Okay, someone correct me if I'm wrong,

[imabrat]

But my opinion is you don't have cancer unless you have the tumor and go thru chemo and everything else.

The reason I bring this up was about an article on an Olympic Swimmer. He has a malignant tumor in his ******, ands he skipped the surgery to go to the pre-Olympics training.
It stated he has Testicular Cancer.

Now, I don't find that fair. Maybe it's just going thru everything myself (BTW, today's my anniversary, July 07) that I find it different. How is it fair to the billions of others who've had them malignant tumor plus surgery and chemo and more?
Maybe I'm wrong, maybe I'm right. I'm not upset, it just striked me as odd.
What do you think? Agree or disagree?

 

[Sparx]

are you saying that getting treatment is what means you have cancer?

 

[JulielovesDisney]

I don't really understand what you are saying.
He has a right to postpone treatment until after the Olympics.

 

[CrazyChik]

I'm not sure what you're saying either but for me you have cancer when a doctor hands you that diagnosis. Wether you treat or not, you have it.

 

[TinkerTracy]

Well I'm not sure if I'm understanding you. But wether or not he has treatment does not change the fact that he has cancer. No matter what he chooses to do, his diagnosis still stands.

 

[rock.my.socks]

If you mean he hasnt experienced cancer completely, if he hasnt had treatment, then I agree with you, but he still has cancer.

I'm not sure I understand completely though.

 

[imabrat]

are you saying that getting treatment is what means you have cancer?

What do you define as treatment? Surgery and/or chemo are treatment.

When you think of cancer, what do you think of? I know I thought of tumors and chemotherapy.
I just don't see why you can say you have cancer when you just have a malignant tumor that needs to be removed. You wouldn't need to have chemo, deal with the side effects of chemo, or anything else.
IMO, they get the easy way out than others. Some have to deal with the tumor, surgery, chemo, side effects and more. But if you only need it removed, how is that cancer?

 

[JulielovesDisney]

It's cancer because it's still a life threatening illness. There are so many varying degrees of cancer, it really isn't fair to say "oh well since you only need one surgery, you can't call it cancer," when their life could still end if they left it alone.

 

[Babyjustrun]

If it was diagnosed as cancer, then he has cancer. If the media doesn't have it right, then oh well.

But whether he has cancer or not, the tumor is malignant. Which = not good. And he's decided to pursue his dreams anyway, and participate. I'm sure swimming isn't exactly comfortable with all those groin pains.

 

[KidGoofy]

Aren't there 2 types of tumors- Cancerous and Not Cancerous. And I think what he is doing is stupid. That is a very serious thing and it can get worse. While he could just get the surgery, heal, and wait 4 more years for the next Olympics.

 

[Sparx]

What do you define as treatment? Surgery and/or chemo are treatment.

When you think of cancer, what do you think of? I know I thought of tumors and chemotherapy.
I just don't see why you can say you have cancer when you just have a malignant tumor that needs to be removed. You wouldn't need to have chemo, deal with the side effects of chemo, or anything else.
IMO, they get the easy way out than others. Some have to deal with the tumor, surgery, chemo, side effects and more. But if you only need it removed, how is that cancer?

cancer is a set of cells rapidly reproducing for no apparent reason.
and he has that.

just like you had a tumor in your knee, and regardless of if you had it removed and got the treatment, you still had cancer.

if he is diagnosed with cancer, thats enough for me to say he has cancer.

 

[imabrat]

If it was diagnosed as cancer, then he has cancer. If the media doesn't have it right, then oh well.

But whether he has cancer or not, the tumor is malignant. Which = not good. And he's decided to pursue his dreams anyway, and participate. I'm sure swimming isn't exactly comfortable with all those groin pains.

That's what I'm thinking. I read the report then posted this, and after another report said he did need treatment, but what do they define that as?

 

[Sparx]

That's what I'm thinking. I read the report then posted this, and after another report said he did need treatment, but what do they define that as?

treatment is anything that helps him. be it surgery or chemo or voodoo magic.

 

[Babyjustrun]

It's hard to know all the details with the media.
They all say different things, and we never know what's true.
Guess we'll have to wait for the auto-biography or a memoir.

 

[Disneylover 2]

He has cancer. Malignant=cancer.
Cancer does not mean that you haver to go through all that chemo stuff.
THERE, I CORRECTED YOU.
He probably had pains like you did.
You shouldn't be mad because he doesn't need to have your kind of treatment. Infact, you should be happy for him.
He is getting treatment: he is getting surgery.

 

[chisnpeke]

You have cancer if you are diagnosed. Some people are diagnosed and told they only have a few months to live so they choose to forego treatment and live out the remainder of their life. Just because they do not have surgery or chemo or any type of treatment does not mean they do not have cancer. Cancer is a deadly disease and any form of it can kill you, regardless of if you get treatment. My grandma had stomach cancer and she went into remission but it came back and she died from it. My grandpa started to get sick and was spitting up blood. He went into the hospital, they did tests, and they diagnosed him with small cell lung cancer. He died the day after he was officially diagnosed. He didn't have treatment, but he still had cancer. The cancer killed him, so you cannot deny or say he didn't have cancer. It took his life.

 

[imabrat]

He has cancer. Malignant=cancer.
Cancer does not mean that you haver to go through all that chemo stuff.
THERE, I CORRECTED YOU.
He probably had pains like you did.
You shouldn't be mad because he doesn't need to have your kind of treatment. Infact, you should be happy for him.
He is getting treatment: he is getting surgery.

Well excuse ME! Why the rudeness, "There, I corrected YOU".
I've got a lot of things to say that would pass thru the filters.

1st, Did you read where I wrote "I'm not upset, it just striked me as odd"?
2nd, I NEVER said I wasn't happy for him.

 

[imabrat]

You have cancer if you are diagnosed. Some people are diagnosed and told they only have a few months to live so they choose to forego treatment and live out the remainder of their life. Just because they do not have surgery or chemo or any type of treatment does not mean they do not have cancer. Cancer is a deadly disease and any form of it can kill you, regardless of if you get treatment. My grandma had stomach cancer and she went into remission but it came back and she died from it. My grandpa started to get sick and was spitting up blood. He went into the hospital, they did tests, and they diagnosed him with small cell lung cancer. He died the day after he was officially diagnosed. He didn't have treatment, but he still had cancer. The cancer killed him, so you cannot deny or say he didn't have cancer. It took his life.

Aha, you've proved me wrong.
I just think that going thru this personally, changes my outlook on it.

Sorry for sounding ignorant or confusing.

 

[Sparx]

sonya, youve been coming off as kindof elitist through this whole thread. it really seems like you feel that if someone didnt go through the same thing as you, they can't have cancer.

 

[imabrat]

sonya, youve been coming off as kindof elitist through this whole thread. it really seems like you feel that if someone didnt go through the same thing as you, they can't have cancer.

Okay, and I've realized that.
I've apologized and that should be the end of it.


I'm glad you feel I sound elitist, but these are my opinions. No one has to like them, it's just what I think.