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“Beating Cancer”

Forums General Melanoma Community “Beating Cancer”

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      CHD
      Participant

        Amen.

        I can't even count the number of people I have come across with cancer who seemingly did most everything "right," from diet and exercise to attitude.  It is so hard to refrain from looking for a cause that is within our control, I think because we just feel that if only we could find one, we will feel we finally have a way to take control of a frighteningly out of control situation.  I too am someone who was always conscious of eating healthy, I was a runner and kept my weight down and embraced the whole "think positive" movement for so many years.  And still I developed melanoma in my 40s.  I do still think eating healthy and exercising will contribute to our overall well-being and is very important, but from personal experience I can only agree with this author when she says that it is not necessarily a cancer preventative.  I can so relate to her mother growing tired of people looking for all the things she might have done wrong to bring cancer on herself.

        Thanks so much for sharing this.

          Sheepsandcows
          Participant

            Thank you for posting this article. Very true. I have no cancer, though my husband died of cancer and my son is now in treatment for Melanoma (3C).

            I must say that at first out of fear, sense of powerless and love I gave "too much" advise to my son about healthy diet, coping with stress, psychotherapy and many more. Once I realized I had to accept and work on my own issues as a witness of the suffering and recilience of a loved one, I now trust he will make the best choices he has available to him. I have friends usinng horrible language despite of the good intentions they may hold. I take their input as a sign of them having a hard time handling their own fears and pain. On the other hand, it leaves one with a feeling of loneliness and even guilt for trying to maintain a balance between realism and hope when it comes to cancer. Some people only wants to hear positive thinking, messages of hope and so on. They struggle with accepting the cancer patient's fears, doubts, etc.

            M

            Sheepsandcows
            Participant

              Thank you for posting this article. Very true. I have no cancer, though my husband died of cancer and my son is now in treatment for Melanoma (3C).

              I must say that at first out of fear, sense of powerless and love I gave "too much" advise to my son about healthy diet, coping with stress, psychotherapy and many more. Once I realized I had to accept and work on my own issues as a witness of the suffering and recilience of a loved one, I now trust he will make the best choices he has available to him. I have friends usinng horrible language despite of the good intentions they may hold. I take their input as a sign of them having a hard time handling their own fears and pain. On the other hand, it leaves one with a feeling of loneliness and even guilt for trying to maintain a balance between realism and hope when it comes to cancer. Some people only wants to hear positive thinking, messages of hope and so on. They struggle with accepting the cancer patient's fears, doubts, etc.

              M

              Sheepsandcows
              Participant

                Thank you for posting this article. Very true. I have no cancer, though my husband died of cancer and my son is now in treatment for Melanoma (3C).

                I must say that at first out of fear, sense of powerless and love I gave "too much" advise to my son about healthy diet, coping with stress, psychotherapy and many more. Once I realized I had to accept and work on my own issues as a witness of the suffering and recilience of a loved one, I now trust he will make the best choices he has available to him. I have friends usinng horrible language despite of the good intentions they may hold. I take their input as a sign of them having a hard time handling their own fears and pain. On the other hand, it leaves one with a feeling of loneliness and even guilt for trying to maintain a balance between realism and hope when it comes to cancer. Some people only wants to hear positive thinking, messages of hope and so on. They struggle with accepting the cancer patient's fears, doubts, etc.

                M

              CHD
              Participant

                Amen.

                I can't even count the number of people I have come across with cancer who seemingly did most everything "right," from diet and exercise to attitude.  It is so hard to refrain from looking for a cause that is within our control, I think because we just feel that if only we could find one, we will feel we finally have a way to take control of a frighteningly out of control situation.  I too am someone who was always conscious of eating healthy, I was a runner and kept my weight down and embraced the whole "think positive" movement for so many years.  And still I developed melanoma in my 40s.  I do still think eating healthy and exercising will contribute to our overall well-being and is very important, but from personal experience I can only agree with this author when she says that it is not necessarily a cancer preventative.  I can so relate to her mother growing tired of people looking for all the things she might have done wrong to bring cancer on herself.

                Thanks so much for sharing this.

                CHD
                Participant

                  Amen.

                  I can't even count the number of people I have come across with cancer who seemingly did most everything "right," from diet and exercise to attitude.  It is so hard to refrain from looking for a cause that is within our control, I think because we just feel that if only we could find one, we will feel we finally have a way to take control of a frighteningly out of control situation.  I too am someone who was always conscious of eating healthy, I was a runner and kept my weight down and embraced the whole "think positive" movement for so many years.  And still I developed melanoma in my 40s.  I do still think eating healthy and exercising will contribute to our overall well-being and is very important, but from personal experience I can only agree with this author when she says that it is not necessarily a cancer preventative.  I can so relate to her mother growing tired of people looking for all the things she might have done wrong to bring cancer on herself.

                  Thanks so much for sharing this.

                  Mat
                  Participant

                    Brian, thanks for posting.  I totally agree with the author's sentiments.  After we all scrap "beating" cancer from the lingo, let's scrap cancer "journey" as well.

