If I read one more report
that says this or that can be done to prevent breast cancer I will explode!
Those of us intimate with breast cancer know the randomness of the disease.
There are no guarantees in
life. Why would there be a guarantee in preventing breast cancer? There is no
cure for breast cancer. There is no one prevention course of action that will
keep you free from the disease. Statistically the number one reason people get
breast cancer is because they are female. The number two reason is too many
birthdays. So if you are female, and
live long enough, your chances increase in getting breast cancer.
Here are some of the
headlines I read about breast cancer in unscientific magazines:
Women who have children
before age 30 have a lower chance of breast cancer.
Women who have children after
age 35 have a higher chance of breast cancer.
Women who don’t have children
have a higher chance of breast cancer
Women who breast-fed have a
lower chance of breast cancer.
Women who breast-fed have a
higher chance of breast cancer.
Women who frequent amusement
parks have a higher chance of breast cancer.
(I wish I made that one up)
Caffeine reduces the chance
of breast cancer.
Caffeine increases the
incidence of breast cancer.
So if you have breast cancer
or some one you know does do you blame their age when or if they had children,
their breast-feeding choices or their amusement park and caffeine practices?
I am not saying a healthy
lifestyle is not important. Of course healthy exercising, weight management,
organic eating, limited drinking, managing stress, and no smoking are important
factors. But again I must say, there are no guarantees. Blaming is ridiculous.
Cancer of all kinds is scary.
Breast cancer treatments are uncomfortable, and painful. No one wants to endure
this by choice. Why then do many magazine articles maintain a quick prevention
menu and lifestyle guideline? I think
because fear sells.
This Sunday, June first, is Cancer
Survivor’s Day, I suggest no blaming. I suggest rejoicing with friends and
family who are survivors!
17 comments:
In my house we will be celebrating without question!
You are so right - blame is not only ridiculous but also can hurt. When dealing with someone who has cancer, his/her caregivers, and family members,if you don't have anything positive to say, zip it! Blame is so toxic.... Thanks for the reminder!
Thanks Ruth. Good advice!
I love the idea of celebrating without blame. In fact, we should be doing that every day! Thanks for the thoughtful piece.
Good idea Kim, Thanks!
I'll bet every single person who reads this knows someone who is surviving in spite of cancer and as you say that is reason enough to celebrate.
Well said Kathy! I agree.
I recently heard a non cancer survivor mention about some one we both know that she never had a healthy diet. This from some one who smokes!
I feel the same way about all these "if you do x then you'll get y" studies--if you followed all that you'd live in a box and eat nothing. Too much media attention to things we can't do that much about!
Exactly,Thank-you Carol! Common sense to life style choices but going overboard is not good either.
Great post and such an important message. Why would we put blame on people who are suffering from any kind of disease? That doesn't help at all and, yes, so much is random. Let's just be compassionate.
Thanks Lois, Good thoughts!
No blame. My husband had a double lung transplant....the disease is Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, which means I don't have a clue what caused it.
Thank you so much for this post! My mother is a breast cancer survivor, and we will be celebrating this weekend. I do think most of these "studies" are sensationalized, and things change almost daily. Thanks for injecting some common sense into the discussion!
I hope Tam your husband is doing well. Cancer happens
Thanks Lana and I wish your Mother well. Party on!!
Terrific post! I don't have anyone left in my family who had cancer and survived, they ALL died! So that should tell you how important it is to celebrate the survivors. It's better than winning the lottery the odds are stacked against them right from the start.
Thanks Rena. You put it all into a great perspective!
My mom is a survivor. There was and is no thought given to blaming. Getting better and surviving was and is all that we think about. I just don't understand what purpose it serves to "muddy the water", especially when it comes to a life or death issue.
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