacceptable. And I will not stop or be quiet until someone on a national level pays attention to this!!
People argue that Lung Cancer could have the same movement as breast cancer has… but the truth is… and I am talking about the hard truth not holding back anything… but with only a 15% survival rate we don’t have the bodies for a movement. Harsh I know… but it’s the truth. Of course family members are left behind and they can pick up the fight, but after a loss to lung cancer it’s sometimes hard to just pick up and say we are going to fight for funding and research when there is so little available.
I don’t know if I am being clear and I don’t think that people realize the amount of people we lose in the United States to Lung Cancer… but we lose 160,000 people a YEAR to lung cancer. I want you to picture for a moment a big boeing 757 jet… one of the HUGE planes that can hold up to 450 passengers…. Now I want you to imagine if it fell out of the sky and crashed. Surely it would be devastation and people would be crushed because 450 innocent people lost their life. Now, can you imagine what would happen if a boeing 757 fell out of the sky EVERYDAY all year long? Well imagine that… because that’s how many people die every day due to Lung Cancer. We lose a jumbo jet EVERYDAY of people who have had to fight Lung Cancer and didn’t make it. This is unacceptable.
And before anyone says… “Well if people would stop smoking there wouldn’t be lung cancer” they need to check their facts. 60% of the newly diagnosed are either never smokers or former smokers. Thus, if we eradicated smoking today… people would still get lung cancer for years and years to come. Smoking is an addiction… and a terrible one at that… but the truth is that when these people started smoking we didn’t know it was bad for you. So the blame game is one that I am not willing to accept or play. And it’s time for the public to stop playing it as well. I would never argue that smoking doesn’t cause lung cancer or that it’s not a very big part of the disease, but it should NOT be the main focus. And it will not be the main focus as long as I’m involved!
I am 24 years old, a former division 1 college athlete, a sorority sister, a daughter, a sister, a girlfriend, a nonsmoker, and a lung cancer survivor. I am the NEW face of lung cancer. Everyone thinks that you have to be old, half dead, and a smoker and this is not the case. I am a walking, living, healthy example of how this is not the case!
Jill Costello, also a former division 1 college athlete, a sorority sister, a daughter, a sister, a girlfriend, a nonsmoker, and a victim of lung cancer. She didn’t deserve this disease. She didn’t deserve the poor statistics and the inexcusable lack of funding for research. She dedicated the end of her life to “getting the word out about lung cancer” she lived with such grace, courage, and dignity. And if there was ever one person to put up the fight it was Jill! She was amazing. I am speaking up on behalf of her.
Neither one of us deserved this horrible diagnosis. And we surly didn’t and don’t deserve the questions that are asked when you tell someone you have lung cancer. Questions like “Did you smoke” or my new favorite question after I tell people that I didn’t smoke is… “Well how did you get it?” If I could really say what I wanted to and not get killed I would…. But I always answer with southern charm and I just say “well… why does anyone get cancer?” If I could say what I wanted I would respond with “If I did smoke… would that make you care less?” I mean why do people even ask that question?
Ummmmm…. Helllloooo….. We have no freaking clue why people get cancer…. We don’t know…. So with this being said… I have no idea why I got cancer…. So please don’t ask me how I got it!!! If I knew I would be a rich woman!!!
So I charge each and every one of you who might be reading this… please please celebrate cancer survivorship and supporting all types of cancer… but the next time you meet someone who has or had lung cancer… Please don’t let “did you smoke” be the first words out of your mouth! And when you are daunting your pink ribbon during the year or the month of October… consider wearing a white or clear ribbon in the month of November and share my story with someone. I’m begging…. A simple story can break the stigma associated with the disease and you could really make a difference. Please do this for me!
IF YOU HAVE LUNGS…. YOU ARE AT RISK!!!! Always remember that!
You are such an inspiration!! I can just hear you telling it to the world with such passion and authority. We're with you in the fight!!!!!
ReplyDeleteGonna share this with all of our supporters at Women of Hope. Go girlfriend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You go, little girl! Beautifully written~ and passionate. Just like you! I'm sending this to everyone!
