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

[luvwinnie]

aren't they the same thing?

No, ALS is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis...also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.

 

[Talking Hands]

Diabetes. It affects so many people and the complications are horrible. It affects so many parts of the body(feeling, nerves, sight, hearing, kidneys, heart)

 

[POB14]

aren't they the same thing?

Not at all. ALS is Lou Gehrig's Disease.

I think picking cancer is kind of cheating; I think cancer is really a large number of diseases lumped into a category. Not that I wouldn't want to see a cure, of course, but I don't think there will ever be one "cure for cancer."

All that said, my pick for a disease to cure tomorrow would be, without question or hesitation, AIDS. I think about the horrible suffering, the children affected directly and indirectly, and the stigma attached to the sufferers, and I wish I could make it all go away.

 

[Galahad]

Galahd..Curing Cancer would save the life of AIDS Patients,as so many of us now die of cancers like lymphoma and cervival cancer..It this country PWA"S die for more often of Lymphoma than of the *old* AIDS related illnesses..my MIL died of Lymphoma.

Exactly. I don't have the science knowledge to easily back this up, but I have a gut feeling that cancer research and AIDS research and so many others will converge. Get Cancer, and you'll open the door to a lot more.

 

[KelNottAt]

Alcoholism.
It not only kills the patient, but can harm (and even kill) friends, family members, and innocent bystanders.

 

[Mandabella]

This is a hard decision because of the number of loved ones I have lost to various illnesses....cancer, complications due to AIDS, alzheimer's, heart disease, obesity, etc.

I'm going to say gout. My DH has it and it is very, very painful.

 

[tandrjohn]

Cancer...I just lost a close cousin 2 weeks ago, who was one month younger than me, to that killer disease.

 

[AmazingGrace]

Cancer. My ds9 is a cancer survivor and I would do anything to assure that no families have to go through it.

 

[zulaya]

Diabetes. Yes, there are other killers in the world. But try having to give yourself shots of insulin multiple times a day because your pancreas just doesn't work. Plus, all the ancillary bad benefits from having diabetes...reduced circulation, eyesight going bad, etc. This disease affects the whole body.

It's probably the most common chronic disease that kills you slowly with multiple complications all over your body that anything else on this earth.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

My first thought is cancer - I know that there are many different kinds, but the basic cause in all cases is abnormal cell growth and division. If someone could find a cure or way to prevent that, I'd be forever grateful.

My second request is a cure for chromosome/genetic mutations, such such as those that cause down down syndrome, trisomy 18 and thousands of other chromosome anomalies. I know this may never happen, at least not in my lifetime, but it would save the lives of thousands of infants and children.

 

[cats mom]

Since so many have picked cancer, which is pretty general... I'm going with a broad scope on my pick too.
Just can't decide which one.

Either:

Auto immune diseases
Would include multiple sclerosis, diabetes, lupus, arthritis, hashimotos, graves, maybe others as well.

or

debilitating brain disorders
Would include multiple sclerosis, Parkinsons, alzheimers, ALS, others

And yes, I'm being selfish. You'll notice that MS is in both lists.

It can be a REALLY ugly disease, it's seriously underfunded and the thing that really scares me about it is we're starting to see it in younger people all too often. Some debate about whether that's because the disease is becoming more prevalent or the dx process is getting better. Doesn't matter to me which it is. It affects at least 400,000 Americans, probably more.
I know of kids as young as 9 years old who have been diagnosed. In fact they want to establish pediatric MS centers now the need is so great.

 

[simba928]

Down Syndrome. I know 2 people with Down. One is a guy in his 30s. Super nice and very funny guy. The other is an adorable 5 year old girl. I am doing a school project on Down and while researching it and speaking to the little girl's mom, it has become very close to my heart. It affects a lot of people to varying degrees. And not only do people with Down Syndrome have a lower mental ability, they also have heart conditions and other medical problems. The majority of children with Down are born with at least 1 hole in their heart. The little girl was born with 2, but fortunately they were able to be fixed when she was an infant and her heart is looking great! This disease affects many innocent people and not only the people born with it. Down Syndrome affects all friends and family members of the child or adult. It is really horrible. The mother I spoke to said that she doesn't think there will ever be a cure for Down. There isn't enough research and funding for it. Everything you see on TV is for autism, cancer, heart disease, etc., which are all great causes, but you rarely see anything for Down. Its kind of sad that a mother has no hope for a cure for her daughter.

 

[Megster]

Alcoholism.
It not only kills the patient, but can harm (and even kill) friends, family members, and innocent bystanders.

This would be my choice. As a child of an alcoholic I would love to only have one dad; not a sober dad and a drunk one.
Breast Cancer would be close second in honor of my mom.

 

[newholidayx2]

Hmm lets see
Heart disease - yup its hereditary - dad died from it in 1994, older brother heart attack/heart bypass 2003
Cancer - older brother breast cancer, husband lost left kidney Aug 05
Alcoholism - younger brother currently in rehab, husband

 

[Papa Deuce]

No, ALS is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis...also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.

Doh! Of course! Brain fart!

 

[Sparx]

I've got to pick two. One mental and one physical.
Physical would be cancer.

Mental woudl be alzheimer's.

Both are totally devistating to anyone involved, not just the paitent.

 

[MinnieM3]

Gotta be the big C Cancer. Reason: see siggie and now more.

 

[jenm2878]

watching someone you love die of cancer has got to be one of the worst things in the world, so another vote for cancer.

I agree 100%. I always thought the idea of dying in a plane crash or drowning would be the worst way to die - those are at least quick. After watching my dad die of cancer and my husband's aunt struggle with stage 4 cancer, I hands down think it's one of the worst ways to go.

ETA: My number 2 pick would be MS. My best friend's husband is one of the kindest, funniest people I know and he has recently been diagnosed with MS. He's 27. Very sad.

 

[lilostitch]

CANCER


So many friends and family have been affected by this. I am an elementary school counselor, and when I have kids whose parents get cancer and sometimes die, it kills me. I'm so devastated for the poor kids

 

[JennyMominRI]

It's so inspiring to me to see how many people here have fought Cancer and other diseases and won...Gives me strength