Illawarra to shine a light for loved ones lost to lung cancer and stop the stigma around deadly disease

The memory of Illawarra community member, avid sports fan and beloved father John Sweeney will be honoured this month at a charity walk aiming to raise awareness and reduce the stigma around Australia’s number one cancer killer.

John ran the newsagency at Corrimal Court for more than a decade in and around the 1990s and was a well-known and respected figure within his community.

“He was a very hardworking man and very loyal but very quiet,” his daughter Kaye said. “He was very well loved by a lot of people and an important person to a lot of people.”

But just before his 80th birthday, John received a devastating diagnosis.

“He suffered with pulmonary fibrosis and had been doing really well with his treatment but unfortunately it was a unique case where it had turned into lung cancer,” Kaye said.

John lost his battle with lung cancer in November last year, just five months after the cancer was detected.

The devastation left behind from this disease is all too common with an estimated 8900 Australians expected to die of lung cancer this year alone.

“Lung cancer in particular is often diagnosed at stage 4,” Lung Foundation Australia’s Christa Bayer said.

“It’s often too late for any curative treatment and people will have a very short battle with the disease so lung cancer deaths are occurring much too frequently.”

Despite the cancer’s devastating impact, Christa said there was not enough investment in the disease and patients were often hesitant to talk about it.

“There’s this sense that people brought it upon themselves by smoking,” she said.

“Every person with cancer deserves equitable treatment in Australia and the simple fact is because of the stigma there has been less investment into lung cancer treatment, into lung cancer diagnosis and into lung cancer research in particular.”

Alongside Lung Foundation Australia, organisations such as Na Joomelah work to minimise the impact of the disease via education about preventative measures.

Na Joomelah project officer Bradley Russell said the organisation focussed on helping indigenous people give up smoking, an addiction still common among elders and middle-aged people.

“My grandmother smoked, three out of four of my siblings smoke, my grandfather smoked before he quit and a lot of my aunties and uncles smoke,” Bradley said. “I can see how it slowly kills you and drains the life out of you.

“I just wanted to make sure the next generation at least knows the information before they make that decision to pick up a smoke or a vape.”

Na Joomelah provides education programs through schools and youth groups in the greater Sydney and Wollongong areas.

“…Mainly through informal counsel and just building that relationship and creating a safe space for them to open up and share their experiences and then with that education help them to make informed decisions about smoking or vaping,” Bradley said.

The challenge for anti-smoking organisations has now shifted to the growing popularity of vapes.

“Kids just jump on them and it’s kind of the same cycle as cigarettes where it’s just misinformation. So they’re not sure what is in them and before they know it they’re addicted and then have withdrawals and it’s hard to get off them,” Bradley said.

Vaping presented a huge obstacle, according to Christa.

“We do see that as being our next generation of nicotine addicts and Australia’s been a shining example in really effective tobacco control,” she said.

“We’ve really reduced the number of smokers in Australia and then along comes vaping and introduces a whole new generation to nicotine.”

More awareness is vital to combat this major health issue, so John’s daughter and family are doing their part to help spread the word through the Shine A Light Walk at Stuart Park.

The event is for those walking in memory of someone lost to lung cancer, living with lung cancer or those supporting the lung cancer community. Each group is represented with different coloured lanterns.

“I think it has a really nice personal touch to it,” Kaye said. “For me, it was doing something for him [John] but also doing something that can involve people that also have lung cancer.”

Kaye said even if the event started small, she hoped it could grow every year to help spread the word and improve the lives of those with the disease and their families.

“If there is somebody that has lung cancer, [it’s important] they know they have a community out there willing to support them and they’re not there fighting it alone.”

The Shine A Light Walk Wollongong is on the evening of Sunday 24 November at Stuart Park.

To find out more or to donate visit the Shine A Light Wollongong fundraising page.