With the shocking news today about Bryant Gumbel's lung cancer diagnosis, we are given a wonderful opportunity to bring more awareness to this disease.
I was a bit disheartened at first by his disclosure that he had not told anyone. He seemed so uncomfortable with the whole topic but the longer he talked the easier it seemed to be for him. It is a perfect example of that stigma that goes with this diagnosis~ shame and embarrassment, etc.
I am very hopeful that Mr Gumbel will continue to talk about this subject, that he will continue to share his experiences and his journey and help us to educate people about this disease.
He did seem very uncomfortable discussing it. Tried to brush it off as though it was just something we all go through. I don't recall him mentioning what kind of LC he had? Non-small cell? Small cell?
I don't think he got into that much detail. It was encouraging to hear that he was a surgical candidate though. Hopefully he will come forward with more information in the coming days.
Another example of how LC does not discriminate...
Bryant has always been known as bring private about his personal life. When he did the Today show many years ago, he never really said much about his life before and after the cameras. He mostly skimmed the surface, just like he did yesterday. With that said, I'm really not surprise that he didn't go into detail about the type of cancer and all that goes with his personal diagnosis. Therefore, I'm proud of and grateful to him at the same time. The more public people that come forward makes this disease more recognizable.
Because the success of surgery for small cell is so limited it's not typically an option. That's been my understanding of it. With that said, I'm assuming (just assuming - and hoping, as well) that it's non-small cell LC.
Just watching the Regis and Kelly show again and Kelly has now given a statement that Bryant does NOT have lung cancer, but he had a portion of his lung removed due to its involvement with a malignant tumor in his chest.
I am vaguely confused... but regardless, I wish Bryant well and hope very much that this will in some way help the awareness cause for LC
Hello Connie and WELCOME, I am thrilled to see your post
I, also, saw and heard Mr Gumbel refer to his cancer as a form of lung cancer but then, as is the case with the media, things are warped and blow out of proportion.
Please let me know if I can be any help to you as you find your way around here. We are really just getting started so things are changing pretty frequently.
I'm not doubting anyone (Gumbel, etc.), but I've just never heard of somebody having cancer next to the lung. Do people have tumors in isolated places and so that there's not a name for it? It had to have been attached to something. When someone reveals that he or she has cancer, the first question asked is what kind, as in where. "Near" the lung isn't really an answer. Part of my cancer was in the chest wall, so I suppose it's a possibility that the cancer was there.
I have to agree with you Frank, and hi Frank! Although I do know a lady from the beginning of my journey who had (mediastiem) spell) lung cancer. They didn't really know if it was primary from the mediastiem or if it was from the lung. But she attend my in person lung cancer support group anyway. I don't know what Bryant has, but I sure hope he's okay one way or the other. No one wants to admit they have lung cancer, hell even I didn't want to admit it. But, it is, what it is! I hope one day there will be a cure for it.
How are you? Happy holidays to you. I hope that you're enjoying them. I haven't been on the other site much (I know - I know, I'm guilty), but I do hope all is well over there.
You're right on people not wanting to admit that they have LC, particulary in the business he's in - for some reason I agree with you, though. I hope he's going to be OK.
