Lung cancer stigma

Just watched the clip on Good Morning Britain about lung cancer. What is repeatedly emphasised is that you do not need to have smoked to get lung cancer. While that is undoubtedly true, what if you did smoke ? Do we hide under a rock in shame ? I avoid telling people what cancer I have because of the stigma.First question is nearly always ‘Did you smoke’ . Almost as though you need to judged whether you deserve sympathy or not !

Sorry rant over,

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  • I had lung cancer, both lungs, lobectomy on both almost 5 years ago now.

    I do know what you mean about the smoking stigma but  honestly that faded after time .

    I don’t think like that anymore .

    Just concentrate on you getting through this and if people like to be judging, we have no control over that.

    Sending you  a good luck Hug 

  • I'm 76 and for all my early life tobacco companies were spending a fortune on advertising, including paying doctors to say it was harmless or even good for you. In fact our GP advised my aunty to take up smoking to help with her nerves. I just tell people this when they talk about if I smoked or not, or sometimes if I'm really fed up. I lie. None of their business.