Does everybody have fricking Cancer?

[trumad]

Two of my wifes Uncles have but weeks/days to live--- my Moms husband...... my neighbor--- etc.

It's crazy.

[phantom power]

1. About 1 out of 3 people are diagnosed at some point in their life.

[MannyGoldstein]

4. Is That All?

About one in three deaths are from cancer - since many cancers are not fatal, I'd think that more people - something like 50% - would be diagnosed at some point.

But statistics are also real people - my heart goes out to those who suffer and their loved ones.

[shraby]

2. I often wonder if the cancer today is linked to the

atom bomb testing done in the 1950's. The fallout from those above ground tests would have wafted across the United States big time.

[GreenPartyVoter]

66. There's all kinds of junk in us from industrial sources, too n/t

.

[FloridaJudy]

71. One of my best friends grew up down-wind of those tests

She died of a rare, extremely virulent type of breast cancer at the age of 50. Both her two sisters have been diagnosed with thyroid cancer (though they are still alive and well). Maybe it's coincidence - some families are just unlucky - but I'm sure the radiation exposure in childhood didn't help any of them.

[The Backlash Cometh]

89. My dad said he was one of the soldiers who were subjected to the

blast, on purpose. He said they were kept at a great distance (so he wasn't one of the early ones) and that they were told to look away from the blast, then told to look back in time to see the mushroom cloud.

For the most part, his health has been good until my mom died. Since then, he's been aging at an incredibly fast speed. He has had preventative heart surgery, and the doctor said that there was already damage to his heart from potentially an earlier heart attack, but my dad doesn't ever remember suffering a heart attack before. So, I don't know if the two are related in any way.

Does anybody know if the Army kept tracking the health history of the soldiers who were subjected to these tests?

[whopis01]

100. more likely GM crops that we are eating today. n/t

[devilgrrl]

3. If there wasn't so much second hand smoke around there wouldn't be as much.

:sarcasm:

[Arugula Latte]

95. I'm not sure why you used the sarcasm tag on that.

There WOULD be a lot fewer cases without secondhand smoke. As well as firsthand smoke. And all sorts of toxic crap in the environment.

[shanti]

5. it seems so, doesn't it?

i also know LOTS of folks who either have or had cancer. :(

[Jim Warren]

6. Dirty little secret

It's like mission creep. Our environment, food stuffs and lifestyles have become toxic. In men prostate cancer has become epidemic, women suffering huge incidents of breast cancer. I remember Gary Snyder reading a poem 25 years ago about a women's breast, by design, being a filter and end depository for toxins.

A horrendous fact is even people with healthy lifestyles can be prone to cancer.

[Blue_Tires]

44. +1

look at what's in the food, air, water, drugs and buildings where we live/work and the answer becomes clear

[Eurobabe]

74. It's worldwide epidemic

Lots of cancer in southern Germany too, my neighbor had breast cancer last Spring, and she is sick again, we'll find out this week if it's come back. Everyone is so sad. 2 of my husband's family members died from cancer over here too.

My grandfather had prostate and bone cancer. My friend's 48 y/o sister in law just died of pancreatic cancer and left three children under 8 behind, and a devastated husband. It has to be environmental because more and more YOUNG people are being stricken.

Certainly frightening. :scared:

[Hepburn]

90. You hit on something that I have thought about for a long time.

I have noticed an increase in cancer in what I call the body's filtration system ~~ kidneys, liver, spleen, etc., and adjunct parts such as the bladder. IMO, when I was a kid in the late 40s and through the 50s, even those who did not live on farms had gardens and thus many fruits and veggies were home grown and then canned. Not so now. I do believe that preservatives, colorings, etc., which the body absorbs and/or filters out has greatly increased certain cancers.

[dogday]

7. My Sister is dying

End stage bone cancer.... She qualifies for Hospice... It breaks my heart....

[Skidmore]

11. I'm so sorry. I hear your sorrow....and your pain.

I'm sure your caring heart is a comfort to her.

[Kingshakabobo]

14. Sorry to hear that.

I never realized how pervasive it was until it hit close to home.

This is all in the last couple years:

My mom....age 70....lung/former smoker.

