By Evy Protopapadaki, Family Member
My name is Evy Protopapadaki, and I am a molecular biologist. Twelve years ago, I lost my father to lung cancer. Throughout his life, he avoided medical check-ups and doctors, even when he was ill, and remained an unrepentant smoker until the end. So, when he was finally unable to stand on his own and was taken to the hospital where the diagnosis was made just weeks before he passed away, it was already too late. I will never forget my despair, feeling powerless to help him, to ease his suffering, to change the inevitable harsh and non-negotiable outcome that lay ahead of us.
I don’t know if he would have gotten sick if he hadn’t smoked, or smoked less, or if he would have lived longer if diagnosed early. What I do know is that while the causes of cancer are usually complex, it’s an undeniable fact that factors like smoking significantly increase the likelihood of illness. Therefore, it’s crucial that such factors do not exist in our lives.
For those fellow humans who cannot avoid or quit smoking or other harmful factors and find themselves facing illness, we must remember above all else that patients and their families do not need more guilt, nor more reasons to feel unhappy. The burden of illness is terrifying and unbearable on its own. They need information, support, and access to proper medical care.
Personally, I will always live with the weight of what more I could have done for my father. However, through FairLife, I hope to help raise awareness among my peers about the value of prevention and early diagnosis in managing lung cancer, and in doing so, honor his memory.
14/5/2024
