First it was Ed Bradley, recently dying of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, and now listening to the evening news, I learned that Fred Thompson, potential presidential candidate, who also played a DA on the TV show Law and Order, was diagnosed with Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL) 3 years ago.
This, on top of the fact that an old cycling buddy, plus the boy friend of another cycling buddy, were both diagnosed with NHL within the same time frame, a 37 year old woman, working at our sister company, was recently diagnosed with Multiple Sclecrosis, and the Chief Inspector at the company I work for, just underwent treatment for lung cancer.
Then I can't forget about my wife (Edie), diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, and two other other cycling buddies, one who was diagnosed with bone cancer about 3 years ago, and still undergoing treatment, and the other who was diagnosed with breast cancer, and brain cancer, about 6 years ago, who so far is still in remission.
Oh yeah, and then there is one of our wine drinking friends, who has recently been undergoing tests for the diagnosis of something, which she has not been very forthcoming in telling us about.
What is going on here? Is this this just life, i.e. something that happens as we age? Is it our life style, that is resulting in more people getting sick? Or do I just know too many people?
Whatever it is, I don't like it!
It is just starting to get real old. With of course the exception of Ed Bradley and Fred Thompson, I know all these people. I deal with these people on a regular basis, and I just can't put it out of my mind.
This, on top of the fact that an old cycling buddy, plus the boy friend of another cycling buddy, were both diagnosed with NHL within the same time frame, a 37 year old woman, working at our sister company, was recently diagnosed with Multiple Sclecrosis, and the Chief Inspector at the company I work for, just underwent treatment for lung cancer.
Then I can't forget about my wife (Edie), diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, and two other other cycling buddies, one who was diagnosed with bone cancer about 3 years ago, and still undergoing treatment, and the other who was diagnosed with breast cancer, and brain cancer, about 6 years ago, who so far is still in remission.
Oh yeah, and then there is one of our wine drinking friends, who has recently been undergoing tests for the diagnosis of something, which she has not been very forthcoming in telling us about.
What is going on here? Is this this just life, i.e. something that happens as we age? Is it our life style, that is resulting in more people getting sick? Or do I just know too many people?
Whatever it is, I don't like it!
It is just starting to get real old. With of course the exception of Ed Bradley and Fred Thompson, I know all these people. I deal with these people on a regular basis, and I just can't put it out of my mind.
Comments
Today in Canada they just published the recent Canadian cancer numbers. The bad news - the experts figure that as many as 44% of us will die of cancer, more because we are living longer and therefore there is more of a chance to get cancer. The biggest cancer killer is lung cancer, as usually it is not diagnosed until it has spread out of the lung. The good news is that in general cancer rates have stabilized or declined over the last 10 years. If this interests you, the news article is at www.cbc.ca under "health". I don't think it can be that different in the States.
You put a human face on it though, with so many of your friends suffering. A stat is a stat, but when it is yourself and so many people you know that makes it real and pretty tough.
From the research I've done, two of the best things one can do to stop cancers from growing is get at least 9 hours of COMPLETE darkness every night. Not even a nightlight (unless it is red). Melatonin stops cancer in its tracks, but it only works when it is dark. Secondly, cancer loves sugar, so avoiding all high glycemic foods like the plague. I hope that helps ...
Vreni