My mom's best friend.....68....lung/former smoker

Her cousin....67....lung/smoker

My friend's dad...60 ish.....skin/agent orange?? They are listing agent orange as the cause.

Another friend's mom....66....lung/former smoker.

Another friend's dad.....62 and still fighting......lung/former smoker

[mnhtnbb]

15. I'm so sorry to hear that. I have two girl friends who have both lost sisters to breast cancer.

[Eurobabe]

75. Hugs sweetie

:hug: my grandfather succumbed to that in 1994, it is very painful. My heart goes out to your sister, you and your respective families.

[Skidmore]

8. Let's just poll DU.

I have had cancer and am in remission.

Both of my parents died of it and one brother. That's just my birth family. Currently, I have 3 cousins who have it, one of them a double cousin.

Really, people, check in to trumad's thread and let us take a family poll.

[LisaM]

9. I'm sorry about your sister. That's really sad.

I actually said the same thing to someone about two months ago - it seemed like everyone had cancer all at once, at least lots of people we both knew. I think that some of it's connected to pesticides, too - among all the other culprits.

[dogday]

10. I think we ingest enough chemicals, and dyes, and preservatives

to kill us and/or make us very ill.... It is around us, but also it is inside of us...

[kestrel91316]

21. Industrial chemicals - PCBs, pesticides, herbicides, etc etc are behind

a large % of human cancers, IMHO.

Most this stuff has not been properly tested for safety, so it's easy for the powers that be to deny that they have anything at all to do with our cancer deaths.

[devilgrrl]

45. How about everyday stress on top of all those chemicals?

Could they be an additional cause of cancer?

I was going to start a seperate thread about stress in today's world and why are we so stressed out.

Just an idea.

[dogday]

50. My Sister who is sick said that very thing the other day

That stress was the major factor of illness...

[devilgrrl]

64. That's what I think happened with Dana Reeve...

taking care of her husband for all those years, she was a non-smoker and died of lung cancer.

[AZBlue]

65. Absolutely!

I think it's a cumulative effect - stress, chemicals, smoke, satellite and cell phone signals in the air, and so on.

[spacelady]

70. I firmly believe that stress is the #1 killer of Americans. n/t

[mnhtnbb]

12. My mother's sister died of ovarian cancer. She had another sister

that they believed died from a brain tumor in her teens--but that was in the 1920's in rural California and they didn't do autopsies.

On edit: my (Republican) brother has been doing oncology research since the
mid 80's. When I had a hysterectomy some years ago, he advised me to be sure to have them remove my ovaries because of the possible family connection.

[Matariki]

13. both my parents dead of cancer. and my grandmother.

and my sister won't stop smoking :(

[malaise]

57. The only person in our family to die of cancer

was my youngest sister. She was also the only non-smoker in the family. Everyone else had smoked at some time. Life is a bitch and then we all die.

[TZ]

16. Not only just true cancers are becoming more common

I have a somewhat rare blood condition distantly related to leukemia, and these types of conditions once extremely rare are now being diagnosed more often and EARLIER (average age of people with my condition is late 50's early 60's and I am 37). I have whats generically called a "blood malignancy". Plus a good friend just got diagnosed with breast cancer...:scared:

[KT2000]

41. I think I know what you are

talking about - the white blood cells are out of whack and you have to have it checked every 6 months to make sure it has not turned into leukemia?

My brother-in-law and sister-in-law (no relation to each other) were diagnosed with this within weeks of each other. They live in towns separated by about 250 miles.

[TZ]

46. its related

my problem is too many platelets...although some people call what I have "pre-leukemia" there is a lot of people who never develop into cancer....its every three months for me.....when things are going well that is..

[spacelady]

72. My maternal grandmother died from what was called

a "sister to leukemia" with a possible genetic component.

[TZ]

84. I am guessing it was

either ET or PV, who while usually AREN'T lethal, if left untreated or sometimes just from sheer bad luck have been known to kill people (stroke risk is my big worry really)

[PsN2Wind]

17. Recently found that I have cancer

Have an appointment with an oncologist next Thursday and will probably be starting chemo and radiation shortly.

