It’s important with any cancer diagnosis that we learn from the people who’ve had it before us. What signs to look for, treatments to seek, and how to live with the disease once diagnosed. Lung cancer, like so many other cancers, can affect anyone, but when you get it or someone you know gets it seeing someone you “know” who has also gone through it can help. Below you will find a list of 10 celebrities, people in the public spotlight who’ve, just by being diagnosed, have helped bring awareness to this disease.
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Read More Lung cancer is the second most diagnosed cancer in men and women but rates have decreased in recent years, as younger generations are not smoking cigarettes as often. Smoking cigarettes is still the main cause of lung cancer but there are other causes as well, like smoking other forms of tobacco, secondhand smoking, and exposure to materials like asbestos.
RELATED: You Never Smoked But Still Got Lung Cancer! Treatment Options May Be Different for You There have been many celebrities throughout history that have shared their cancer journeys. Here are a few:
Ten Celebrities Diagnosed With Lung Cancer
Jennings, an ABC News journalist, shared his diagnosis with viewers on April 5, 2005, expressing his admiration for the "almost 10 million Americans already living with cancer," adding, "and I have a lot to learn from them." He admitted to being a smoker but said he'd stopped 20 years earlier, but said "I was weak and I smoked over 9/11." Jennings was an admired journalist by his television audience and departed ABC news with a scratchy voice hoping to return to work after his treatment. He updated followers on his treatment, talking about how therapy drained him and saying that he tried to visit the office while undergoing treatment; he was only able to make it to the front door. "Chemo strikes," he said. He passed away from lung cancer that August at 67.
King, a television and radio personality, was surprisingly and abruptly diagnosed with adenocarcinoma in 2017 after a routine chest exam. He had not suspected anything was wrong when visiting his doctor especially since other health problems like his type II diabetes had inspired him to quit smoking. Nevertheless, his doctors were able to find it early enough. King shared that the tumor was malignant and he was lucky his routine chest exam detected it. His doctors were able to remove his upper lobe and lymph node without a problem. Because of his experiences, King advocates that people get a chest scan, saying "it takes two seconds," realizing that his chest scan saved him from a worse diagnosis later on. King was able to fully recover after his surgery and returned to work a few weeks after his operation.
Actress Kathryn Joosten, known for her roles in Desperate Housewives and the West Wing, battled lung cancer for 11 years. She became immensely invested in advocating for lung cancer patients since many were not informed about the disease. She wanted to advocate on behalf of the patient and destigmatize the disease especially since many patients were blamed for "doing it to themselves." She even asked that her character on the Desperate Housewives, Karen McCluskey, be diagnosed with lung cancer as well, to shine light on the horrific disease. Joosten's diagnosis also inspired her to quit her 45-year smoking habit. She was originally diagnosed in 2001 but her cancer recurred in 2009 and she had to undergo surgery and chemotherapy. She passed away a few years later, in 2012, from lung cancer.
Nat King Cole, a singer and jazz pianist, was devoted to his music and acting career, even dabbling in Broadway. In 1964, he started noticing some changes in his health, including weight loss and back pain. His condition began to worsen as he had a fainting spell due to his pain after one of his performances. Loved ones encouraged him to go to his doctor. He finally gave in and learned he had lung cancer. He had a malignant and advanced growth in his left lung and was given only months to live. Cole was a heavy smoker and vowed that if he recovered, he would quit smoking and advocate for others to do the same. Cole also continued on with his career and didn't listen to his doctors, who told him to get rest. His final songs were for his family, so that he could be comforted by the fact that they would be supported. After his recordings, he had to be taken in for surgery to have his entire left lung removed. Even though the odds were against him, Cole found comfort in his loved ones and was even able to reconnect with his wife and reconcile their issues. They ended up spending Valentine's day together, taking a small trip from the hospital. The next morning, on February 15th, 1965, Nat King Cole passed away from lung cancer.
Donna Summer, the "Queen of Disco," died in 2012 to lung cancer. Summer was a five-time grammy winner and a talented singer. Her diagnosis came as a shock because she was not a smoker. The specifics about the potential causes of her cancer and her course of treatment remained between her family and her cancer care team. Summer was an R&B star and made a name for herself after starring in a European version of "Hair." She also suffered from depression and an abusive partner. Summer passed away at the age of 63 surrounded by her family.
English rock musician and Rolling Stones member Ronnie Wood was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2017 after 54 years with a smoking habit. Wood quit after his diagnosis and treatment, thankful that he was able to declare himself cancer-free even after smoking for so many years. Wood had a emphysema on the top lobe of one of his lungs, which results in damage to that area and eventual shortness of breath. His doctors were able to surgically remove the emphysema. The guitarist is now healthy and released a documentary: Somebody Up There Likes Me.
"The King of Cool," Steve McQueen passed away from pleural mesothelioma in 1980. The iconic actor was diagnosed in December of 1979 and was told that the tumor was inoperable. He was advised to start chemotherapy and radiation therapy. It was believed that the cause of his cancer was asbestos, which he could have been exposed to when he served in the Marines but also during different sets he was on in his acting career. McQueen ended up getting another opinion and consented to removing his tumor even though it was advised against by other doctors. He died the next day from cardiac arrest at the age of 50.
Beth Chapman, who was a bounty hunter and reality star, was originally diagnosed with stage II throat cancer in 2017. She received treatment and was declared cancer free. However, the next year, she was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. However, she decided not to receive chemotherapy, relying on her Christian faith instead. She eventually died at the age of 51 surrounded by her family after being in a medically induced coma to avoid cancer-related pain.
Walt Disney, an entrepreneur, animator, and film producer, died of lung cancer related complications in 1966. Disney had been a heavy smoker from a young age, never using filters and smoking from a pipe. He was diagnosed with lung cancer in November 1966 and his doctors recommended cobalt therapy. He felt ill some days after receiving the therapy and went to the hospital, where he died of circulatory collapse, meaning his circulatory system failed to supply oxygen and nutrients to his body and remove carbon dioxide.
The conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer in February of 2020. The 69 year old radio host gave a detailed account of his course of treatment, telling his listeners that his targeted therapy treatment nearly killed him so he had to stop that for his own health. He says his third course of treatment is working out for him so far and that his health is in good shape despite these challenges with his treatments.
There have been several advancements in lung cancer throughout the years that have bettered the chances for lung cancer patients. This includes changes to screening guidelines and new therapies.
Screening For Lung Cancer
Screening for At Risk Groups
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has proposed changing guidelines for lung cancer screenings. This would help patients, allowing for greater screening in communities that are disproportionately affected by the disease, but not equally screened. The guidelines change screening procedure in that they reduce the age of eligibility and the "pack history" of patients, referring to how much they’ve smoked in their lifetime, required for screening.
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These changes will inevitably find lung cancer in patients earlier than before and will allow for better treatment options.
Current Therapies
Targeted Therapy for Lung Cancer
Immunotherapy is an exciting tool being utilized in oncology to help cancer patients. Keytruda is a popular immunotherapy that has been approved for certain lung cancer treatments. Keytruda is usually considered as an option for later stage patients, but has also been approved for advanced small cell lung cancers.
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Along with that, in lung cancer patients where the cancer is spreading, doctors will usually genetically sequence to tumor to look for specific genetic mutations that could point to targeted therapy options.
Lung cancer treatment options can also look different in smokers versus non-smokers, which is an important thing to keep in mind when determining a treatment plan.
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