People who have been diagnosed with lung cancer often feel stigmatized, due to the highly publicized fact that most lung cancers are directly caused by smoking. Many individuals will feel they brought lung cancer on themselves. And non-smokers who never used tobacco — but developed lung cancer due to contact with radon or secondhand smoke — will have to deal with the smoking stigma.
Lung Cancer: The Smoking Stigma
"The stigma associated with lung cancer is not deserved because of the fact that the drug [that causes lung cancer] is so heavily marketed by the tobacco companies," said Joan Schiller, MD, chief of the division of hematology-oncology and deputy director of the Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, president and founder of the National Lung Cancer Partnership, and national spokesperson for the American Lung Association.
"Most people started smoking when they were teenagers and didn't know better. And the majority of people who smoke have tried to stop, but they were unable to do so because nicotine is a very addictive drug," she says.
The stigma felt by many people who have been diagnosed with lung cancer can even cause them to hide their disease from others. This is dangerous, since it might lead to delays in getting necessary medical care, and it can keep them from getting the emotional support that they might desperately need.
Caregivers Face Lung Cancer Stigma, Too
The stigma of lung cancer also affects family and friends of people with lung cancer and their primary caregiver in particular. If you have a loved one with lung cancer, you will probably be faced with questions about smoking, which can make you feel uncomfortable and angry, especially if the patient never smoked.
"People's first reaction [when hearing about her lung cancer diagnosis] is, 'Oh, was she a smoker?' It's like [they're] asking, did she deserve it?" says Karin Donnelly, whose grandmother, Barbara Fagan, never smoked but developed lung cancer and passed away in 2008.
Dealing With the Stigma of Lung Cancer
You and your loved one should be prepared for questions about smoking, so you will be better able to deal with them.
If patients are asked whether or not they smoked, Schiller advises them to respond that it doesn't matter. As a caregiver, you should do the same. You might point out that your main concern is helping them through their life-threatening ordeal.
If your loved one is experiencing feelings of guilt about smoking, reassure him or her that smoking is not merely a bad habit; it's an extremely hard to overcome addiction. "We tell people not to feel guilty, but instead to get mad about what the tobacco companies have done, and to use that energy to fight," says Schiller.
Support groups can help you and your loved one cope with the questions that go along with telling others about a lung cancer diagnosis. Talking about your feelings and the stigma of lung cancer with fellow patients and caregivers can remind you that you are not alone and provide new ideas for managing thoughtless questions.
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