ReplyDeleteHi Taylor,
ReplyDeleteWhat a great blog..I'm so glad I found it. I live in the Chicago area and did a 5k with BJALCF to honor my sister-in-law, Laura Syracuse, my dad, Paul Gavin and Shelia's dad. You might have heard about it. I think it's the only run that was canceled because of storms. I was so bummed but proud that we still raised $22,000 for Lung Cancer research. I am doing Lung cancer Awareness events during the month of November in the high school that I work at. I hope to reach the 1900 students and 350 faculty with information about the lack of funding for the #1 killer of cancer and Jill's message, Anyone can get Lung Cancer. So glas you are doing well. Keep the faith and the fight going.
Taylor I read your story and although I am saddened that someone so young could get this horrific diagnosis I admire your strength and courage to fight this disease head on. I think it is great that your share your story. It is very difficult to get others not familiar with the facts about this disease to understand this disease is not caused from ones "fault" - I hate that assumption. I wish you the best and will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
ReplyDeleteHi Taylor, I'm glad you are willing to stand up and fight I'm with you all the way. No body deserves to be treated like that. I know first hand cause I myself have LC, was diagnosised back in 2008 and had to have chemo and radiation and now I Have to go every six months for ct scan in fact I'm going in a couple of weeks to see if it has came back. I really get upset when it is time to go back because it really just upsets me to the point of getting sick. I've tried to fight this really hard and I'm a strong person, and I'm only 47 years old and I'm not ready to die I just don't want to leave my children and grandchild. I'm so sorry that you have this at your age, you just don't give up and fight this.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great message. I lost my amazing dad to lung cancer over 2 years ago and it was the most painful, miserable and untimely death anyone could have imagined. It drives me crazy when people act as though lung cancer is a disease that people somehow deserve. My dad was also considered a non smoker (he had not smoked in 35 years). God Bless you and keep fighting this fight. MUCH LOVE.
ReplyDeleteThis is great, Taylor... keep it going! Love you!
ReplyDeleteMomma Tomma
Thank you for all you are doing in our common fight!
ReplyDeleteAs frustrating and discouraging as this fight is sometimes, we CANNOT give up! Keep talking and spreading the word and fight, fight, fight! I lost my beautiful mother to this ugly disease a little over three years ago and nothing upset her more than the stigma associated with LC. No one ever got anywhere without "doing". Thank you for speaking up and helping to remove the stigma of lung cancer. God bless you!
ReplyDeleteTaylor,
ReplyDeleteI feel your outrage. I am a LC survivor as well as a wife, mother, college student, and student pastor. There are days when it gets really hard, but we must stand together to fight the good fight. Wishing you nothing but the best! Thank you for speaking up!
Taylor,
ReplyDeleteYour "To Whom it May Concern" blog entry has ALL THE FACTS and beautifully written - I try to share these types of facts to people all the time. My mom is a lifetime non smoker with LC - so I spread the FACTS any opportunity I get.
God bless you!
Taylor, I lost my mom 45 days ago. She only made it one month. I miss her more than I could ever say. I will pray for you. You are strong, beautiful, and determined. I really enjoyed your blog. I am reading it b/c I can't sleep due to my mother's death. I am in total shock that she's gone. You are an inspiration to me. Thank you for your words. I think I can sleep now.
ReplyDeleteGreat emotional & sensible statements. Stand up & shout out so everyone can hear you !!! This is the time for young people to stand up against one of the most dreaded diseases that can possibly strike a person. I smoke .. I wish I never had bad saying that makes no difference because I may have ended up with Lung Cancer either way!!! No one knows how we get Lung Cancer .. life is a lottery & unfortunately we got chosen ... the prize sucks!! Lets all keep fighting for the answers :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for your fight
Annie
Thank you Taylor for your honest blog. You are an inspiration! And (the breast cancer survival rate is almost at 90% and the lung cancer survival rate is at 16.2% now). Also, not only would a jumbo jet have to fall from the sky every day, but 9/11 happens 47 times a year to the lung cancer community. It's very sad and discouraging, but with more people like you joining the lung cancer advocate community, I am sure we are on our way to a movement soon!
