If you could cure ONE disease tomorrow, which would it be and why?

[MeanLaureen]

DH Obi-Wan made sure that I was able to check out this thread this morning and I'm so glad I did. Kayla you are about the sweetest person anyone could hope for as a friend. I miss you too and I promise that as soon as I can, I will be back here to torture you and everyone else. I miss this place and as soon as I can handle everything.. I'll be back (said in my best AHHHNOOLLLD voice)

My thoughts on the question - someone actually asked me this once because they knew that I had a disease that was more than likely never going to be cured because of its rarity. (AOSD is rare to begin with but the strain that I have effects only 5% of the people that get this disease - its aggressive, untreatable and will not go into periodic remission like the other 95% of the cases). I guess they thought I would automatically say AOSD, but my answer was cancer.

Sure, I would like to live a normal life again, but it would be selfish of me to wish for a cure that would benefit so few people. Thousands and thousands of people get cancer a year and a portion of them are poor defenseless children that don't have the chance to experience their childhood because they are battling this horrible disease. That's much more important. I'm a fighter, I'm a pissy redhead that will continue to get up and live as much of a normal life as possible no matter what. Those kids might not have the same fight in them.

If I got a second wish I would probably pick something like Lupus. Yeah, there are some people that seem to get along just fine with the disease, but there are others effected by strains of it where it just destroys them. Its agressive and scary and unfortunately too common.

Matthew and Kayla - I love you guys , but if you make me get all mushy and cry first thing in the morning again I'm gonna have to hurt you!

 

[Tink's Pixieduster]

Lung cancer, in memory of my DM, followed closely by Alzheimer's in memory of my DF.

 

[Mskanga]

I am going to be selfish and say Alzheimers, my grandma died from it and my mom is dying from it now , I want them both back.

 

[phorsenuf]

I'm going to say pancreatic cancer because alot of cancers can be cured or at least put under control in a sense. Pancreatic cancer has a very high mortality rate and aside from removing the tumor (if possible) doesn't really respond to current methods of treatment.
So even tho I'd say cancer in general, if I had to get specific, this is the cancer I would choose. Of course, it doesn't help that this is the type of cancer that killed my mom when I was 10.

 

[Mom2Ashli]

Cancer because it affects some many people young and old.

 

[skiwee1]

Cancer (of course that's gonna be a hard one because so many cancers are different from each other).

Then, I'd have to say Type 1 Diabetes. I don't include Type 2 in that because I think *most* people with Type 2 can control it and have a decent life if they take care of themselves.

My husband has type 1 and controls it very well with insulin. He reduced his carbs and refined sugars and takes an insulin injection every day. He has never had any type of side effect such as shock, eye problems, or anything else. He is at risk for them but as long as he controls his sugar he is fine.

 

[vivilasvegas]

Alzheimer's, because there is no good treatment yet, and it is one of THE SADDEST ways to watch someone die. Not only are they dying, but they don't even know who you are anymore.

 

[Disney Doll]

Diabetes, either Type I or Type II. There are some folks that can't control their diabetes no matter what they do...called "brittle" diabetics. Diabetes is the basis for so many other diseases, such as heart disease, kidney failure, blindness, strokes. It is so hard to get people to take diabetes seriously because it is sort of an "invisible" disease...you don't see the woman with the mastectomy bald from chemo, you don't see the thin, end-stage cancer patient, or hear of the young man cut down inhis prime with a massive heart attack. You usually hear of the 75 year old guy who lost a leg...oh well...most people's attitude is "I'll worry about it when I am 75". Many people who have had strokes, heart attacks, kidney failure and a host of other diseases have diabetes in their history, and believe me, it is affecting them for contracting these other problems.

We tend to put our support towards diabetes research and education. The American Diabetes Association doesn't reeceive anywhere near the amount of $$ that the American Cancer Society does.

 

[Christine]

Diabetes, either Type I or Type II. There are some folks that can't control their diabetes no matter what they do...called "brittle" diabetics. We tend to put our support towards diabetes research and education. The American Diabetes Association doesn't reeceive anywhere near the amount of $$ that the American Cancer Society does.

Disney Doll--Thanks for the clarification on this. I have two friends that are "brittle" diabetics and both are Type I. I was under the impression that "brittle" didn't happen to Type 2 diabetics.

Also, I will agree that diabetes needs more money. I have had cancer and survived it. I *used* to think cancer was the scariest thing one could get but, you know what? I'll take my thyroid cancer ANYDAY over a diagnosis of diabetes.

I picked cancer as the number one disease I'd like to cure, but I think that my thought only applies to certain cancers. Diabetes is certainly more lethal than many of the cancers out there.

 

[luckywife]

Cancer. I've lost way too many family members to it!

 

[lilstint]

I would also pick cancer. It is strange since heart disease is the #1 killer but, as has been said, the fear associated with cancer disrupts so many lives...those who are sick as well as those who are not.
To me cancer is like an errant bullet that you never know who, often for no rhyme or reason, it will hit next. We are all dodging this bullet everyday and many of us have been hit at least once. It would be SO great to be able to live without ever hearing the word again.

 

[Galahad]

Cancer.

1) Statistically, if you live long enough, you WILL get some kind of cancer.
2) I have a feeling that solving the cancer puzzle will lead to many other important things - cures, etc.

 

[MoniqueU]

Retinitis Pigmentosa.
I have it and it is a devistating diagnosis.
It traps you in your own body and takes away your confidence and so many other things in your life.

 

[Ziva]

Parkinson's disease.

 

[Bob Slydell]

Another vote for cancer

 

[snappy]

Any kind of cancer. But of course I am biased. (see my sig, and my survivor tag).

 

[jonestavern]

hatred & intolerance--fast & rampant spreading-
I really do think they are diseases of the mind

If we stopped being hateful to one another the whole world could put it's brains, passions & money into defeating all the above terrible diseases. It would be amazing what we, together, could accomplish

Jean

 

[DisMN]

I work with cancer patients all day long- it affects people of all ages, races and backgrounds. I would pick cancer.

For the very same reasons, that it affects people of all ages, races and backgrounds.......I choose to cure cancer too.

 

[JVL1018]

Cancer, cancer, cancer!!
The very word strikes fear in my heart.

Heart disease kills more people, but I feel like that is a disease where it is ppossible to help yourself by changing eating habits, medications to lower blood pressure, cholesterol etc to avoid heart attacks.
How many heart attacks could have prevented it by changing their eating habits? Sure not a large percentage, but at least there is something you can do to help yourself.

I know all the "cancer fighting foods" out there, but that just seems iffy to me. With heart probelms, you change your diet and you can actually SEE the results. Not the same with eating leafy greens or whatnot.

 

[Feralpeg]

I would also say cancer, although cancer is really a blanket term for many illnesses. These illness all start with the mutation of cells, but progress differently and require different types of treatments. To cure all types of cancer would be an incredible feat.