Why so many cancer victims?
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| Tue, 07-07-2009 - 1:20pm |
I'm sure there are those of you who read several weeks ago about the pro golfer, Phil Mickelson, and the sad fact that his beloved wife Amy had breast cancer. She recently had a very promising surgery procedure that hopefully will be a success, and she can live a long, healthy life.
It was just announced yesterday that Phil's mom has also been diagnosed with breast cancer, and is in the same hospital that Amy was in during her ordeal.
Why are there so many cases of breast cancer in women? Is this something that has been going on for decades but wasn't publicized as it is now, or due to more recent causes?
I will pray for the Mickelson family, and hope his mother has a speedy recovery. I know so many women, both young and old, who have had to undergo surgery and treatments for this most dreaded disease.
mwm

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I live in the Acreage in West Palm Beach, Fla. We have an outbreak of cancer clusters in our children's brains that all occurred within a 5 mile radius. We live in that radius
For years, the mantra was for women to self-examine once a month and if anything suspicious was found to get a mammogram--which seems to be your suggestion as well. Then they started the idea of getting a baseline mammogram and depending on age to either check at one-year or three-years intervals. IMHO, the Russian roulette business started when it was insinuated that all breast cancers needed to be caught early and treated aggressively. One size fits all. It was a nitwit approach, even if well-intentioned. Has been my point all along in this thread that there is too much of the aggressive searching, too little consideration of the individual as a human rather than a problem, and far far too little consideration given to the terrible risks of their blasted treatments.
As regards fast-growing cancers, was given to understand that those were most likely to turn up in younger women under the age of 50.
I was more careful when younger with small children to rear, since my mother died of cancer. At this stage of the game (53), it's clear that death comes to everyone, me included. I want no part of the long and agonized decline which falls to too many who are treated with chemo or radiation protocols.
Jabberwocka
How very troubling.
I couldn't get your link to work but I found this....
>"The CDC received the senator's request Monday afternoon and is evaluating the request. The EPA couldn't be reached for comment.
Dunsford, whose son was diagnosed with a benign tumor in January 2008, is helping the state gather preliminary information. She has tallied 40 residents with malignant or benign brain tumors or cysts in the brain in the ZIP codes 33470, 33412 and 33411. Eleven are 17 years old or younger.
Brain tumors don't necessarily form in adults for the same reasons they form in children. Brain tumors are the second most common type of cancer for children, but the incidence rate varies for adults depending on how old they are.
Dunsford within the week plans to launch a Web site to track the potential investigation, www.acreagecancerstudy.com."<
Segment from......
Nelson to hear firsthand accounts of brain tumors from Acreage residents Wednesday
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/content/local_news/epaper/2009/06/29/0629braincluster.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=76
I have to agree with a lot of what you have posted. I had to change Dr.s recently. I had been with my Dr. for over 25 yr.s. Now my new Dr. wants to run test for everything under the sun. If you have a problem, like say a rash. She wants you to go to the dermatologist. I don't have a car, I live in a small town and the nearest "Specialist" is about 15 miles away. We have no public transportation, here. So, I have reach the point I don't even tell her if there is something wrong. When I first went to her, I got a letter about she'd have to quit seeing me if I didn't keep appointments with other Dr.s. I called her office and ask them if they were going to take me. My brother is a diabetic. He goes to the same Dr. She is constantly running test on me. Uggggh.
I have lost many family members to cancer. I think I probably refuse treatment. My late Husband lost a leg because of an accident. Within 10 years, he was gone. He didn't want treatment.
I want no part of the long and agonized decline which falls to too many who are treated with chemo or radiation protocols.
I'm 46 and have a 2 yr. old. so I'd probably go the route of trying anything possible, but I totally understand where you're coming from.
My dad has a form of lymphatic cancer. He was diagnosed over 9 years ago and given 2 to 5 years to live. He has had continual treatment, plasmaphoresis
Well, this certainly has been a week from hell for me. Monday when the motorcycle slammed into my car in the parking lot, the driver landing on my windshield. He didn't have the "M" on his license to be even driving one, he was going way too fast in the parking lot access road to where you turn into the shopping center.
Then, I get home and get a memo in the mail on my recent mammogram to come back for further testing. Well, I went today, had a second mammo of my right breast, then an untrasound. Then I talked with the Radiologist and the Breast Care nurse. He wants me to get it biopsied. He says it looks suspicious, so I could possibly have cancer in my right breast. I am scared to say the least. He said a lumpectomy and follow-up radiation should take care of it, and it can wait until we get back from Disney World the end of August. So, if surgery is needed, Sept is soon enough.
So, that's my story.
Jabberwocka
Have you told the doctor that you have no transport? Perhaps you could do so and also ask the purpose of the tests and what sorts of side effects there might be.
You have a right to a clear explanation. Doctors are humans. They're fallible (ergo, malpractice insurance). They don't know everything. They are your paid consultant, NOT God. It's time and past, for us to stop acting like they ought to be venerated and obeyed.
As regards your choices about treatments for cancer or any other threatening health condition, that too is your choice. I believe in educating oneself, asking difficult questions and making as informed a decision as possible.
Jabberwocka
I'll also be thinking of you, and wishing the best.
zz
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