ReplyDeleteTay,
ReplyDeleteMy daughter, my friend, my hero...you GO Girl! So proud of how you have fought to get well, and not stopped fighting. I know your tenacity, and you, with HIS help, can get this done. Thank you so much on behalf of All Lung Cancer patients,and their families, past, present, and future.
Your involvement in this fight for funding and awareness is so needed. I pray for success in bringing awareness and funding to new levels. On behalf of our family, and our world, thank you. Love you, Momma
Taylor, I am so proud of you! Go right on being that dog with a bone, and don't give it up. Tenacity is what it will take to get your message out there!
ReplyDeleteYou are incredible! Thank you for being a voice for thousands!
Love,
Jan Gibney
Your determination and energy can be felt through my computer. Have you ever thought to copy and paste your message above and send it to all the Congressman and Senators in Washington? Your message is very strong and real and should be heard by them. If you have'nt yet-please consider! I lost my son to Stage IV lung cancer June 2009 at age 35. Hi now 6 yr old daughter keeps life in me because I still have a part of him by me. I like your message-God Bless You.
ReplyDeleteHiya Taylor...your blog is so inspiring!!...just a damn shame it has happened to someone so young and full of life.
ReplyDeleteI am 53 and have just had a total pneumonectomy
(left lung was removed)due to Lung Cancer.
I have yet to see what they will due as in Chemo and Radiation.
I was a smoker,gave up...and got double whammy Skin Cancer 2009..Lung Cancer 2010.
Lung Cancer needs to be "Out There" all over the world...it's the same here in Australia.
The "Stigma" also needs to be addressed..
Lung Cancer does not discriminate.
Thank you so much for putting this up...you are a very brave young lady and I really wish you well.
Kindest Regards....
Awesome! Well said.
ReplyDeleteThank you for such a great message!!! Feel free to come and give a lecture to the medical students at Brody!!
ReplyDelete-MS2 BSOM
What an amazing journey you are on!!! I lost my mother after a three-year battle with non-small cell LC. She was in terrific shape and a non-smoker too. Early screening is the key and it requires funding. God bless your work in building awareness.
ReplyDeleteWow, what a journey you have had at such a young age. My mother past away when she was 53 from lung cancer. Her father also had it. What's the best way to approach this if I'm afraid that it's hereditary? Are there screenings for people like me? God bless Taylor. Keep up your strong will.
ReplyDeleteHi Taylor
ReplyDeleteWhat an inspirational story. My wife was diagnosed with Nuroindocrin Carcenoma(Lung Cancer) just one year ago. She is 45 and never smoked nor has she been around smokers. While she is responding well to chemo theropy I am well aware of the statistics. We think we are getting the best treaatment but of course are unsure.
Taylor, Welcome to the ranks of the Cancer Warriors and survivors! I just read the story on you and this blog. Do not stop fighting!EVER!
ReplyDeleteYes, there are many types of cancer out there that do not get researched. I wish they all were but it's a follow the money thing as it is with all things medical. We'll have to live with it for a while longer.
You young lady, keep your fight going as hard as you can.I keep my fight going with my 32 chapter and growing blog, but my "face" just won't as look as good as yours on a poster and you do make a great "Poster Girl" in this fight against cancer.
Mine is a rare type but I look at all cancer research as a good thing. I do support the Breast Cancer group and other groups but my hope is that all cancer can be crushed. My type of cancer has no "group!" LOL!
Cancer, The word that should NOT be in the human language at all.
Just the thought of being told you have cancer can turn a sunny day into the storm of the century for anyone no matter how strong they are. Please keep your fight for Lung Cancer going but please just add a side note that all cancer is a bad thing for us all and hopefully one day some young scientist will find that one key that will turn off the DNA of cancer completely! It will be a shame as a cancer cell under a microscope is beautiful but such beauty that takes away so many lives should be killed.
One of my sayings I'll share with you all is, "I don't hate Cancer....I REALLY, REALLY HATE CANCER!"
And to that boyfriend of yours, Hold her and don't let her fall! You have chosen a woman that will need a strong man to walk beside her and to hold her in times of need. Keep her close all the time and be her rock when she needs one! Never keep her from laughing as laughter is a very good medicine. I know as it helped me in times of need. Just be there. This goes to all of you whose partner in life is told that word that is such a blight on life.
