November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. If you follow me on Facebook, you may have noticed I changed my profile and cover photos for November. Have you noticed any other indications of Lung Cancer Awareness Month? I haven’t seen many.

Did you know that Lung Cancer is by far the most common type of cancer, and by far the leading killer (of all cancers) in Canada?

Did you know that Lung Cancer kills more than 20,000 Canadians each year? Did you know Lung Cancer kills more people than Breast, Prostate and Colon Cancer combined?

I learned these sad facts through my involvement with Lung Cancer Canada.  lungcancercanada.ca They’ve got a few events that I’m planning to be at this month, including the Lung Cancer Patient Summit in Toronto and the Lung Cancer Canada Evening of Hope in Ottawa. I’ll be speaking at the Ottawa event. Busy month for me!

November can be a rough month, especially if one spends time reflecting on numbers like these.

Lung Cancer research is shockingly under-funded, especially when compared with funding for other cancers which don’t take nearly as many people away from their family and friends. Lung Cancer accounts for 25% of all cancer deaths in Canada. Ugh.

I’m thankful that these numbers aren’t the whole story! I’m thankful for researchers and doctors and nurses and administrators and fundraisers and so many generous people who are working hard to change these horrible stats!

I’m thankful that this clinical trial I’m on is making a huge difference for me and my family and friends. I hope this drug will help many more who follow.

I’m thankful for hope, and those to seek to inspire it for lung cancer patients.

Some members of my lung cancer community talk about “Outliving Lung Cancer”,  “Shining a Light on Lung Cancer”, and “Hope Beyond Cure”.*  I am thankful for them and for the hope that they help inspire in me and many others. Hope is good!

*  outlivinglungcancer.com   hopebeyondcure.com

I don’t know much about serving as a patient advocate, and I don’t know if this is my calling, but I’m hoping I’ll learn more, meet some great people, and be encouraged at these Lung Cancer Canada events this month. I’ll let you know how it goes!

This month I’ve been enjoying lots of walks, aiming to gradually increase my fitness. Let me show you some of the beauty I’ve been privileged to see … even in November! 🙂  Thank you for journeying with me: it’s good to have companions!