Discussing preventive care

Screening for lung cancer

Refers to checking for lung cancer before having any symptoms

Early detection

Refers to detecting lung cancer at a stage where surgery or radiation can be offered with the goal of a cure.

Low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scan

A method of early-detection screening that uses less radiation than a standard CT scan to detect any small abnormalities that may be cancerous.

Discussing lung cancer diagnosis

Lung cancer support communities/services

Includes online forums, conferences, helplines, virtual meetups, lunch and learns, and survivorship events where individuals with lung cancer can share their experiences and advice with one another; includes nonmedical interpersonal advice regarding treatments and managing side effects as well as support for coping with a lung cancer diagnosis.

Living with lung cancer

Used to describe any individual who has received a lung cancer diagnosis or who is currently receiving ongoing treatments for their lung cancer diagnosis.

Navigating your diagnosis

Used to describe a person's ongoing understanding of their lung cancer diagnosis including staging, related medical terminology, testing and treatment options, clinical trials, and support resources.

Finding the right treatment

Used to describe a combination of consulting with “the right team” of specialists and receiving “the right tests” to find a specific diagnosis that results in “the best/right treatment” of an individual's lung cancer.

Lung cancer stages

Stages are used to describe the progression of cancer in regard to its size, where it is located in the body, and its spread; lung cancer is measured in stages I-IV, using roman numerals (I, II, III, IV) rising in reference to both its severity and spread.

Health literacy

The degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand health information needed to make health-related decisions; includes understanding drug prescription instructions, understanding medical treatment options and consent forms, comprehending medical terminology and processes, and being able to navigate the complex healthcare system.

Driver mutation

Mutation responsible for causing cancerous cells to continually grow.

Clinical trial

Type of research study that tests how well new medical approaches work in people. These studies test new methods of screening, prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of a disease. Also called clinical research trial or study.

Financial toxicity

Refers to the financial burden of lung cancer on families due to treatment costs.

End-of-life planning

For the family this includes organizing resources such as hospice and for the person with lung cancer this includes writing a healthcare proxy or living will, signing a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order if desired, deciding on a power of attorney, compiling a letter of wishes/instructions, and making decisions regarding organ and tissue donations.

Passed away

This is the preferred phrasing for describing an individual whose cancer has progressed to their passing.

  • Discuss death with sympathy and subtlety, using terms such as “passing,” “passed on,” or “passed away.” Acceptable alternatives include “resting,” “departed,” or (sensitively) “ran out of time.”
  • Avoid terminology related to religious affiliations such as “went to be with the Lord,” “went to Heaven,” and “is with his/her Maker” (unless quoting the family’s phrasing).
  • Do not use language that places the blame for loss on an individual such as “succumbed to their diagnosis,” “lost their battle,” or blunt terminology such as “died.”

Defining support systems

Our community

Used to describe anyone outside of LUNGevity’s staff specifically such as survivors of lung cancer, Facebook group participants, social media followers, website users, partners and sponsors, etc.

Caregivers

Nonprofessionals/uncompensated individuals such as family or friends who care for a patient with lung cancer (includes family, friends, neighbors, acquaintances, etc.).

Healthcare providers

Any paid professional who aids in caring for a patient with lung cancer (such as doctors, social workers, nurses, physicians, or navigators).

Navigators

The liaison between patient and hospital who helps patients with lung cancer navigate treatment. This can include an RN (registered nurse), OCN (oncology certified nurse), LCNN (lung cancer nurse navigator), Certified OPN-CG (oncology patient navigator certified generalist), or lay navigators (lay-oncology navigators).

Clinicians

Professionals who diagnose patients with lung cancer.

Investigators

Researchers within the field of lung cancer. 

Referring to patient identities

Person/individual with lung cancer

An individual who has been medically diagnosed with lung cancer

  • Use people-first language such as “individual with lung cancer” or “person with lung cancer”; avoid “patient” unless discussing internally.

Person/individual with a history of smoking

Refers to individuals with a past or present smoking history

  • Use people-first language that does not perpetuate stigma. Use “person who smokes/has a history of smoking/using tobacco products” or “an individual exposed to tobacco”; or summarize as “individuals with a history of smoking are at a greater risk of being diagnosed with lung cancer” 
  • Do not use “smoker” or “nonsmoker.”

Person/individual navigating their diagnosis

Refers to individuals who are continually learning to comprehensively understand the complicated medical jargon surrounding their lung cancer diagnosis

  • Use “individuals who are new to LUNGevity’s health-literacy resources” or “people who are recently diagnosed with lung cancer and are unfamiliar with their treatment options and relevant medical terminology.”  
  • Do not use “uneducated” or “uninformed.”

Survivors

Individuals who are living with or who have had lung cancer

  • “Survivor” does not always equate to being “done with treatment” or “finished with lung cancer.” Lung cancer is often an ongoing diagnosis.  
  • Do not use language that could indicate an individual’s ability to either win or lose. This includes referring to survivors “battling” or “fighting” lung cancer and describing survivors as “warriors” or “fighters.”

Defining hospitals & environments

Community environments

Locations that lack access to clinical trials and the funding for ongoing cancer research.

Academic environments

Locations typically accompanied by academic institutions that provide up-to-date care and access to clinical trials and cancer research.

Community hospitals

Non-federal hospitals that provide patients with either general or specialty care.   

Faith-based hospitals

Charities with a religiously oriented purpose that serve as an alternative to health insurance; also known as “faith-based healthcare” or “healthcare sharing ministries.”