Good Luck Taylor and I pray for a long and fruitful life for you
George Purdy
Springfield, MO
friend me on FB!
I totally understand and agree 100% with your comments. My wife, who has never smoked, was diagnosed with lung cancer 3 years ago. We discovered this by Grace of God during an x-ray for flu. We were devastated! She is 51 years old. Immediate surgery removed the lower part of her right lung. Today she as a small tumor in her right lung that is stable. Living day to day and praying that it does not progress too fast. You are right; there is NO REASON why this occurs. PLEASE SHOUT TO THE TREE TOPS about this. With such a high incident of occurrence and death rate, why does this not get more attention? Thanks for the courage to speak out.
ReplyDeleteHi Taylor -
ReplyDeleteI admire your courage and fight! Way to beat this thing and help others going forward. I have a question for you. My father was diagnosed with lung cancer and was not a smoker. After several misdiagnoses, it finally turned out be a cancer called mesothelioma. Was that the same lung cancer you had?
As so many here have said you really are an inspiration. My mom died in 2008 from lung cancer at the age of 61. A never smoker, the first question is always that: "did she smoke?" Who the hell cares if she did? I have had people look at me with disbelief when i tell her she didn't; then they ask "did your dad smoke?", "did anyone in your household smoke?" I really would love to put some people int he shoes we've stood in so they can see for just a minute what it's like, to feel judged and insulted for getting a disease that NO ONE deserves to get. My mom didn't and neither do you or the 160,000 people who die from it every year.
ReplyDeleteYou said it right: do you ask how you got breast cancer or colon cancer? Nope! I too have started my own journey of waking people up, and commemorating my mom. I partnered with Uniting Against Lung Cancer and brought their Kites for a Cure fundraiser down to South Florida. It's our second year; last year we raised $27k, all of which will go to fund a research grant in my mom's name.
It is too late for my mom, but I'll be damned if I let this continue to take over at the rate it is. I'm tired of hearing the same question but I have definitely grown up. Not a day goes by that I don't miss my mom.
You take care of yourself!! And keep being strong!
My very best,
Anna Plaza
Taylor,
ReplyDeleteKeep your chin up and your spirits high. There will be times when you will be scared but your faith in God will carry you through.
Love,
Ruben
PS Please go to http://lilyslight.kantera.org/, you will see who is also fighting to get funding to get a cure
I'm not sure how I stumbled on this blog or why I stopped to read. But it grasped me... maybe your age, maybe because I have a dear friend die of lung cancer, maybe because we had a niece pass of cancer, or maybe its because I have a daughter your age in college. But then again...maybe its because of your strength in the message!! THANK YOU!!! I kept on reading... I promise you: I will share. I will never forget "If I knew I would be a rich woman!!!" (so stop to think before you ask questions to those who fought the battle of life) I will *NEVER* forget: IF YOU HAVE LUNGS…. YOU ARE AT RISK!!!!
ReplyDelete-- Have a great DAY! & THANK YOU AGAIN!! Plan to find some pearl white or clear ribbon now ---
Headed over from Fox...you're story is inspiring and I so appreciate you sharing it.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you are a fighter, and glad I found your website! I have a friend from Mexico who met a young woman, who has lung cancer (and an extremely difficult life on top of that). Your article opened my eyes to the lung cancer issue.
ReplyDeleteWe do actually know what causes cancer: the immune system malfunctions. Everyone gets cancer, but some people's systems are asleep at the wheel.....a lot of that has to do with the quality of cellular communication.
Glycoproteins (sugar-proteins) are how the body send and receive messages like "feed me" "defend me" "protect me" "heal me", but if our body is low on them, the messages become garbled or misunderstood....this is at the base of both cancer and autoimmune disease.
I'd encourage you and anyone else concerned about optimal wellness to check out Harper's Biochemistry on the subject, or Proevity (they educate doctors), and learn what you can about glycoproteins.
Our bodies make glycoproteins out of glyconutrients, which you can purchase in concentrated form. You can get them at places like Wild Oats, or other high level stores, but the very best source I have found is from a company in Texas - solid science.
Best of luck to you, and keep educating!!