[wordpix]

23. sorry

[Lars39]

31. Best wishes, PsN2Wind.

:hug:

[spacelady]

76. I am very sorry you are going through this. All the best to you

and there are some very good treatments now - you will get through this and be OK.
My best healing vibes are coming your way.

[Olney Blue]

86. Best wishes to you, PsN2Wind.

My best friend was just diagnosed and I'm going through this with her. There is so much to learn. I hope you have loving friends/family who can be there so that you can talk through your decisions about the treatment. i wish you the best. :hug:

[knitter4democracy]

99. That's really scary.

I'm so sorry. My cancer scare last fall sure scared the bejeebies out of me. It changed how I look at things, too. I'll be thinking of you.

[Individualist]

18. My maternal grandmother, mother,

most of her brothers and sisters, and several of my cousins have died of cancer. Neither my brother nor I have had it (yet), but we've both inherited heart disease from my father's side of the family. Preventive measures are fine as far as they go, but all the preventive measures won't counteract heredity. :(

[CabalPowered]

19. Two schoolmates and a secretary currently in treatment

Another secretary and an older friend who have been diagnosed and treated.

The gal who cuts my hair told me last week she had 3 clients come in the last month to get their heads shaved for chemo.

Ovarian cancer in all the females except one who had a brain cancer and died. Prostate cancer in all the males.

edit for spelling

[SiobhanClancy]

20. I had thyroid cancer...

Just a year or so ago....and cancer does not run in my family. There has been a huge rise in cases of thyroid cancer in particular,especially among women,and no one seems to know why. I was lucky in that it was papillary,one of the "better" types,and my chances of being a long-term survivor are good. I had my thyroid removed,so I have to take synthroid for the rest of my life and they don't seem to be able to get the dosage right. Still,I count myself lucky. My best friend from high school died last year of ovarian cancer.

[tcfrogs]

29. Same here - almost a decade ago

Thankfully it is very manageable. Glad to hear you've recovered.

I've still never met another male who has had thyroid cancer/papillary carcinoma. I'm told that about 90% of the cases are in females.

[TX-RAT]

34. You have now.

Mine started as a lump on the left lobe, when they did a fine needle aspiration it came back benign. Lump got so big it had to be removed. 5 days after the surgery the report came back Papillary Cancer, went back 3 days later for another surgery. 2 surgeries in 2 weeks suck.

[Wwagsthedog]

36. Howdy, you have now met another male who had thyroid...

...cancer. I'm not sure which kind but they took the thing out in short order. Synthroid for life and nobody can get my prescription right either. Oh well... The thyroid cancer was found in very early stages when the docs had me do a PET scan to see if my lymphoma had decided to take a rest (it is in abeyance for now). Had squammous cell skin cancer too. Am I lucky to still be here? Yes. Tell your kids not to hang around chemicals for a living or work for an oil company where the air is a bit unnforgiving. Also, I'm sure the first gulf was didn't help either. Yeah, I'm rambling but all you folks should tell those unfortnates that have the nasty disease to have a positive frame of mind and to beware of depression.

[Forkboy]

60. You've met two now.

Thyroid and 21 lymph nodes removed.

:hi:

[Eurobabe]

77. ah thyroid, isn't that fun?

:sarcasm: I have autoimmune thyroid, certain not nearly as serious as cancer, but on synthetic hormone. It seems to take forever to get the dosage calibrated, eh? I feel your pain in that dept. Glad they found your cancer in time!! :hi:

[wordpix]

22. my landlady, step-sister, aunt, grandfather---air, water & food pollutants are doing it

If people knew what carcinogenic pollutants are doing to their bodies there would be worldwide revolution but carcinogens are just another coverup so move along, there's nothing we can do about it and nothing to see here. :sarcasm:

[Rosemary2205]

24. Nobody gets out alive Trumad.

We all croak eventually.

[H2O Man]

25. Tough subject.

Sorry to hear about your family members and neighbor.

I grew up in a rural neighborhood that had a significant toxic chemical waste dump a few hundred feet from the water reservoir. I also have had experience advocating for another rural neighborhood in upstate NY, where there were two US "Superfund Sites" (they actually were one large site, on two sides of a dirt road).

What I've noted is that more people at dealing with cancer, and at a significantly younger age than did their parents/ grandparents. Of course, there are numerous factors involved: Does a person smoke? Where do they work? What is their diet like?

