Whatever Gets You Through The Night

So I was in the post office not so long ago, just before Halloween as a matter of fact. The inside of the post office was decorated nicely in pink to promote breast cancer awareness and it was clear that the post office was in full support.

I have to admit as I stood in line and awaited my turn at the counter, I felt a childlike envy at the effort that is put forth year after year in October and the wonderful results gained for breast cancer research and support of those in need. Maybe envy isn't the correct word, maybe the word I'm searching for is awe. There it is, I stand in awe at this ongoing effort.

The line moved forward and I soon heard those magic post office words "Next" followed by the ‘wave' over to the counter. My business in the post office was relatively simple to the un-trained eye, have a letter weighed, applied with the appropriate amount of postage, give the letter to the nice gentleman behind the counter for him to mail and then leave the post office. My wife's instructions were precise and crystal clear, for after all these years together, she, better then anyone, knows that a post office is a perfect place for me to get into trouble.

So as Joe the post office guy is weighing my letter, I decided to make a little small talk regarding the post office's investment into the pink decorations.

In my mind it was a clever way in, I said "Hey," he looked at me, " Do you know what happens on November first?" I asked. Still he's looking. "It's Lung Cancer Awareness Month." I said proudly. At this point everything is going well, Joe the post office guy and I have a good working relationship and now an open dialog.

( When history looks back on this moment, the critics will refer back to my wife's simple instructions including "Leave" and ask themselves "Why?")

I proceeded to ask, "So do you think you'll be putting up any decorations for Lung Cancer or did you blow the budget on pink?" With this Joe began to tell me he wasn't the one that makes those decisions and I realized once again that in a small building packed with people just wanting to send stuff or buy stamps, I was the only one who thought I was clever. Joes' counter companions' (we'll call him postal guy number two) voice rang in out of nowhere and our eyes met as these words came from his mouth, "Smokers do it to themselves." This isn't the first time that little gem of wisdom has been thrown at me but for some reason, maybe because of the location, it seemed a little harder to confront and defend. My reply was , "Not all lung cancer is caused by smoking." His reply was, "Not all but most. " I then made the "Lung cancer is the number one killer of all cancers," statement and asked for support as I made my way to the door and out.

I got into my car and I was angry, at myself, at postal guy number 2 at lung cancer at the amount of support we do or do not get.

By the time I arrived home, my anger had changed from the mental ranting and raving of an outraged mind and slowly made for the higher ground of my brain where rational and coherent thoughts live.

If you could give me one more minute of your very valuable time I will try to explain my change of thought that occurred on my trip home.

Lung Cancer Awareness Month should be exactly what the name says it is. Many times when you hear about lung cancer it revolves around fear and apprehension and to a point is fear driven in itself. I have become very well versed in the numbers and percentages of cases and fatality rates and I have been more then willing to throw them at you if I felt the need to grab your attention. Let's face it lung cancer, all cancer, is a scary subject and I as well as anyone could easily fill you full of fear for a month.

Who needs more fear in their lives?

Lung cancer awareness month should open a gateway where new thoughts and ideas for treatments and preventative measures should be brought to the fore front . It should be a month where we discus different things that we could be doing with our diets and supplements to assist our immune systems. Lung Cancer awareness should be about celebrating life's victories all the while remembering the tragedies that have passed. Lung Cancer Awareness should be a month long procession and parade discussing every small research victory, exploring every new thought and idea and celebrating every small light at the end of every tunnel. Lung Cancer Awareness should be a forum of thoughts, a round table gathering where brilliant minds can reach not only each other but can teach the public, answer the tough questions and offer hope for the future.

There are so many great things happening across this country at various colleges and research facilities when it comes to lung cancer research, so many thoughts that might not receive the proper investigating due to a lack of funding or worse yet a lack of understanding.

We should spend our time discussing how the respiragene test which is a way to look into your future and analyze your future risk for lung cancer is gaining recognition country wide and will soon be counted not in units, but in lives altered, destinies changed and families preserved.

We should be talking about the new study published by the American Cancer Society which shows the benefit of low dose CT scans for high risk patients as a way of detecting lung cancer in it's early stages or the studies from Johns Hopkins which show the effect of taking care of your immune system as a major cancer deterrent.

We could talk of all the wonderful research and efforts coming from the U of Wisconsin medical center, The S.H.R.O. institute at Temple, and the things happening in Miami to name a few of the many.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if all these great institutions gave the front pages of their websites and newsletters, this month to talk about the projects they are pursuing in the name of finding a cure for lung cancer?

We could make so much of a combined effort like Lung Cancer Awareness month.

OR…….

We could simply say "Smokers do it to themselves," and let it go at that.

I understand what postal guy number two was saying, and if the approach of ,‘I don't smoke so it's not my problem' gets you through the night, then who am I to begrudge you that. To talk about the effect of radon gas or the other chemicals polluting our air and lungs at that point is pointless. For me it's simply another wall that needs to be scaled in our on going fight against lung cancer. The ongoing effort to open the mind.

There are still a few states out there where the Governor has not signed off on Lung Cancer Awareness Month, right now I believe that about twenty five have. If you wish to support our efforts, contact your state representatives and ask them where they stand on the subject.

Or better yet Mr. President ,after you read my article

( you and I both know you will) you can just make it happen.

As I stated earlier, lung cancer is a scary business. When you are going through treatment you find yourself so caught up in the fight that you don't have time to focus on what the outside world is doing on your behalf. Only after the treatments are over and the dust settles a little can you start looking for answers. If a result of an awareness month were that we provided information that helps take the fear out lung cancer then we will be wining the battle.

I stand in awe of the results and effect that the Breast Cancer Awareness efforts have had over the years as well as the millions of women and family members impacted.

Maybe with combined efforts someday October will just be October once again and November will just be November and all forms of cancer will be a bad memory from days gone by. Until then keep your minds and hearts open and support the ongoing effort to cure lung cancer by supporting

Lung Cancer Awareness Month.