Campaign aims to end stigma of those diagnosed with lung cancer

Lung cancer victims suffer more mental health issues as a result of the stigma associated with smoking. Now a new campaign aims to address the shame and judgment which is depriving sufferers and their families of compassion. WATCH THE VIDEO

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It’s the cancer that receives the least compassion and the most blame, but now a new campaign aims to counter the stigma of lung cancer.

The campaign implores people to stop asking victims ‘Were you a smoker?’ and instead display the compassion given to people suffering others types of cancer.

Lung cancer causes the majority of cancer deaths in Australia but sufferers are more likely to suffer distress, anxiety and/or depression, on top of their diagnosis and are four times more likely to take their life compared to the general population.

Ilsa Foreman is the face of a new campaign to change the stigma around lung cancer. Her mother Sandie has lung cancer. Picture: Tim Hunter.

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Every hour, an Australian watches a loved one die from lung cancer and 40 per cent of Australians admit that the first question they would ask someone diagnosed with lung cancer is whether or not they smoked, before even expressing concern.

To counter the stigma that robs sufferers of compassion, the Lung Foundation Australia has launched a new campaign with the loved ones of those living with lung cancer pleading.

Lung cancer was the number one cause of cancer death in Australia in 2017 with 9,021 people dying of the disease, constituting almost one fifth (18.9 per cent) of all cancer deaths.

Mark Brooke, Chief Executive Officer, Lung Foundation Australia said the lack of empathy and judgment not only hurts Australians living with lung cancer and their loved ones, but impacts their quality of life at a time when many are vulnerable.

The new campaign featuring Ms Foreman.

“We’d like to hope that many Australians do not fully realise just how far-reaching the impact of their stigma can be; it results in delayed diagnoses, access to treatment, and a lack of research funding.

“We also know it makes people living with lung cancer reluctant to seek help and, distressingly, four times more likely to suicide than the general population. Nobody deserves to have cancer, regardless of what type. Everyone deserves care, treatment, and support,” Mr Brooke said.

“Please ditch the stigma and be somebody who cares, as over 12,000 Australians are currently living with lung cancer. They, and their loved ones, deserve a fair go,” Mr Brooke said.

Ilsa Foreman is one of the faces of the campaign as her mother Sandie has lung cancer.

“Although I know it isn’t said with ill-intent, even friends and family would be quick to state ‘but she isn’t a smoker.”

“With more education on lung cancer, people can be more aware of what they’re saying and how those words might impact patients and their families,” Ms Foreman said.

Lung cancer has the lowest five-year survival rate of the five most commonly diagnosed cancers at 17 per cent. This year alone, 9,198 will die from the disease.

Studies have shown one in three feel isolated, and a quarter felt shame, guilt or fear of being discriminated against, while 41 per cent felt stigmatised.

“Lung cancer is a devastating diagnosis,” Professor Christine Jenkins, chair of Lung Foundation Australia said.

“It is imperative, therefore — in order to improve quality of life — that we as a nation rid ourselves of the stigma we know is having a devastating impact on the funding, research, treatment and support needed for people living with lung cancer and other lung diseases.”

Originally published as Campaign aims to end stigma of those diagnosed with lung cancer