Over the years, I have had the opportunity to discuss these issues with people who are a heck of a lot more informed than I am, including doctors from good universities, and experts from the EPA and other parts of the federal government. The only ones who took the position that there wasn't a growing problem were from the NYS DoH. At the last public meeting where I spoke with them, I asked if it were true they had investigated over 350 suspected "cancer clusters" in the state, and found no evidence that any existed? They agreed this was true.

If there are no true cancer clusters in NYS, then I assume the population of the entire state must be experiencing the same hell as the families who live near the Superfund Sites. From the experiences of my extended family of origin, extended family, and neighbors, I do not think "hell" is too strong a word.

[mnhtnbb]

27. This thread is making me grateful that my only current health problem

is need for a hip replacement.

[BrotherBuzz]

26. I'm guess I'm new to this game and embarrassed to admit it, but....

I share the same thing Tony Snow has, although my problems are now exclusively in the stomach with the large intestine fully intact. I'm recovering from ass-kicking surgery, enjoying the hell out of OxyContin like drugs, but am facing a chemotherapy routine as soon as my weight and strength return.

Life is crazy, and I refuse to miss a second of it, so I say, "Let's go get them bastards!".
:crazy:

[Lars39]

32. It took me quite a while to own up to it, too.

I wonder how common that is. Best wishes, BrotherBuzz. :hug:

[BrotherBuzz]

38. I'm only embarrassed about having the same damn thing Tony Snow has

No problems sharing the info with close friends, or owning up to it. Interesting, and surprising how much genuine support is coming from my very close friends. Seems like they all have a positive or inspirational story to share, too. I guess the hardest task was informing my 83 year-old mom. I was really afraid she would take it hard; my fears were unfounded.

Soooo, in the meantime, as Magistrate would say, "Let's go get the Bastards". ;)

[Lars39]

68. lol

Glad you have a good support system. That generation's tough as nails, aren't they?
My 80 yo dad was helping out while I had chemo. :)

[spacelady]

79. My husband was just diagnosed in September, he was

very let's say "inhibited" about talking about it & I was very "into getting support" so we were at loggerheads for a bit. The different ways that different personalities deal with it. After all the indignity of the medical aspects happened, he got over the shyness, because when people start talking about their experiences, lives get saved - his OLDER brother got checked AFTER my husband got diagnosed & his brother had precancerous polyps removed. So every time you go out on a limb and SAY something, it really makes a difference.


Katie Couric may be a lot of things, but she saved my husband's life.

He was just given an "all clear" last week.

[Greybnk48]

28. I was diagnosed with cancer in March

endometriod adenocarcinoma. I had a TAH on March 30th (they yanked everything--uterus, tubes, ovaries, cervix) and I am told that I am completely cured. They say that because of the nature of my cancer, there's a 95% chance I am cancer free for good, at least this type of cancer.

Just thought I'd throw in my good cancer news. It does seem like everyone is getting some form of cancer or other. Very scarey!!

[Lars39]

33. That is great news!

:hi:

[Greybnk48]

58. Thanks Lars39!!

It sure was great for me and my little family. I don't care how common cancer has become--when someone tells you that YOU have it, or someone you love--it's an indescribable feeling. Finding out you're clear of it is pretty intense too!!

[porphyrian]

30. Everyone grows cancerous cells almost every day.

Most of the time, our bodies are able to destroy them before they grow out of control. It's only a matter of time before they get out of control. Basically, if we live long enough, everyone will get cancer.

[CanonRay]

35. My father-in-law is near death at this minute.

I'm trying to get to Texas. He has lung cancer in both lungs.

[JVS]

37. Given a long enough time.

Developing countries have been known to use deaths due to cancer and heart-disease as indices for measuring their progress. The higher the number the better it indicates the courtry's ability to prevent death by violence, acute illness, and hunger.

[OnyxCollie]

39. My girlfriend is waiting on the results of her biopsy.

She was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago, and had a lumpectomy/chemo/radiation. A recent mammography found some calcifications in her good breast. She had a bone scan that turned up nothing. She gets the results of her biopsy Thursday.

