Posted in: Lung Cancer Treatment by Dr. Tarang Krishna Posted Date: 20 Aug, 2019
Lung cancer is a deadly cancer killing thousands of people every year. In spite of the increased awareness about lung cancer, the stigma related to the disease remains a concern for the patients. Some researchers dissecting the field of lung cancer treatment reveal that both patients and oncologists feel that the stigma can actually affect the level of care a patient receives and can lead to worse health outcomes.
What Is Lung Cancer Stigma?
Stigma is the negative ideas or opinions of people that many people come across when they go through certain confronting situations, or when they come from a particular group/community which has negative stereotypes associated with it. For example, a lung cancer patient may sometimes be harshly judged because of the strong link between smoking and cancer. If they are smokers, they will often be blamed for the illness and if not, they will at least come across this question of whether they have smoked or not.
What Are the Harmful Consequences?
There are a number of factors which impact a lung cancer patient’s survival: stage of cancer, type of cancer, age at diagnosis, treatment, socio-economic status, insurance and many more. Though we do not have enough research related to lung cancer stigma, evidence shows that we have enough harm associated with it.
The doctors offering the best treatment for lung cancer say: due to lung cancer stigma, patients are less likely to follow with long-term follow-up meetings which can lead to unwanted results. Keeping in mind the survivors are usually at an increased risk of second cancer - not because of the original cancer but a separate and new diagnosis - this is an important criteria to consider.
In addition to this, a cancer diagnosis can be isolating too especially if there are stigmas involved. A study found that lung cancer stigma leads to higher levels of anxiety/stress and poor quality of life. Similarly, another study highlighted that lung cancer patients are at a higher risk of suicide and have high levels of depression.
Lastly, the stigma has wide-reaching societal harms. It may have contributed to lesser funding towards research of lung cancer and improvement of the quality of life of the survivors. It acts as a barrier for medical help seeking meaning that it keeps patients from receiving medical help they need because of the attitudes and beliefs.
The Solution for Lung Cancer Stigma
The link between smoking and lung cancer is strong. Some leading hospitals like Cancer Healer Center offering lung cancer treatment in India mark the importance of encouraging and supporting people to quit smoking. There should be regular public discourse about lung cancer which must include stigma and acknowledge its negative effects. Other risk factors such as family history and exposure to harmful substances shouldn’t be ignored either. In short, the research community needs to work together by developing new ways to reduce cancer stigma.
About The Author
Dr. Tarang Krishna
Dr. Tarang Krishna, Director at Cancer Healer Center, is the perfect epitome of perseverance and dedication.
He has an impressive educational background to his credit. He completed his under-graduation in Medicine and Surgery from Pune, India and did his MD (Hom) from Agra University, India.Thesis on MD was on "Treatment of cancer" where he presented cases of almost 100 patients and the response of the medicines in the treatment of cancer. He then completed his Ph.d in Oncology from the United Kingdom and his thesis on the ‘Efficacy of Medicines in the Treatment of Cancer’ is greatly commemorated and honored.
He befittingly represents alternate medicine and has contributed significantly towards the development and research of immunotherapy.
Through his nationwide chain of “Cancer Healer Center” clinics he strives to offer superior cancer treatment, using immunotherapy.
