posted on April 6, 2005 01:09:53 PM new
My question is, if a person drinks, smokes and eats meat and fatty foods all their life, then comes down with cancer, do they have a right to complain? I know this sounds harsh, but an acquaintance of mine found out she had cancer and was a wreck for months. Everyone huddled around her to try and help her through it but I had no sympathy for her at all because of her lifestyle. In my opinion, it was a no-brainer that she'd get it. Why should anyone feel sympathetic for someone that's encouraged cancer?
We all have bad habits that could harm us in some way later in life. Do you ever have a drink? Might you or someone you know drive after even one drink? How about exercise? Do you do it regularly? If not, you could face health problems down the road. You can come down with cancer by breathing chemicals in the air. No one asks to get cancer. Our bad habits are learned. Most, especially smoking, are very difficult to overcome.
I've had cancer. Cervical. I didn't ask for it. They now think it's caused in part by being sexually active at a young age or from an STD (ok, get the idea out of your head - I was a virgin until 18 and I never had an STD). Because a woman might be sexually active at a young age, do you think they deserve cervical cancer?
A lot of people eat meat and fatty foods. Obesity, which can lead to heart disease, is a major concern in this country. Do they deserve to die from heart disease because they are overweight?
Cancer patients need support and love from those around them. The treatments provided for cancer are sometimes worse than the disease itself. What you are saying is, oh well, they got what they deserved. I can't say that.
posted on April 6, 2005 01:49:49 PM new
Kraft, woaw, that does sound harsh. And even if she is only an acquaintance of yours, I don't know, if it was me, I would have sympathy.
Cheryls right, and a lot of people live that lifestyle, and I don't think they 'deserve' to get cancer.
Look at Peter Jennings, he's got lung cancer, I believe I heard him say himself, it was because he smoked. Now do you believe he 'deserves what he got' ?
posted on April 6, 2005 01:53:20 PM new
kraft, you can't be sure your friend got Cancer from her live style. You do understand that don't you? There are a lot of reasons people get Cancer. So since you really can't say what caused this gals Cancer I find this statement from you off the point. "I had no sympathy for her at all because of her lifestyle." Why didn't you just say you don't have sympathy for people that have a different lifestyle than you do and leave Cancer out of it?
posted on April 6, 2005 01:54:15 PM new
{{Cheryl}}, I certainly understand what you're saying. You're right, not all cancers are the fault of the person, but I feel some are.
If there was a room filled with anthrax dust and a big sign above it telling you not to go in the room or you'll get anthrax, who's fault would it be if you went in the room anyway?
It seems like we (society) aren't even taking responsiblity for our own health anyone. It's like eat, drink and be merry and if you come down with anything, it's because there's too much carbon monoxide in the air or the water's bad or whatever. You get sick, then everyone has to pay for your healthcare through higher insurance rates.
How can a person have any sympathy for someone who encourages diseases, such as cancer, and encourages being a burden on the healthcare system because of their chosen lifestyle?
posted on April 6, 2005 01:57:25 PM new
No they didn't get what they deserved but the life style they led contributed to it.
The American Public has been warned since 1954 that smoking causes cancer. It also causes emphysema. No matter how it is presented the american people continued to do it, no matter what the warnings.
They have a right to complain but I don't think we have a right to say I told you so. Just try and and be a little sympatic to her. It will probably be hard but why make her life more miserable. JMHO
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[ edited by Libra63 on Apr 6, 2005 03:32 PM ]
posted on April 6, 2005 02:13:23 PM new
Bigpeepa, it's because she smoked 3 packs a day plus drank and ended up with lung cancer (who'd have thought??) I know it's not pc to say but I think it was her own fault for getting cancer. Should a person like her be supported by friends? Absolutely, but she should also be made aware of the role she played in getting cancer in the first place.
posted on April 6, 2005 03:38:49 PM new
KD, I understand what you mean. But we as people never think something will happen to us no matter what we do, or how we act. So I think a few words of kindness wouldn't hurt your friend. Humans are forgiving people so no matter what you friend did she doesn't have to have anyone tell her I told you so, because she already knows.
posted on April 6, 2005 04:40:59 PM new
KRAFT, again you don't really know what caused this womans Cancer. BWT what kind of Cancer does she have and where in her body is the Cancer?
posted on April 6, 2005 04:49:56 PM new
Hey Cheryl. A virgin until 18. WOW how did you keep guys like me away at that age? LOL. I am just kidding you don't have to answer its not my business to know. HA HA
posted on April 6, 2005 07:19:54 PM new
Krafty - what is going to be accomplished by making sure that this person who is entering into a very tough battle is made to see the evil of her youth and how it is effecting things now? This is one of those situations where assigning responsibility doesn't accomplish anything. If you have any desire to see this person survive, just support them.