Question to me when I got breast cancer, Did someone else in your family have breast cancer? After a while my answer was "NO, but someone had to start it, so that must be me!"
ReplyDeleteBut people don't know if they don't know!
Be Strong and courageous.
I am so glad that you are a fighter. I have been telling my Daughter for years that, she should stop smoking. I will let her read your story. She is a Mother and already has bad lungs..I lost my father to Lung cancer, it was a true battle. I will continue to pray for you.. Keep fighting and passing your word. Hopefully, this will help save someones life...
ReplyDeleteThank you Taylor. I lost my wife to lung cancer in 2005 after 28 years of marriage.
ReplyDeleteYes. she was a smoker and was first diagnosed in 2001. A great surgeon, using techniques similar to those used on you, in her case because of terrible overall health, bought her four years.
I am an ex-smoker and know I am at high risk.
God Bless You Taylor, keeping you in my thoughts & prayers.
ReplyDeleteTaylor,
ReplyDeleteWhat a wise,brave, young woman you are! I have been fighting Stage IV lung cancer for 5 years. I was diagnosed at age 43. Everyone asks if I smoked and just like you I want to pull my hair out! I never smoked and even if I did, no one deserves cancer!! Keep fighting for all of us! I'll be wearing a white ribbon! Bless you!
I could not have said it better. It has always bothered me a great deal that lung cancer awareness has always felt like it was at the back of the bus, so to speak, because, well, if you hadn't smoked, well, you wouldn't have gotten it...the shame stigma is outrageous. As a former smoker, I realize I could have made different choices, but as people, we each live our lives to the best of our abilities with the skills we have at the time - and as we grow, we gain new skills...for me, I am grateful I don't need cigarettes anymore, but you are right, it's an addiction!
ReplyDeleteYou are a true inspiration, I have been touched by lung cancer in my own family and friend circle and also have tried to raise awareness, best of luck to you!
Had my last cigarette in 1981. Stage IV lung cancer. Pain started in April, did 5 of 6 chemo treatments May-Sep. Just did 10 radiation treatments and waiting to see what is next. This is TOUGH but prayer and support help. One step, one day, and one treatment at a time!
ReplyDeleteHello To you Taylor:
ReplyDeleteReading your story , reminded me of my own daughter. Non smoker,,ect,,ect,,ran marathons w/her husband! She was Stage 4. God Bless your inner strenght and outlook. She was 27 at the time. It reminds me there is still people of ABOVE COURAGE AND STRENGHT. You inspire more then you will even know! I hope to be able to keep up with all you do,,in some form here or via the internet. Thank you for YOU
John Baumiller
jbaumiller@frontiernet.net
My sister was diagnosed with lung cancer in November 2008. She just called me with the results of her 1 1/2 year post surgery check up. Yes, she lost 1/2 of her left lung and 4 ribs, but she is alive and doesn't need to go back to the doctor for 6 months!!!!!!!! Yes!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteDear Taylor,
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you are doing well and want you to know how much I appreciated the info about lung cancer. My 21 year old daughter is also a cancer survivor (of the spinal cord) and one of the questions asked by someone was "did you smoke while you were pregnant?" and ofcourse the standard "what did you do while you were pregnant to cause this?" Unfortunately people don't think before they speak... I'll be sure to spread the word about lung cancer! Oh, and you're sooo right--CANCER SUCKS! :) God Bless!