We're waiting. And hoping.

[LeftishBrit]

40. My dad died of myeloma (a form of blood cancer)

No one else in my family has had it. Quite a few friends have, though. Most tragically, a good friend, and close relatives of several other friends, died of brain tumours. On the positive side, I know two people who had Hodgkins disease in the 70s and are fine; and I knew someone who died of old age in 1986, 25 years after being diagnosed with recurrent melanoma, which is usually fatal now let alone in 1961, but she was really lucky. I know a lot of people who have had breast cancer, including two men so it is a myth that ONLY women can have it (both are OK at the moment).

I just wish that there would be a cure or preventative for cancer. The survival rate is much better than many years ago, but it is not good enough.

All best thoughts to everyone battling this disease!

[TZ]

47. Thats sad...

myeloma is one of the things I worry about, its in the same "family tree" of disease that I have and some with my condition (a myeloproliferative disorder) do convert into it.

[camero]

42. Do you all live close together?

That is what they call a cancer cluster in research terminology. I'm sorry to hear. Hope they all get better.

[sheerjoy]

43. I am so sorry....

I have prostate cancer.... doc says I will die of old age before the cancer gets me... not much relief for an elderly white haired dude like me hahaha

Cancer is such a sad, aggravating thing... taken way too many wonderful people....

[qanda]

Welcome to DU

I saw you on another thread but didn't want to get in the middle of that hornet's nest. Glad to hear you are doing well and I hope you stay that way. :hi:

[sheerjoy]

56. Thank you n/t

[qanda]

49. Dupe

Sorry

[xchrom]

48. i've had two bouts with cancer.

my mom had cancer -- her sister died of cancer.

it is all around us.

[TZ]

52. geez, thats really harsh

At least most of my family hasn't had to deal with cancer personally....:-( :hi:
PS if you didn't notice I posted that link to the video I was telling you about....

[xchrom]

53. oh goody!

yeah -- i've had my fair share of major medical.

i'll see if i have the nerve to open that ass backwards thread again.

those people are DANGEROUS.

[TZ]

61. yep

I referred that thread to someone today, I have a promise for help I think that the "faith based science" will definitely incite someone's interest.

[DeepModem Mom]

51. A member of my immediate family, yes -- although we think...

we have it licked now.

[Forkboy]

54. Yup

[woo me with science]

55. I think it should be a campaign issue.

Seriously. Run on making it a national goal to eliminate this scourge. EVERYONE is affected by cancer. We were able to set a goal to go to the moon and meet it within a decade. There are already promising treatments on the horizon for some cancers. We should be able to pour money into research to eliminate cancer once and for all.

Of course, that would make the Social Security crisis even worse, if everyone who will die of cancer got to live, instead.

[Nikia]

59. No one in my family has/had cancer w/ 2 exceptions

My grandfather's brother when he was in his sixties who was a heavy drinker and smoker and had worked in a coal mine.
One of my grandmother's ten siblingsI don't know much about her circumstances, but she was in her 80's.
That does not mean that I am not concerned about people having cancer. It does not mean that I don't think that there is a chance that I would get it in the future either.
I don't know how much the rate of cancer has increased. If there is an increase, it might be because we are exposed to more carcinogens. It could also be because more people are living longer and not dying from other causes. It could also be because there are more people without strong immune systems that are able to kill cancer. In some ways, we are lowering our risk of cancer by being aware of risky behaviors, protecting ourselves when exposed to some hazards, and banning the use of some chemicals.
I think that there should be more research into curing cancer. Too many people die from it.

[Obamarama]

62. Cancer is on a first name basis with my family...

Both maternal and paternal grandmothers had cancer; one survived to die of other causes in old age, and one was taken out by cancer.

My mother had uterine cancer and survived.

One brother died of melanoma.

My other brother had testicular cancer, and hits five years cancer free next month (hooray!)

I have had two run-ins with melanoma myself.

My niece died of cancer.

I guess the good news is that while it has inflicted a lot of pain and misery on my family, at least a good half of us are fighting it and winning.

