7 days ago
‘Never Smoked a day in my life': Albertans taking steps to kick lung cancer stigma
Emi Bossio of Calgary, pictured with her family, was diagnosed with lung cancer in her 40s.
Lung cancer is the most common and deadliest cancer but it receives much less funding than others.
A group of Albertans is trying to change that.
The Give a Breath 5K walk/run aims to kick the stigma of lung cancer, often associated with smoking even though that is not true in many cases.
'Unfortunately, I'm not a rare case, and particularly young women are more and more being diagnosed as never-smokers with lung cancer,' said Emi Bossio.
The Calgary mom was in her 40s, never smoked, didn't drink, watched what she ate and exercised when she was diagnosed with lung cancer.
Tim Monds of Edmonton has a similar story but was diagnosed in his 50s.
'Never smoked a day in my life. We know that there's many environmental things—radon and other sorts of things—that can cause cancer,' said Monds, who founded Give a Breath.
Bossio is hosting Calgary's first walk for the cause in Nose Hill this year—the same day Monds hosts the Edmonton version.
Tim Monds of Edmonton, pictured with his family, was diagnosed with lung cancer in his 50s.
Tim Monds of Edmonton, pictured with his family, was diagnosed with lung cancer in his 50s.
They hope the events will make more people aware because more than 2,000 Albertans each year are diagnosed with lung cancer.
'More people die of lung cancer than breast, prostate and colon cancer put together,' said Monds.
'It's the most common cancer and is the deadliest cancer,' said Dr. Alain Tremblay, pulmonologist and professor and researcher at the University of Calgary's Cumming School of Medicine.
Symptoms include a persistent cough, chest pain and shortness of breath.
A major advancement is the increased use of screening.
'The idea is to detect the disease early—usually before it can cause any symptoms. That's done with a painless test called a low-dose CT scan that takes about 20 seconds to do,' said Tremblay.
Currently, Alberta only offers this screening for people who have smoked, but this group hopes that will change soon.
Money raised for the upcoming event will support patients, caregivers and research.
'I'm living proof that research saves lives and extends survival,' said Bossio.
'Thanks to research… seven years of Stage 4 right now,' said Monds.
The Give a Breath 5K will take place Saturday, June 7, in Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Toronto and Ottawa.
You can follow the links for details on:
The event.
What it supports.
And Alberta lung cancer screening.