                    Mat
                    Participant

                      Brian, thanks for posting.  I totally agree with the author's sentiments.  After we all scrap "beating" cancer from the lingo, let's scrap cancer "journey" as well.

                      Mat
                      Participant

                        Brian, thanks for posting.  I totally agree with the author's sentiments.  After we all scrap "beating" cancer from the lingo, let's scrap cancer "journey" as well.

                        Bubbles
                        Participant

                          Thanks, Brian.  The op ed hit some of the same notes I have ranted about before.  If anyone is interested here are a couple of posts I've written along those lines:

                          Some of you might remember some of these amazing folks:  http://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/2012/12/oh-people-youll-meet.html

                          And this was my response to a nosy doc who seemed to think I wouldn't have fallen into melanoma world had I just eaten a few more veggies….sweetly noted right after I had partial lung removal and brain zappage!!!  http://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/2010/05/comic-reliefsort-of.html

                          Sometimes you have to laugh.  Sometimes you have to cry.  I think both are okay.  A beautiful day to each of you!  Celeste

                           

                          Bubbles
                          Participant

                            Thanks, Brian.  The op ed hit some of the same notes I have ranted about before.  If anyone is interested here are a couple of posts I've written along those lines:

                            Some of you might remember some of these amazing folks:  http://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/2012/12/oh-people-youll-meet.html

                            And this was my response to a nosy doc who seemed to think I wouldn't have fallen into melanoma world had I just eaten a few more veggies….sweetly noted right after I had partial lung removal and brain zappage!!!  http://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/2010/05/comic-reliefsort-of.html

                            Sometimes you have to laugh.  Sometimes you have to cry.  I think both are okay.  A beautiful day to each of you!  Celeste

                             

                            Bubbles
                            Participant

                              Thanks, Brian.  The op ed hit some of the same notes I have ranted about before.  If anyone is interested here are a couple of posts I've written along those lines:

                              Some of you might remember some of these amazing folks:  http://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/2012/12/oh-people-youll-meet.html

                              And this was my response to a nosy doc who seemed to think I wouldn't have fallen into melanoma world had I just eaten a few more veggies….sweetly noted right after I had partial lung removal and brain zappage!!!  http://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/2010/05/comic-reliefsort-of.html

                              Sometimes you have to laugh.  Sometimes you have to cry.  I think both are okay.  A beautiful day to each of you!  Celeste

                               

                              Julie in SoCal
                              Participant

                                Yup Good Read!

                                If we're getting rid of some cancer phrases, I'd like to nominate two more for removal:

                                   1) "Cancer Free", because No Evidence of Disease is probably more true. 

                                    2) "Clean" scans,  because I I don't have "clean" scans, do I "Dirty" scans?

                                Just my thoughts,

                                Julie

                                Stage 3c WLE, SNB, LND, HD-INF, GM-CSF, IPI = NERD

                                 

                                Julie in SoCal
                                Participant

                                  Yup Good Read!

                                  If we're getting rid of some cancer phrases, I'd like to nominate two more for removal:

                                     1) "Cancer Free", because No Evidence of Disease is probably more true. 

                                      2) "Clean" scans,  because I I don't have "clean" scans, do I "Dirty" scans?

                                  Just my thoughts,

                                  Julie

                                  Stage 3c WLE, SNB, LND, HD-INF, GM-CSF, IPI = NERD

                                   

                                  Julie in SoCal
                                  Participant

                                    Yup Good Read!

                                    If we're getting rid of some cancer phrases, I'd like to nominate two more for removal:

                                       1) "Cancer Free", because No Evidence of Disease is probably more true. 

                                        2) "Clean" scans,  because I I don't have "clean" scans, do I "Dirty" scans?

                                    Just my thoughts,

                                    Julie

                                    Stage 3c WLE, SNB, LND, HD-INF, GM-CSF, IPI = NERD

                                     

                                    Jubes
                                    Participant

                                      Great post. I asked my doctor if I should change my diet and he just recommended a balanced healthy diet and mentioned that we here in Australia sometimes eat a bit too much meat to be balanced. Recommended plenty of fruit and veg. Then he said to me. This cancer is not your fault. It's just bad luck. I liked that ๐Ÿ™‚

                                      Jubes
                                      Participant

                                        Great post. I asked my doctor if I should change my diet and he just recommended a balanced healthy diet and mentioned that we here in Australia sometimes eat a bit too much meat to be balanced. Recommended plenty of fruit and veg. Then he said to me. This cancer is not your fault. It's just bad luck. I liked that ๐Ÿ™‚

                                        Jubes
                                        Participant

                                          Great post. I asked my doctor if I should change my diet and he just recommended a balanced healthy diet and mentioned that we here in Australia sometimes eat a bit too much meat to be balanced. Recommended plenty of fruit and veg. Then he said to me. This cancer is not your fault. It's just bad luck. I liked that ๐Ÿ™‚

                                            Maureen038
                                            Participant

                                              Thanks Brian for a great post!

                                              Maureen

                                              Maureen038
                                              Participant

                                                Thanks Brian for a great post!

                                                Maureen

                                                Maureen038
                                                Participant

                                                  Thanks Brian for a great post!

                                                  Maureen

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