LCAM '23 Special: Addressing the Elephant in the Room - Nick Whitehead
Description
This episode aims to talk openly about smoking and lung cancer. Lung cancer is shroud in stigma because of its links to smoking. Smoking is seen as a ‘dirty habit’ and people who do or have smoked are often made to feel guilty and ashamed. We are also seeing a division because caused within lung cancer – people who have smoked and people who have not. This could potentially cause late diagnosis because people feel too ashamed to come forward with symptoms.
Nick Whitehead started smoking when he was very young and was still smoking when he was diagnosed. As soon as he received his diagnosis, he quit for good.
Nick had surgery and chemotherapy and remains cancer free many years on. He has been able to return to scuba diving and is enjoying life with his wife, Paula.
United States
