Time to Stub Out This Deadly Addiction

SINCE his death in 1994 at the age of 61, the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, of which Sir Cliff Richard is the life president, has raised millions of pounds.

This year the world’ s only purpose-built lung cancer research centre celebrates its 15th birthday .

Doctors said Roy , 61, developed lung cancer as a direct result of inhaling cigarette smoke while playing the trumpet in smoky clubs.

Despite the shocking statistics and high profile deaths, thousands are still getting hooked and dying as a result of smoking.

As many as 13,000 Scots die from smoking related illnesses each year.

A smoking ban would also save the NHS an estimated pounds 300million. Sasha Mansworth spoke to three Scots who are fighting to raise awareness of lung cancer.

PROFESSOR Ray Donnelly, above, is the Glasgow-born founder and president of The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation He said: ‘It’ s all well and good saying all you’ve got to do to prevent lung cancer is to stop people smoking, but half those with lungcancer have actually stopped smoking. Some get the disease who have never smoked.

‘Lung cancer is a massive problem in Scotland.We have lots of work to do here – to help with the massive burden it has on the community .

‘People don ‘ t understand the addictive nature of cigarettes.

‘T obacco companies know cigarettes are addictive and sell them on the back of this.

‘They are peddling nicotine around the world. It’ s a drug and people find it very difficult to stop smoking.

‘Passive smoking wasn’t an issue in 1990 – it was brought to the public attention through RoyCastle.

‘The whole country saw how Roy was a fantastic, heroic, wonderful example to everyone in the cancer field. Patients with cancer drew great inspiration from him.

‘Some 15 years ago there was virtually no research being done into lung cancer , no lung cancer support nurses, patient support groups, no helpline.

‘ Attitudes were very negative among doctors, administrators, politicians and patients.There has been a big change in attitudes, but there ‘ s still a long way to go.

‘We ‘ve built the foundation from nothing to a pounds 13million centre with international recognition for research and patient care.

‘We appointed the first ever lung cancer support nurse to look after patients and their families through this terrible period in their lives. Now there are more than 300.

‘Cliff Richard has been a huge supporter. He was a great friend and admirer of RoyCastle and has remained very loyal to us.

‘Our other patrons include MelC, Dame Judi Dench, Gloria Hunniford and Robert Powell.

‘Lung cancer is still the Cinderella of the cancers in terms of research funding. It causes 22 per cent of the burden of cancer in the country but gets only four per cent of the research funding. And most of that is from ourselves.

‘One reason is due to the average survival – about four months from diagnosis. It’ s all very negative. I wanted to open the patient care centre in Glasgow where my roots were and where there is such a big problem.

‘It’ s very unusual for adults to start smoking. New smokers are young people.They are targeted by tobacco companies and in time they’ll develop heart attacks, lung cancer, bronchitis and other diseases.

‘I would like to see smoking banned in all public places and the reality brought home to parents – not to smoke in front of children.

‘Children have rights to health and for adults to take a baby or toddler with them while they smoke is criminal.

‘I’ d like to see it an offence to take children into places smoking is allowed.’

For more information see: http://www .roycastle.org

Barbara Elliot: age 49

BARBARA ELLIOT, from Glasgow, lost her husband Jim to lung cancer in January 1999. She is now trustee of the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation.

She said: ‘Jim was diagnosed just before Christmas in 1995.

‘We were like a golden couple. We had great lives and no reason to think anything was wrong.

‘Jim was 45 when Thomas was born. As a late dad, he adored his son and daughter, Kay, who came along two years later. ‘When he was diagnosed, it was a huge blow to him as he was old-fashioned and liked to provide for his family and suddenly he was verysick. Within three months, he was passing out and coughing. ‘He was so ill – we were told he had three to six months to live.

‘Jim was determined and lived for three years. He was an inspiration to me during this time. ‘He packed more in than some people do in 30 years.

‘We packed the car and travelled through northern Europe for a month, ending it with an unforgettable trip to Disneyland Paris with the kids. ‘He had just had chemo and was responding quite well, so we then went to Australia.

‘Jim had to take early retirement. Despite being very ill, spent his last holiday in the Western Isles – he fished every loch. A year into Jim’s illness, we set up a support group and he did some advocacy work for the Foundation. Although Jim had stoppedsmoking 14 years before cancer struck, his death was smoking-related.

‘He had been brought up in a family of smokers and was a heavy smoker in his 30s.

Although he stopped in his 40s, he worked in an office where everyone smoked.

‘Six months after Jim was diagnosed with lung cancer. his mum was also diagnosed. He watched her die before him.

‘We were honest with the kids. They were there when he was in hospital and having chemo and when he was wasn’t well. During the last two weeks of Jim’s life his weeks of Jim’s life his bed was in the lounge where he held court.

‘He died just after New Year. ust after New Year. The night he died he told me hehe died he told me he was beat and it was just as if he’d switched off.

‘In the last two weeks, our eldest Thomas, who was 10, withdrew and couldn’t cope.nd couldn’t cope.

‘Kay was still seven and didn’t really understand what wase stand what was happening. In the beginning Kay In the beginning Kay would go up to people who were smoking and say: ‘You should stop that,it killed my daddy.’ ‘Now she’s more tolerant as sherealises it’s an addictive drug. But she’s not tolerant of people who start to smoke knowing the risks.’

e risks

Tom Haswell: age 60

TOM HASWELL, of Milngavie, near Glasgow, is married with two sons. The 60-year-old has beaten lung cancer He said: ‘I have a respect for lung cancer and a fear . I was diagnosed 12 years ago while working in Saudi Arabia’ It was discovered when I had amedical check for a new contract. ‘I was devastated. I had no aches and pains. I had always been fit and played five-a-side football and squash’ I thought I was perfectly healthy but I had a tumour the size of an orange. I had stopped smoking around nineyears before. But as it was less than ten, doctor contributory factor. regret smoking 20 a d ‘My consultant sa could have been caus of sand.

‘There have been c storms in the mid-wes which wipedoutwhol inhabitants died of lun other chest related dise ‘My cancer wasdiagn relatively early – but even waswell-developed and couple of lymph nodes in middle of my chest.

‘Back home in Scotlan told me nothing could be was given three to five mon live and offered radiothera keep me comfortable.

‘It was quite a strang – as I felt perfectly com able and well.

‘My wife and I d against telling our Theboyshad acce things weren ‘ t go but in the me time treated as normal. ‘I was as to take partdrug trial – chemotherapy – which doctors said may not help, but may benefit others down the line.

‘For me a feeling of despair and hopelessness descended. I had a vague hope the trial drug would work.There was nothing I could do – the decision was out of my hands.

‘Six months later the tumour had reduced and I went on to have 13 sessions of radical radiotherapy with a positive reaction.

‘But three months after the treatment I became breathless and panicky . I tried steroids, which didn ‘ t work – my lungs are now damaged – which is something I’ve had to live with’ I get frustrated because I can ‘ t do much without getting breathless.

I’m unable to work – it’ s a small price to pay for the privilege of human life. ‘I feel humble, lucky and delighted to be alive. I’m now medically retired and registered disabled through the effects of lung cancer.When I was diagnosed in 1993 there wereno support groups. But I became involved with the Foundation which provided a network of support