It’s November! That means that soon we’ll be stuffing our faces with turkey, stuffing and pie. The mention of November brings about visions of falling leaves (if you’re up north) and the impending holidays.
But November isn’t only the month containing a gluttonous rampage (Thanksgiving), it’s also National Lung Cancer Awareness month. In the wake of October being Breast Cancer Awareness month, lung cancer is not to be forgotten and for good reason – it’s the No. 1 cancer killer among men and women.
It’s also a cancer that carries a very real social stigma because it is often tied to smoking, and advocacy is lacking in the lung cancer arena. As the lung cancer navigator at the Robert and Carol Weissman Cancer Center, I face some very difficult situations with my patients, who are often offered few solutions due to lack of resources specifically for lung cancer.
But advancements in treatment and detection are hopefully getting better. I recently read an article on msnbc.com that reports on a study conducted that found 26 genes that may promote the development of lung cancer if they’re damaged. As the Associated Press reports, “It’s a step to developing new treatments that can be tailored to specific patients.”
I’m delighted to see such advances taking place to combat this devastating disease. New clinical trials for lung cancer will be opening right here at Martin Memorial in late November. Hopefully, with the passing of the days in our 11th month, there will be an increased awareness of the challenges lung cancer patients face and the need for a louder voice when it comes to the funding, research and advocacy.
Also remember that I’m available for patients with newly diagnosed or suspected lung cancer at (772) 223-5945, ext. 1669.
--Lindsay Mattino, RN, BA
Clinical Research Coordinator
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