I am proud of you for what you are doing, but I would like to tell you something I'm not proud of. My father died of lung cancer when I was 14 years old. He fought the battle as hard as he could, but it was just too much for him because he waited too long to get diagnosed, and passed 9 months after diagnosis, in the spring of his 41st year. The next fall, after dealing with many remarks about smoking, my gym teacher called me out with my whole class watching and listening. She said she knew my dad was a smoker and he desrved what he got! That is shocking enough, but what really gets me angry is that people are still that uneducated; and that lung cancer is still the "embarrasing" cancer and remains the most deadly, the least talked about, the least funded, and therefore the least researched cancer of them all. You see, my father now has 13 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. He died in March of 1969, 41 years ago, and almost nothing has changed. Thank you for your valiant fight; not just with your own illness, but trying to re-educate a stubborn nation that still seems to think that it is totally an avoidable disease! Shame on us! My father did smoke, however he was a refridgeration engineer, and a few months before his diagnosis, he and his partner were working on a large unit. His partner left to get them some lunch and when he got back, my dad was passed out on the floor. So much refridgerant had leaked that it took the finish (and the color) off my dad's shoes! His doctor was fully convinced that that was the cause of his disease! I am fully behind you Taylor!! God bless you & KEEP FIGHTING! Anita
ReplyDeleteTaylor !! I love you and am so proud of you! Keep fighting and passing the word! You are in my thoughts and prayers everyday! Keep in touch love :)
ReplyDeleteTaylor, you are an inspiration! And you are so right! My husband died from lung cancer 4 years ago. He was only 56 and was a wonderful son, son-in-law, and father. And if he were alive today, he would be celebrating the birth of his first grandson (who was named after him) just 6 days ago. He was also a NON-SMOKER as well. You are so right, the stigma is there...everyone thinks you die from lung cancer because you smoked, but he never did. Lung cancer is the most "under" funded cancer there is. For example, "In 2006, the National Cancer Institute spent $1,518 for each new case of lung cancer and $1,630 for each lung cancer death. In comparison to other cancers, Breast cancer was $13,452 per death, Prostate cancer was $11,298 per death and Colon cancer was $4,566 per death." That's why I support cancer education and research by donating $$ and walking every year in the "Cancer-Free Lungs" 5K Run/Walk in Indianapolis, IN. Cancer-Free-Lungs is a "non-profit organization dedicated to reducing the burden of lung cancer by providing knowledge and support through education, prevention and research." CFL is doing great things here in Indy! I invite you to visit their web site, see the faces of lung cancer, and donate to their worthy cause! www.cancerfreelungs.org KEEP UP THE FIGHT TAYLOR! You are an amazing young woman!! God bless you!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for posting your story. You probably are aware of the great work being done by LUNGevity Foundation (www.lungevity.org). It is one of the largest private funders of lung cancer research & the largest national lung cancer grassroots organization dedicated to ending lung cancer now. It is a fantastic organization, with the mission of having a meaningful and immediate impact on improving lung cancer survival rates, ensuring a higher quality of life for lung cancer patients, and providing a community for those impacted by lung cancer. Keep up the fight!
ReplyDeleteAwesome Taylor-you rock! My mother in law had lung cancer at age 56 ten years ago...she never smoked too. Right after she had the surgery to remove the lobe of her lung-she had a tear in her pulmonary artery and very nearly died. She did not-and is cancer free too! A true miracle. Thanks so much for keeping up the fight and awareness...it is appreciated so much!
ReplyDeleteTaylor Im so very sorry to hear about this you are one of gods precious gifts in life. You are in my prayers. I know what you are going through i lost a couple of family members of lung cancer, im so very sorry....
ReplyDeleteSincerely,
Christina Cowen
Congratulations for being a survivor and spreading education about lung cancer. It sounds like you turned this awful situation into an opportunity to educate, help and support others. Stay strong!!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for such a beautifully written testament of lung cancer. I lost my mother to lung cancer a year ago. Yes my mother smoked so of course everyone believed if she didn't smoke she would still be here, like it was her own fault. No one deserves cancer it is the worst disease we have I think. I seen my mom go from a strong independent woman, shrink down to nothing! She wanted to live I will never ever get over seeing her suffer and pass away! God Bless you and i hope all your readers share your story like I am because someone shared it with me! Blessings to you and your family
ReplyDeleteI like the way you write, and this is a very lucid explanation of this awful disease.
ReplyDeleteAfter I had cancer (breast - I was lucky), I set up www.after-cancer.com.
Could I please have permission to quote from this post on my website? You say it far better than I ever could.
Verite
My email is verite@greenbee.net
My dad passed away 24 years ago with lung cancer. It took them 6 months to diagnose him and when they finally did it had went to his brain. They diagnosed him in June of that year and he died in October. He was only 58 years old. Yes, he did smoke!! He also had two sisters that died at age 58 from lung cancer. One of them smoked and the other never smoked in her life. Like you said you don't have to be a smoker to get Lung Cancer. You are a very brave person and I admire you for being so strong and getting the word out. God bless you and keep you strong.