Tell your kids, your friends kids, the neighbors kids, etc what actions of hers you feel are responsible for the situation but this person has a much bigger reality to be grasped and fought these days.
I think those is one of those situations where if you can't say anything nice...
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on April 7, 2005 03:28:00 PM new
I think I understand what Kraft is getting at, though. I see people committing slow suicide everywhere--a good friend, in his 60s, has had two heart attacks and has been told to quit smoking. Nope. I see obese people at all-you-can-eat joints shoveling down plate after plate of fatty foods, and too large to sit on the chair provided.
Suicide is considered a sin in some circles. What about slow suicide by, say, obese or smoking members of the clergy?
We all need to take responsibility for the ailments we have that can be directly attributed to overeating, smoking, drinking to excess, reckless driving, etc.
But--we can love our friends and family who then suffer dreadful illnesses as a result, and we can give them support. I just wonder sometimes what people could be thinking as they abuse their bodies.
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posted on April 8, 2005 08:56:49 PM new
nicotine is very addictive,did they not find out the tobacco companies lace tobacco,paper,filter with chemicals to make it more addictive??
as to people who have sex early in life -back in the old Roman empire days,women of nobility had cervical cancer and poor people dont,why?
The customs call for the man to come up with a large sum of money to take on a bride and most middle class family dont have that kind of money to help their son,but the upper class did,so the young 13 years old noble girls marry the 16 years old noble boys and later in life they contracted cervical cancer.
the theory is that a young girl cervix is not well formed and fragile .
as to having too many sex partners,it could be that virus HPV?? which causes genital wart is also responsible for cervical cancer.You could also say that too many sex partners translate to too many sexual intercourse which caused cell change at the cervix.
also,another speculation is that more men are uncircumcised in the old days and they dont wash themselves often.
But I have heard we will soon have a vaccine for that HPV virus.
Now vitamin deficiency could play a role to easy infection too,chinese doctors give vitamin A suppositories to chinese women to treat early stage cervical cancer and the reversal rate is like 93%.so take your vitamins!!
-sig file -------
Eat grass,kick ass,never go belly up!
posted on April 8, 2005 09:01:12 PM new
now eating disorder or just the sheer joy of eating!!
some folks said they dont have the means to indulge in sking,scuba diving or getting out of town,so eating at a buffet is a treat for them.
Or eating makes them feel good,feel like they are being loved,what can be better than loving oneself by shoving love potions in your mouth??
-sig file -------
Eat grass,kick ass,never go belly up!
It's interesting about the vitamin A. I load up on vitamins. I don't trust the foods we get in the stores to provide the needed vitamins. Since I am under a lot of stress at work and I do smoke, I know I need the extra vitamins. I'm thinking about trying acupuncture to quit smoking. I know someone who was successful at quitting by doing the acupuncture. We offer it at work.
A tad off subject (we do work with Cancer patients so it's not totally off), but I just finished our web site for work (yet, again) and would appreciate opinions. I still have some pages to work on yet. Am I missing any information that should be there? It's hard to tell after staring at it for so long.
posted on April 9, 2005 06:25:14 AM new
Cheryl,
you have a nice site,soothing to the eyes and I like those lotus flowers and leaves!
There are some good acupuncturists in the states now,we have several in Houston.
I dont envy anyone who tries to kick the smoking habit,I never got into smoking as i never learn how to inhale the smoke,lucky me!!or am I missing something in life??
-sig file -------
Eat grass,kick ass,never go belly up!
posted on April 9, 2005 12:31:06 PM new
Thank-you Roadsmith! I know it sounded awful, and just so everyone knows, this person is a friend of a friend - an acquaintance. I only met her twice but was familiar with her throughout the years through my friend. It was the Peter Jennings thing that made me think about her situation.
It seems like the government controls every aspect of our lives except how we treat our bodies and how many kids we have, and we are left with hoards of sick people (rising health care) and a population explosion. If you look around you, you have to pay for all the people that are fat and sickly because that's the lifestyle they've chosen - they're making you pay (skyrocketing insurance premiums) for not having any sense of their own.
Instead of coddling these sick people, we should be telling them how they got sick and support them by showing them better ways to live (no smoking, etc.), and not feeling sorry for them. That's why I have no sympathy for people who get sick when they're the ones that made themselves that way - whether it's cancer or obesity or whatever.
P.S. What a nice layout Cheryl!! It makes you feel calm just reading it all. Good job.
posted on April 9, 2005 07:02:18 PM new
Remember the thread awhile ago about the company who only hires non smoking people and the ones still employed had to quit or lose their jobs.
I can't remember the name of the company but they were also going to tackle obesity.
Maybe this is the coming thing. If people can't take control of their bodies then someone like this company is stepping in. They say the sky rocketing insurance premiums are because we abuse our bodies. I believe that, but then if we all try and get healthy will the insurance companies lower the rates. I doubt it.
