The Lung Cancer Stigma Is Real and Devastating to Patients — Here’s What to Do About It

The statistics about lung cancer are unmatched — and quite chilling: Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer of both men and women in the United States. It causes more deaths each year than colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined, according to the American Lung Association (ALA).

Sadly, awareness about lung cancer and its statistics is low, due to the strong stigma associated with lung cancer. Because of this, people struggling with lung cancer tend to have less resources, support, and public empathy than other, more well-understood diseases.

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Written by:

Brittany Doohan

Brittany Doohan was the Content Director at HealthiNation and is currently the Editorial Director at Medscape. Through her work with Medscape, she won a Silver Telly Award in May 2022 for "Sleepless Nation: A Public Health Epidemic — Episode 2: A Decade Without a Diagnosis." She has worked in health journalism and video production for more than 8 years, and loves the challenge of explaining complex topics in an easy-to-understand and creative way.

Reviewed by:

Sarah Gupta, MD

Sarah Gupta, MD, is a licensed physician with a special interest in mental health, sex and gender, eating disorders, and the human microbiome. She is currently board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

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