Advocacy

Cancer treatment -- and patients -- are often described using military terms. "Cancer warrior," "the fight of your life," and, when someone passes away from cancer, it can be described as "losing their battle with cancer." Michelle Riba, M.D., director of the PsychOncology Program at the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, wants people to use different, more positive terms.

Cancer doesn’t affect all ethnic groups the same. Certain types of cancer are more common in some groups than others. Liver and stomach cancer occur at higher rates within the Asian American community.

The cancer is especially deadly for African-Americans, whose mortality rate is more than 50 percent higher than non-Hispanic whites, according to the National Cancer Institute. That’s due in part to a disparity in screening levels, researchers say. Screenings, which look for a problem before symptoms arise, help doctors to catch growths or polyps before they become cancerous.

Stan Urban was diagnosed with mesothelioma - a type of lung cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Stan most likely was exposed while repairing automotive brakes. He's sharing his story to help raise awareness about this cancer.

Mary Jo Grand, diagnosed with lung cancer over six years ago, is a survivor. She's also an advocate who believes it's time to stop blaming those who develop lung cancer and recognize that nearly 80 percent of new lung cancer cases are former and never smokers.