[Raine]

63. My mother died from breast cancer...

she grew up the central valley area of California and said that when she was a kid (in the 30s-40s) crop dusters went over the area spaying pesticides while her and her schoolmates were playing in the school playground. I think she would still be here today but for that. :cry:

[GreenPartyVoter]

67. I am so sorry. Lost my mum-in-law to the pancreatic kind. :^(

:hug:

[spacelady]

69. Yes - husband, niece, best friend, many cousins, best friend's mom,

I could go on, but the picture becomes depressingly clear.

[Gregorian]

73. I just got the call this morning.

My best friend's wife collapsed while walking her baby. If he hadn't been crying because the carriage was tipped over, people might not have helped her sooner. She was having grand mal seizures. They just discovered she has a large brain tumor.

It may not be cancer, but it may be due to the same things that cause it.


I'm sorry to hear about your loved ones.

[flamingyouth]

78. I'm a two-time bladder cancer survivor.

I had my most recent surgery and chemo just last week - outcome is good.

I'm very sorry about your family members and friends. :(

[Midlodemocrat]

94. I'm so happy to hear that!

I wanted to ask you, but I was afraid of the answer.

:hug:

Good thoughts and prayers continue to be sent your way.

[intheflow]

80. One of my best friends and my SO's best friend.

Along with a close former teacher and a close former minister. All diagnosed with advanced cancer in the past 3 months. So, yeah, it does feel like cancer is exploding all around right now.

[JCMach1]

81. When I lived in Midland, TX for 2 years the cancer rate there was insane

I believe it had something to do with being downwind of Los Alamos...

I believe that you can find similar clusters in chemical and nuclear filled areas.

[piesRsquare]

82. No cancer here...

I don't have cancer...neither does my sister.

Both of my parents (early 60's) are cancer-free.

My father's father is 91, still living on his own--no cancer (10 years ago had a splotch of melanoma on his face--gone now).

One of my grandmothers had uterin cancer in 1986...was completely cured and lived another twenty years. She lived to be 89; died of congestive heart failure, but was cancer-free.

Other grandmother (passed away last year) never had cancer (even though both of her parents did). Other grandfather (passed away in 1985) never had cancer.

Grandmother's second husband doesn't have cancer.

Great-grandmother lived to be 105--never had cancer.

One of my three uncles had a splotch of melanoma on his face 8 years ago...gone now. Otherwise, no cancer among uncles or aunts (all in mid-fifties to mid-sixties).

One cousin died of leukemia when she was 17. No cancer among any other cousins or their spouses.

One of my grandmother's brothers has prostate cancer (though you'd never know it).

There is indeed a lot of cancer around (many of my friends have family members with cancer, or who've died of cancer), but not everyone's afflicted or dropping dead.

Cancer and psychological state are very connected; connection has been proven with leukemia.

[TZ]

83. You just scared me..

Can you elaborate on this phrase:"Cancer and psychological state are very connected; connection has been proven with leukemia".
I have a blood condition related to leukemia where my bone marrow makes too many platelets. I know stress effects it and lately I have been feeling not too good lately, and have been somewhat depressed. My blood work has just gone nuts (the depression started AFTER the bloodwork and health issues started though). My disease is sometimes called "pre-leukemia" so this little bit of info really caught me eye....

[piesRsquare]

91. Hello...

I'm sorry you're not feeling well...and apologize for the scare.

Leukemia has been found to go hand-in-hand with repressed (often subconscious) rage, as well as severe depression (the depression often being the by-product or conscious/outward manifestation of said rage).

The inclusion of (effective) psychotherapy in the treatment regiment for leukemia has shown to make a significant difference in success rates. Psychotherapy does not mean counseling...it means therapy, preferably with a treatment provider who is either an MD or PhD. The therapeutic process involves identifying the rage, its origin/source, and working through it with the therapist.

Cancer--especially leukemia--is the body turning against itself. In some clinical and academic circles, leukemia is actually viewed and approached as a means/type/method/form of suicide. Psychotherapy is where and how to uncover the reason(s) as to why one's body is turning on itself...why is the self turning against the self/destroying itself?

When the rage is worked through and released, and healthier ways of coping with rage/anger/depression are learned (ways other than repression/denial), the body/self no longer has to turn the rage inward, against itself, and recovery/healing is possible. The psychotherapy, in essence, makes it possible for the chemotherapy to do the job.