I still like a buffet once in a while and of course that really greasy fish at Long John Silver.
posted on April 10, 2005 05:32:02 AM newInstead of coddling these sick people, we should be telling them how they got sick
Its a good thing your not a nurse or a doctor, kraft. Sounds like what makes you feel better is to condemn someone for having the audacity to fall ill?
Libra, LOL on the long john silvers. I hardly ever eat there, I'm not a big fish person to start with, but once in a while I will, so had to chuckle at your thought of the greasy fish! It sure is, lol.
Cheryl, your website is very nice. I think you missed an {s} on one your "those persons" bullets, but you probably found that already in review. And If you dont mind a little constructive criticism, there's something about using the term "those persons" - I dont like. I think because it brings the emphasis on people instead of the illness - you know what I mean? It's like what persons? - THOSE PERSONS! To me, it sounds more appealing to say, "people who are suffering from ....or, those afflicted with..." It's just my opinion, but I think people would read it and go, "yeah, thats me - thats what I have"
maybe they can help me? Instead of thinking, oh yeah, I'm one of THOSE persons; or I may have pains in my back, but I am NOT one of those persons!
Its just a suggestion, but you know me, I am funny with words and how they are received. Other people probably wouldn't bat an eye at it.
..
[ edited by dblfugger9 on Apr 10, 2005 06:16 AM ]
posted on April 10, 2005 07:25:19 AM new
I sure would not want to play GOD and tell people how they get sick!!!!!!!!
-sig file -------
Eat grass,kick ass,never go belly up!
posted on April 10, 2005 08:05:44 AM new
Thanks, dbl. That's why I asked for people to look at it. I took the word persons out and just made it "Those who are. . . ." since the word people is used in the main sentence.
The web site address is on all of our business cards and on the ads we place in different publications. I'm also going to submit to search engines as soon as I get the chance. It's also plastered across the front window of the office. The web site started out to benefit us for grant applications (they always ask for a web site address), but it blossomed from there.
Thanks for all the nice comments. I toyed with changing the layout, but decided I like this one too much.
posted on April 10, 2005 03:13:29 PM new
Libra, I remember the thread. I know that I went to Alaska Airlines to apply for a job, didn't even get to the interview part as it is totally no smoking, they do some kind of test, you can't smoke at all, period. That was awhile ago, and it, I'm sure is still in effect now.
I saw on TV the a company Weyco has a totally no smoking (even on your own time, and anywhere)
posted on April 10, 2005 03:23:16 PM new
That's it NTS. I wonder if they have started their obesity program yet. It will be interesting to see if they do that.
I have some weight to lose so I stopped at LA weight loss but after I read that they require a contract for $800.00, I am on my way to weight watchers. Now mind you my boss, which is me, isn't requiring any weight loss but since soon I will need a hip replacement I want to be in shape. I was on weight watchers awhile ago, about 6 years ago and did quite well but of course quit before I was done so now I am going back. Good time to go as I love ice cream it will probably be forbidden and that is good.
posted on April 10, 2005 03:50:46 PM new
Libra, IIRC, the owner of Weyco was getting in on the weight loss and workout for his employees. I don't know if he has implemted the workout/weight loss thing yet though, I'm sure he will.
Good luck on the weight loss and WW's . I have always heard good things about WW's
And all good thoughts on the hip replacement! Thats a major thing.
I go tommorow for an MRI, my blood tests have all shown that I *may* have a brain tumor. (so says my doc) So I've put it off so long, my dr called me one night and told me I HAVE to go have this done, so I'm a bit scared of that whole ordeal.
Kraft, If they do find I have one, there is absolutley NOTHING I did (smoking drinking, indulging etc ) to cause this, as there was nothing I could have changed in my lifestyle for the other SIX pound tumor(I didn't have a clue I had, and weighed 102 pounds at the time!) I had and removed successfully. (it was not in the brain obviously , it was in the abdomen.)
posted on April 10, 2005 03:58:48 PM new
Libra: I had a hip replacement 6 years ago and it was a very positive experience. Before that I had so much pain walking, couldn't reach down to pull on panty hose or put on socks, limped a bit, etc. My last political campaign for reelection was murder because I literally could not go door-to-door.
If you want some moral support as you anticipate that surgery, I can "hold your hand" from a distance and sort of walk you through it, as I've done for several friends. If you know what to expect in your recovery, you can feel at peace. Just e-mail me at [email protected] or post a thread here in the roundtable and I'll see it.
I'm having gall bladder surgery Wednesday; have had some bad problems with pain and discomfort and the ultrasound showed gallstones so we're going to yank it. They're thinking they can do it laparoscopically instead of via the big incision, and I'm hoping that will happen. Pre-op tomorrow. Wish me luck! And I wish you luck!
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