ReplyDelete...I don't understand the "deserve" it or not stance but I think you are doing a great job educating people!!!...God gave you these gifts, intelligence, inner strength and lung cancer, so you could do His Will and help others...I am curious about one thing, not to turn blame back to smoking but to see if their is a connection, did you spend alot of time in the presence of second hand smoke??...were your family members smokers and you lived in that atmosphere?
ReplyDelete...also, to the people who have felt offended if asked the question about smoking and the connection to lung cancer maybe you should put a different spin on your reaction...people may be asking so they can learn more about the disease...don't be offended....take the opportunity to educate them with the statistics of the number of people who get lung cancer that don't or never have smoked...isn't that why people ask questions?...so they can educate themselves!!!
ReplyDeleteGod bless you, Taylor, you are a strong survivor and a wonderful advocate for the cause of lung cancer. May you have a long and healthy life!
ReplyDeleteTaylor,
ReplyDeleteKeep up the fight don't give up life has so much in store for all of us. Lost my mother in law in February to cancer that she didn't know she had til to late.. The doctors aren't sure where it started or when she got it ..She was caregiver to my father in law who had Parkinson's so she in turn neglected her health til she had nothing to do and her body wore down to where she sat on a couch slowly dying. She was diagnosed with cancer full blown from brain to every organ in her body.Given a few weeks to a month.. She passed not even 2 wks after diagnoses. To those that think cancer picks you or that you are a smoker to have lung cancer no smoking doesn't cause it everyday environmental factors are part of the cause, along with family genetics to cancer. Cancer needs to have a faster cure rate and more research to the one that all failed to realize til to late.. even 1 person dying from lung cancer is a wrong but 160,000 a year come on lets get the research going just as strong as that of breast cancer or any other cancer.. Its like waking up for the day oh yeah I guess "lets start the day out with lung cancer today" No not what anyone would say for the day its "lets get up start the day with that fantastic spouse, boyfriend, family meeting the world with gusto for life in general attitude"
Thank you for sharing your story Taylor
Thank you for this wonderful post! My mom was diagnosed with stage iv lung cancer 5 years ago and died 4 months after her diagnosis. Yes, she was a smoker, but I get so sick of hearing that question. Why are cigarettes even legal? If we want to blame someone, lets start there. Does anyone ask the prostate cancer victim or the breast cancer victim if they ever ate at McDonalds? Or, if they always ate 5 servings of vegetables per day?
ReplyDeletePlease do not give up your fight. The funding for lung cancer research is laughable. We all need to do something instead of sitting around hoping to be one of the lucky ones who isn't stricken by this horrible disease.
Don't give up. Help is around the corner. Pray for quick trials and fast approval. See our website: genelux.com
ReplyDeleteI am a triple negative breast cancer survivor, and could be considered the new face also, especially in the african american community. I was diagonsed at the age 26, no family history, and I found the lump myself. EARLY DETECTION SAVES LIFES. It's something going on that is causing young men and women in their 20's to now have to be concerned with cancer. Diet and lifestyle play a part in prevention, but I think it something that exists that the government knows and we don't. God is good, and saved my life. WE ARE BOTH SURVIVORS!! LIVE. LOVE. LAUGH
ReplyDeleteI love your come back - "Would that make you care less?" My Father died of lung cancer 22 years ago and I still feel uncomfortable when people ask me if he smoked. Yes, he was a smoker and no; just because of that he didn't deserve to get cancer and die. So - Thank you.
ReplyDeleteTaylor,
ReplyDeleteGreat blog. You are reaching a lot of people that view you as a voice for compassion and action. My question is why has radon been left out of the discussion? 21,000 people die from radon induced lung cancer each year, according to the EPA, yet this blog and the article about you on Fox News (http://www.foxnews.com/health/2010/11/02/waiting-exhale-lung-cancer-672713072/) don't mention radon as a possible cause of lung cancer. CANSAR (Cancer Survivors Against Radon http://www.cansar.org/) has many stories of young people, non-smokers, who contracted lung cancer after living in a home with high radon levels. Had they tested their homes they could have taken action to mitigate the radon, but without a test they had no knowledge that radon levels were high. This is not to take away from your blog, you are a very brave and motivated survivor, but talking about radon and how to test for it would give people a way to do something about preventing one known cause of lung cancer.
