E-van-gel-ism: zealous advocacy of a cause. 

Zeal-ous: fervent · ardent · fervid · fanatical · passionate · impassioned · devout · devoted · committed · dedicated · hard-core · enthusiastic · eager · keen · avid · card-carrying · vigorous · energetic · intense · fierce ·

Ad-vo-ca-cy: an activity by an individual or group which aims to influence decisions within political, economic, social systems and institutions. Advocacy can include many activities that a person or organization undertakes including media campaigns, public speaking, commissioning and publishing research or conducting exit poll or the filing of an amicus brief.

While lung cancer claims the lives of more people than any other cancer, it receives the least funding, the least attention, the least support and compassion for those that are impacted by it. 

That must change.

In order to raise funding for life-saving research and development of treatment options- people need to care about lung cancer. 

How do we made them care? 

Become a lung cancer evangelist.
People need to know that lung cancer can happen to anyone with lungs.
If lung cancer has impacted you in some way, become impassioned to share your story. Make the commitment to dedicate time to sharing the facts about lung cancer to the general public.  Partner with an advocacy organization like LUNGevity to help influence decisions and research and take part in media campaigns and fundraising events.

To change the face of lung cancer the public needs to see all the faces of lung cancer.  To end misconceptions and stigmas, we must be ardent in our efforts to make lung cancer a blameless diagnosis and a national priority. 

Every 2.5 minutes someone is diagnosed with the deadliest cancer.  It’s a national crisis!

We must break silos and work to build collaborations.  We must not duplicate efforts and use our energies to meet the unmet needs of patients and caregivers.
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Lung cancer doesn’t take breaks and neither should we. 
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I’ve found my calling in life. 
It really is an amazing feeling to do what you feel called to do.
In my case, my calling is supporting people who have been impacted by cancer.  I know what it feels like to get that diagnosis.  I know what it feels like when your loved one has been diagnosed with extensive cancer.  I know the feeling of helplessness. I know days and sleepless nights full of anxiety and uncertainty.  I’ve done the endless internet searches for cures and fighting non-stop for more time.  I get it.  And I make it my mission to lesson those feelings for anyone who reaches out to me for support.
I’m empathetic because I’ve walked in those shoes.  I care about everyone I meet and help.  I’ve made many wonderful life-long friends.

One BIG downside to doing what I’ve been doing for the past 15 years is that some of the people you care about die.  It’s predicable with extensive stage cancer.  With each passing I get similar responses from my “regular” friends and acquaintances who see me hurting, “Why do you do it?”  “Your job is so depressing.”

This week, Facebook’s “On this Day” feature reminded me that 4 people passed away during this week over the years.  One person helped me get a hotel room in another state to attend a funeral. That person has also now passed away.  So much loss.  Much of it senseless because with the right funding and research- we CAN find cures and better treatment options.

Sure it’s depressing when someone I care about dies.  But how many people can say they made the life of someone, however long or short, better?  I can.  That’s what I focus on. 

I can help make the quality of life better for someone with cancer, whether that’s for one day or for thousands of days.
And that is pretty amazing.
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