While lung cancer is the deadliest type of cancer, survival rates are improving. To address the dearth of literature about the concerns of lung cancer survivors, we conducted 21 in-depth interviews with lung cancer survivors that focused on experiences during diagnosis, treatment, and long-term survivorship. Emergent themes included: feeling blamed for having caused their cancer, being stigmatized as "throwaways," and long-term survivors' experiencing surprise that they're still alive, given poor overall survival rates. Finally, survivors desired increased public support. It is imperative for healthcare and public health professionals to learn more about needs of this population.