Taylor, I commend you for your fight, your blog is an inspiration, my dad died of LC on an Easter Sunday, 1 of my sisters (I have 5 older sisters)had non-small cell LC & thank God she is on her 3rd yr. cancer free, but sadly another of my sisters was diagnosed with small cell LC, last yr.,the first round of chemo & rad. got it, but now she has more. Her son-n-law was diagonsed with cancer about 6 months before she was(he is cancer free still)I pray each day for another miracle, I will add you to my prayers. You are a strong woman.
ReplyDeleteTaylor, I admire your courage in the face of such a devastating diagnosis. It takes a strong woman to come back fighting. I am a radon educator with the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. I can only reiterate the "Anonymous" entry says, though I can't imagine why they would not disclose their identity. You might be interested to know that North Carolina has a Radon Education Program like ours that is funded primarily by a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Almost every state has such a program. For many years, educators all across the U.S. strived to get the message to U.S. citizens that breathing radon, a naturally occurring product of uranium decay, is a Class-A Carcinogen. Alas, most of the media seem to be uninterested in something that can't be blamed on someone/something man-made. Radon is found in low levels in outdoor air but much higher levels have been detected in indoor environments. Radon infiltrates into homes, businesses, schools, churches (any structure that sits on dirt) in every county of every state in the Union. Radon is odorless, invisible, and without taste, and the only way to know if you are being exposed to radon is to test the structure. Plus, radon doesn't usually produce any symptoms until Stage 3 or 4, so most affected individuals don't know they have lung cancer unless they have an x-ray for some other reason. I urge you to contact the North Carolina Radon Program at (919) 571-4141 or go to their web site: ncradon.org and add your voice to their efforts. Note: January is National Radon Action Month. May God bless, strengthen and continue to heal you. You are in my prayers, Ginger Bennett
ReplyDeleteP.S. My niece Shannon was an incredible soccer player for Mercer University before repeated knee injuries and 5 operations stopped her dream of becoming a college soccer coach.
Taylor,
ReplyDeleteMy name is Kendra (Atkinson) Hoffman. My cousin Bryce is Jill Costello's boyfriend, and I got to know her through him.
Jill, like you, was in fact one tough cookie. The tribute you pay her in your blog is so fitting, and it's a sin that two young beautiful women like you and Jill had to battle this nasty monster. Though Bryce and the rest of the Atkinson family -- and certainly Jill's family -- are all wishing we could have her back, it is wonderful to know that there's another "Jillian-esque" (and I mean this as the highest compliment!) person out there who DID beat this ruthless disease.
God bless you for fighting and staying strong, and bless you for being such a positive, outspoken advocate for lung cancer research.
Please check out the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation at www.lungcancerfoundation.org .
Although I work full-time as a high school teacher and coach, I am also working voluntarily for the BJALCF.
God bless you, Taylor. Thank you for sharing your story.
Fondly,
Kendra (Atkinson) Hoffman
Plymouth Meeting, PA
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ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI admire your bravery during your fight and your determination to fight for others. My uncle died April 30, 2011 from lung cancer. He died about 8 months after first being diagnosed. I am still hurting as is the rest of the family. I still can't believe that my beloved uncle is gone. He held his head up high to the very end and I take comfort in the fact that his pain is over. I stumbled upon your story and found it comforting as well. Keep up the great work, dear!!!
Taylor, Have you ever heard of a cancer called a neuroendocrine cancer? Carcinoid? Isn't this what you had taken out of you? When most doctors think of lung cancer, the kind that smokers get in enormous numbers is called adenocarcinoma. There is a big difference as you know. Most people don't know that cancer isn't just one disease, but over 300 different diseases. Hope that you continue to monitor the carcinoid. In your case it seems as though they caught it in time. Please educate the folks that the type of LC you had is different than the one most smokers get. Keep up the good fight. WeCarcinoid survivors need all the publicity we can garner. And, I notice in this blog you never mentioned the words carcinoid or neuroendocrine. Stay well,.
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