I can totally understand your frustration. When I was 9 a family up the street lost the father to lung cancer (back then you didn't talk what type). Everyone was sad but knew that he smoked several packs a day so we weren't shocked. Yes even in 78' this didn't shock us.
Then over the summer of 80' the mother died of lung cancer as well. This left their 3 kids orphans. That was when second hand smoke was introduced in to my world as a reality.
But because of 1 smoker in the house the second case was blamed on that. We really can't say for sure that's the case. Not 100%. Sure it's likely.
Honestly because of my age it was just something that happened to a family on my street. Until the day the daughter who was in my class broke down in the school bathroom and I was the only one there to listen.
Breast Cancer is the one cancer people can find early on their own. So I understand why it gets tons of attention. But you're right in being upset that other cancers don't get the same money.
I think the other thing that gets me about it is that it's been taken up as such a feminist issue....gods forbid that you point out that MEN can get breast cancer. If more people thought more about general screenings, colonoscopy, bloodwork, etc., we could catch more of the other cancers, imho. The focus on breast cancer is *great* because it raises awareness. But more awareness is needed on just plain cancer in general.
I knew a woman who was practically rabid about doing BSE, getting her mammograms, breast care.....she died of colon cancer, because she was too embarassed to have a colonoscopy. *sigh*
I know a guy who's Dad signed up for a general healthy case study and in the process found colon cancer. Luck was really on his side because it was early.
My friend has 2 brothers. My friend was the only one who has gotten regular complete check ups since his Dad's cancer. He refuses to leave it up to chance that he'll be as lucky as his Dad.
Sometimes its a matter of trying to get your Dr to actually listen to what is going on. For me, and it seems for a lot of people in the online support group to which I belong, there seems to be a common thread of Dr's pooh poohing symptoms to which they really should be paying attention.
Yep, I konw that one. I spend 6 months being told I had acid reflux and being refused a chest xray, until I went to a different doctor and told him I was not leaving the exam room until he "ordered me a damn chest xray!"
*sigh* Between the bs that the insurance gives them about ordering tests and approving things, and the bs that hospital administrations often give them, sometimes I think it's a miracle that there are *any* good doctors left.
Then over the summer of 80' the mother died of lung cancer as well. This left their 3 kids orphans. That was when second hand smoke was introduced in to my world as a reality.
But because of 1 smoker in the house the second case was blamed on that. We really can't say for sure that's the case. Not 100%. Sure it's likely.
Honestly because of my age it was just something that happened to a family on my street. Until the day the daughter who was in my class broke down in the school bathroom and I was the only one there to listen.
Breast Cancer is the one cancer people can find early on their own. So I understand why it gets tons of attention. But you're right in being upset that other cancers don't get the same money.
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I knew a woman who was practically rabid about doing BSE, getting her mammograms, breast care.....she died of colon cancer, because she was too embarassed to have a colonoscopy. *sigh*
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My friend has 2 brothers. My friend was the only one who has gotten regular complete check ups since his Dad's cancer. He refuses to leave it up to chance that he'll be as lucky as his Dad.
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Hearing him explain the problems they had squishing his chest into the machine was quite amusing.
Fortunately, the lump was benign and easily removed.
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*sigh* Between the bs that the insurance gives them about ordering tests and approving things, and the bs that hospital administrations often give them, sometimes I think it's a miracle that there are *any* good doctors left.
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