This irks me. (comment about Cancer)

[happybratpack]

I just sent an IM to a friend that Ann Richards announced she has Esophogus Cancer. First response was "well she used to smoke"...I don't get comments like this. It's like saying she deserves it or had it coming to her. Yea, smoking and making other bad choices makes you high risk but that doesn't mean you deserve to have it, I wouldn't wish that upon anyone. I don't know, it just really rubbed me the wrong way.

Article here btw.
http://www.nbc5i.com/politics/7818660/detail.html

ETA...I'm also in the middle of PRE-PMS, there's no chocolate or heating pad here so maybe I'm being overly sensitive.

 

[imsorry]

I thought this cancer was mainly triggered by acid reflux? The smoking comment doesn't make sense; look what happend to Dana Reeves and she never smoked.

 

[dturner]

I just sent an IM to a friend that Ann Richards announced she has Esophogus Cancer. First response was "well she used to smoke"...I don't get comments like this. It's like saying she deserves it or had it coming to her. Yea, smoking and making other bad choices makes you high risk but that doesn't mean you deserve to have it, I wouldn't wish that upon anyone. I don't know, it just really rubbed me the wrong way.

Article here btw.
http://www.nbc5i.com/politics/7818660/detail.html

It irkes me too. Unfortunately a lot of people think IF you were ever a smoker and have gotten cancer it was from the smoking thus your responsible and it's your own fault.

I don't believe that - I believe that if someone is going to get cancer they are going to get it whether or not they smoke or do other things that may trigger the cancer - there are a lot of people who get cancer that have never smoked and there are a lot of smokers who never get cancer.

 

[happybratpack]

I agree, a close friend had mouth cancer and never smoked. I need to read more on esophogus cancer, I don't know what causes it. I asked him if I deserved to be diagnosed w/ skin cancer since I tanned all those years, no response.

 

[grimley1968]

My Mom died of esophageal cancer. She was also a heavy smoker. While smoking (probably) didn't cause it, it really prevented her from having any ability to fight it. She also had chronic stomach acid (this should be a warning to never ignore chronic stomach problems) which was the probable cause. But her years of smoking made her heart and lungs very weak. So weak, in fact, that she could not withstand the surgery to take out the tumor. Her heart started going wild in the operation, and the surgeon had to leave the tumor in and sew her back up. I have to be honest, though, I think the jury is out on whether all the smoke she inhaled may have also damaged the lining of her esophagus as much as the stomach acid. I have a cousin who also had esophageal cancer a couple of years ago, because he also had chronic stomach acid problems. But he doesn't smoke. He recovered.

So, while the comment may have been a bit too glib for the occasion, being a lifelong smoker certainly does not help Governor Richards' chances for pulling through this. Certainly, no one deserves this fate, but the causes of esophageal cancer are still vague, so I don't think it can be ruled out that smoking played a major role in contracting it. There could even be a genetic component to it. I know I have the same stomach problems from my mom's side of the family. Fortunately, I live in the age of prilosec, zantac, etc., and I don't smoke.

 

[froglady]

IMO, it's a way to feel that "it won't happen to me because I don't do...." I have relatives (medical professionals) who are the same way. If someone suffers/dies from a heart attack, etc the first thing they ask is "Does/did he/she smoke, was he/she overweight, did he/she exercise, did he/she have regular check-ups, etc?" In short, what did the person do to bring it upon himself. Since they do all of the "right" things, I think they subconsciously believe nothing bad will ever happen to them. (healthwise)

 

[MinnieM3]

Currently have lung cancer. Surgery on Tuesday.

Never smoked or been around smoke my entire life, not just as an adult.

I DO feel like I have to add that on to everyone I tell "the news." Not because I think smokers "deserve it." NO ONE does!!

 

[RachelEllen]

IMO, it's a way to feel that "it won't happen to me because I don't do...." I have relatives (medical professionals) who are the same way. If someone suffers/dies from a heart attack, etc the first thing they ask is "Does/did he/she smoke, was he/she overweight, did he/she exercise, did he/she have regular check-ups, etc?" In short, what did the person do to bring it upon himself. Since they do all of the "right" things, I think they subconsciously believe nothing bad will ever happen to them. (healthwise)

That was my first thought as well. I don't think it's usually even meant uncharitablely. It's just a reaction out of fear. I think it's one of the reasons that the death of Dana Reeves is hitting a lot of people so hard. There was someone so young who did everything 'right' If it could happen to her, it could happen to any of us.

 

[lbgraves]

I have learned that there is a high level of ignorance about cancer. MIL has stage 4 colon cancer & has been living with it for over three years now...three tumors removed, 2 complete rounds of chemo lasting 6 months or more with another ready to start after they get rid of the blood clot in her leg that developed after the last surgery, 2 rounds of radiation, and three years of losing her dignity & feeling ill every day. Hearing some of the stupid comments people make to just blows me away.

 

[Doctor P]

I'm sorry, but I don't think it is a stupid, particularly harsh. or unfeeling comment. The fact is that smoking does cause health problems, and when one gets health problems that have some link to smoking. One of the two major forms of esophogeal cancer has as a primary link the use of tobacco (the other has primary links to injuries of the esophagus). The primary use of tobacco (not secondary smoke) is a choice that a person makes that has known health risks. While I feel very, very sorry for anyone that has a serious health problem, it is not inappropriate to note some culpability on the part of people who have lost their bet with behavior that has dangerous health consequences. And, before someone thinks that I am being too harsh, I speak as a sufferer of a chronic disease that does have behavioral links and whose progression is directly related to me trying to be better about those things (I fight it every day). While some of these things have hereditary links, we can do better about putting off the onset of the disease. I wish her the best of luck, but also feel it is appropriate to point out behavioral links that may have contributed to the problem. JMHO.

 

[ILUVMYBRIT]

Currently have lung cancer. Surgery on Tuesday.

Never smoked or been around smoke my entire life, not just as an adult.

I DO feel like I have to add that on to everyone I tell "the news." Not because I think smokers "deserve it." NO ONE does!!

 

[tiggersmom2]

I'm sorry, but I don't think it is a stupid, particularly harsh. or unfeeling comment. The fact is that smoking does cause health problems, and when one gets health problems that have some link to smoking. One of the two major forms of esophogeal cancer has as a primary link the use of tobacco (the other has primary links to injuries of the esophagus). The primary use of tobacco (not secondary smoke) is a choice that a person makes that has known health risks. While I feel very, very sorry for anyone that has a serious health problem, it is not inappropriate to note some culpability on the part of people who have lost their bet with behavior that has dangerous health consequences. And, before someone thinks that I am being too harsh, I speak as a sufferer of a chronic disease that does have behavioral links and whose progression is directly related to me trying to be better about those things (I fight it every day). While some of these things have hereditary links, we can do better about putting off the onset of the disease. I wish her the best of luck, but also feel it is appropriate to point out behavioral links that may have contributed to the problem. JMHO.

I absolutely agree. My best friend in the world died of esophogeal cancer in 2001.....he was 32 with three young children. He was also the owner of a bar/restaurant and smoked atleast 3 packs a day and drank heavily on the weekends. As a RN I can tell you that esophogeal cancer is increased 10 fold in patients who smoke/drink in addition to the acid reflux.

I don't say that to be mean....I say it to educate, so no one else will lose their life in the horrible way my dear friend Mitch did, b/c esophogeal cancer has a VERY low survivor rate....