At the time that this stuff started getting to the general public, there was a lot of (unfortunate) misinterpretation. Cancer/leukemia is NEVER anyone's "fault"; this is in no way about blaming someone for his/her plight. Nor is it a matter of, "Oh, you got cancer because you're angry, so be happy, and you'll be cured!" It's not a matter of "positive thinking" or any of that. It's about deep-seated stuff that's bottled up inside, so deep down that one doesn't even know it's there. It's about deep-seated hurt from the past that was never validated, never truly acknowledged and released. It's about "skeletons in the closet". It's about the self suffering so much that even the body can't take anymore. This is something that can only be done with a professional psychotherapist--a DOCTOR. It cannot be done alone, with a counselor, with friends, or with clergy.

If you'd like more info, or just to talk, turtlesue, drop me a PM. Take good care of yourself...

[OzarkDem]

102. Oh, please

Do you have a scientific cite for that assertion?

People who irrationally blame cancer patients (or any serious condition) for their own illnesses have psychological problems.

[and-justice-for-all]

85. Do you think Cancer was pervasive in the ancient world?

Is it possible that we are the victems of our own making, by which I mean, from the poisons we put in our food, air and water?

[dysfunctional press]

103. very possibly...

they just didn't recognize what it was.

[phylny]

87. An acquaintance of ours just died on Sunday.

Forty-four years old, mother of three (one a seven-year-old), bladder cancer. They opened her up, took one look, and closed her back up.

May she rest in peace.

[The Backlash Cometh]

88. I've noticed this:

People who were diagnosed with cancer early and were treated for it have gone on to follow crazy and unwise career decisions, and, not surprisingly, the cancer returned.

[ArmchairMeme]

92. Cancer

My husband died of cancer when he was 30 years of and our son was 2 1/2 years old.

I have noticed that the pattern of longevity is changing.

My great-grandmother lived to be 96
My grandmother lived to be 84
My mother lived to be 76

I believe it is not a coincidence that our modern world is taking it's toll on human beings.

Each time I read of a product that has migrated and been found in a cancer tumor I take notice. I am moving more toward organic products and away from modern chemicals/methods.

My great-grandmother lived her entire life without the "benefit" of an antiperspirant, sunscreen, preservatives, food additives. They ate food when it was in season and in the winter ate foods that had been canned (by themselves in glass jars).

I do realize there are many things we cannot avoid, air pollution.

[jaded_old_cynic]

93. I know what you mean.

7 months ago i lost my husband to metastaic melanoma. It had spread to his brain and other vital areas. 2 days after his brain surgery in march, my best friend succumbed to small cell lung cancer. The year before that, i lost my father to the disease. Seems like almost everyone i know either has it, or is affected by it in some way. Currently, i am in the process of begging my smoking friends and family members to quit. In the last 6 years, i have lost at least 1 friend or family member per year to the disease. It's getting pretty scary.

[Javaman]

96. My mom, my dad, my two sisters, my aunt, my two uncles...

so far through regular check ups my brother and I are still cancer free. Knock on a forest of wood.

[jeffrey_X]

97. Why isn't their more focus and attention to PREVENTION rather than finding a cure?

Oh that's right, there's no money for big pharma in focusing on prevention.

Carry on.

[OzarkDem]

101. One in every crowd

Because we still don't have scientific evidence to show what's causing most cancers. Its hard to get funding for that kind of research (no surprise).

If it weren't for big pharma, I would be dead from breast cancer today. They're not all bad.

[otohara]

98. Just Attended Funeral

friend died of lung cancer that eventually went everywhere in his body. This was a man who ran 12 miles everyday ever since I could remember. He also drank like a fish.

[rainbow4321]

104. My uncle died from it yesterday..

Just found out. At one point a few weeks ago he had called around to make "amends" with his family members...those that spoke with him were convinced he was going to be downing pills later in the night. He didn't, though. Ended up in a hospice facility. Passed away 15 minutes after his daughter left the hospice site. Almost like he was waiting on her to get into town to see him before he died.

Still remember him as my school bus driver when I was 6 yrs old...stopping me as I was getting on the bus to help me tie my always untied shoelaces.