Linking you to resources and support in the lung cancer community!
Letter to editor- My View
Hi Everyone, I wrote a letter to the editor to my local newspaper, The Worcester Telegram, in Worcester, Massachusetts. I am by no means a very experienced writer. I felt I have to write each year during November to try to enlighten someone, even if its only one to the plaque that we all live with each day. I only hope that we can become more than quiet statistics.
I know this seems like I am preaching to the choir here. I hope not. What I am trying to do is to let you all know that we have a voice! Unless we all start to make ourselves known by speaking, writing ,yelling we will never get the attention we deserve. I know anyone who is on this site and answers a post can make some one aware of our plight even if its just a notice on a bulletin board in your local house of worship, grocery store or local paper. Take a few minutes and drop a note to your local politicians. Please just don't be quiet. We don't need to occupy Wall St or any place else. Just so long as others become aware of us. We deserve to be helped.
These are my own personal feelings as are all of the rest of my posts here. I would like to think they are how a lot of us feel. If not thats ok. If lung cancer has taught me nothing else it has taught me that we all are different and we all have different reactions to things.
So onward I go and try to change our world, one mind at a time.
Thanks for reading. Have an awesome day!
God bless, John
I’m sure by now we all know that the month of October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It is a very successful public relations campaign. I have to give them all the credit in the world for their fundraising and education initiatives.
I, however, am writing today about the month of November and another cancer awareness month, that being lung cancer awareness. I am a very lucky person as I am a 12-year lung cancer survivor. The odds of me being alive here at this time was less than 15 percent when I was diagnosed. The odds haven’t changed since 1972, when President Richard Nixon started the war on cancer.
Every year 185,000 people are diagnosed with lung cancer and each year 165,000 die. Fifteen percent is the odds of you surviving five years from diagnosis.
More people are being diagnosed each year who never smoked or quit smoking over 20 years ago. So if you think the chance you won’t be diagnosed with lung cancer is next to zero, think again. No one deserves cancer, no one.
JOHN F. HILL
Auburn
Views: 66
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by DavidatpMOD on
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I share your view John. Looks like a well written letter to me. It makes a point we all need to try to make and share with as many people as we can. Thanks for writing it. Good luck, God bless and keep the faith...
David
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Permalink Reply by AmyLCA on -
Well put John! Thanks for sharing your voice! Hopefully they will pay attention!
Amy
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Permalink Reply by GADawg/MOD on -
Wonderful, John! Bravo!
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Permalink Reply by sljohnson on -
I also wrote to our newspaper, Cecil Whig. They listed November as Pancreatic Cancer Awareness month on the front page of the paper. I did not receive any response, nor did the Cecil Whig include anything on Lung Cancer Awareness. It saddens me to have this done. NO ONE deserves any cancer. Keep plugging, we will get noticed if we keep pushing.
Sue J.
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Permalink Reply by Sarge on -
Hey John: Great effort. Unfortunatley, as I think we have all found, lung cancer is not a 'glamour' disease...........the media folks here (4 tv stations, the only city paper, and several radio outlets) all ignored my communications, rather saying they will ' follow the issue'.
Makes it all the more important that all of us participate in efforts like the LCA Vigils, pushing legislators and getting the word to all our friends, neighbors and others about this little bugger which invades us and our families' lives.....
This is one we'll have to take public through our efforts and the tireless assistance from folks in organizations such as LCA.
If we keep forcing the issue, they'll have no choice BUT to recognize us.
Thanks for the efforts and stay faithful and strong.
Sarge
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Permalink Reply by Sarge on
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Hey John:
On another note...........and certainly not meant as an insult...........ROLL TIDE!!!
Sarge
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Permalink Reply by John H MOD on -
Hi all, it amazes me about the level of apathy we encounter as a group. The general public has been fed the no smoking line for so long it is ingrained into everyone's brain. That you got it because you smoked. Don't sask us for help you knew the risk and you still did it. I know I'm preaching to the choir but how do we go against 40 years of brain washing. It is just so frustrating! Oh well I'm just tired an cranky I guess. Tomorrows another day
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