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UC Davis Cancer Center

Legacy: A support group for lung cancer patients, their family members and friends

An estimated 175,000 Americans are diagnosed with lung cancer each year, but the illness has lagged far behind breast and prostate cancer in terms of public attention. That's beginning to change. In the following essays, members of Legacy, Sacramento's first support group for lung cancer patients, talk about what it's like to have an "invisible" cancer and why it's important for patients to share their stories with one another — and with the general public.

Legacy meets from 10 to noon on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at UC Davis Cancer Center. The group is open to all lung cancer patients, regardless of where they are treated. Family members and friends are also invited to attend meetings. For more information about Legacy, please contact Carolyn Guadagnolo, the UC Davis Cancer Center social worker who facilitates the support group meetings, at carolyn.guadagnolo@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu or (916) 734-5182.

Jacque Painter — Training for a marathon

Jacque Painter was diagnosed with Stage III-A non-small cell lung cancer in April 2004 and had her last treatment on Nov. 1, 2004. She's now back at work full time and training to walk the California International Marathon. Read Jacque's story.

Mimi Arfin — Standing up to stigma

Mimi Arfin, an attorney and mother of two young daughters, was shocked when she learned she had lung cancer. She had never smoked, ate well and exercised. Arfin believes that if more people realized lung cancer also affects non smokers, there might be more sympathy — and research funding — for the illness. Read Mimi's story.

Maxine Richey — Enjoying travel, grandchildren

Maxine Richey, a four-year lung cancer survivor, is a retired environmental scientist, world traveler, college student, mother of five, grandmother of seven, avid theater-goer and art lover. Read this survivor's first-person story.

Carol Sill — Creating a legacy

Carol Sill could find no support group for lung patients when she was first diagnosed with the disease. So she started Legacy. Read Carol's story.