Is cancer on the rise?
By cobra1368
@cobra1368 (702)
United States
April 22, 2009 9:35am CST
Growing up, I never noticed too many people I knew being diagnosed with cancer. However, as I have gotten older, I have noticed that more and more people that I know are being diagnosed with some form of cancer.
I once thought brain tumors were rare. Now a guy I used to work with has an inoperable brain stem glioma. He is only 34 years old and has three children. His days on this earth, unfortunately, are numbered. My mother was just diagnosed with a brain tumor before Christmas just this past year. Hers, fortunately, was able to be zapped using gamma-knife radiation technology. However, she is still suffering from the effects of both the inflamation of the tumor and the radiation. Her immune system is suppressed, so she is always sick, and it completely shuts her down. Hopefully, her life will eventually return to normal. My father died at 50 years old with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. My mother has also had melanoma removed from her face.
Cancer seems to be all around us, and I for one, blame the sedentary lifestyle and dietary habits of our country. We are not getting enough good nutrition into our bodies, and we are killing ourselves with toxins that we injest, put on our skin, breathe in, etc.
What do you think? Do you notice more and more people getting cancer or becoming terminally ill? Or do you think it is on the decline?
2 people like this
4 responses
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
16 May 09
Hi there, my friend. When I read your story, 2 things came to my mind. You are brave to go through it all, though I know it is hard to see our love ones suffering from illnesses and secondly, I hope that your mom will get better soon. All the best to her.
For this topic discussion, I certainly have seen lots of the cancer illness happening rapidly now. I was quite sad to read the news that even celebrities are no exception to this. The latest was Farah Fawcett, she having to battle cancer and I feel for her. Just wish that she will be better soon, and the question that comes to my mind is whether cancer is inevitable.
Is it purely the harmful of smoking, or totally on too much processed food that we eat or any type of drinks? I don't know up till now which type of food to avoid or drinks that I have become somewhat scared to eat outside. I would boil my food before frying, just to play safe. And trying to stock up on more vegetables and fruits. Let's hope for a healthier future for all of us. Do take care, my friend and all the best.
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
19 May 09
You are very much welcome. I suppose you are right. It takes a lot of generations for all of us to realize that the most important thing of all is nothing but our own dietary habits. I do believe in fate and destiny too, but when it comes to health, besides hereditary, there is also a chance that the descendants might not get it. Perhaps the awareness is much more closer to home, and hence, will make us more healthier in a sense. I am not surprised to know that some cancer patients or in fact, other sorts of illnesses do not have any descendants before them.
@cobra1368 (702)
• United States
16 May 09
Thanks, I appreciate the heartfelt words for my mom. :) I really think diet has a lot to do with it. I have heard that way back before processed foods became so prevalent, there really was less cancer out there. Unfortunately, I do not have the studies on hand to back this up, but I know I heard it from a good source. And it makes sense.
Furthermore, I think cooking our food is part of the problem. People have not evolved enough to be able to handle cooked foods. We've only been cooking for about 10 or so thousand years. It takes hundreds of thousands to millions of years for something to evolve to the point that it can accept something as profound as a dietary change.
Cooking food denatures proteins and saps essential nutrients and vitamins from the food. It changes it. Although I have been eating raw fruits and veggies for a long time now (I eat a large salad for lunch every day at work), I can only eat certain meats raw. My palate just isn't used to it.
Unfortunately, I think a lot of us have been eating badly for so many generations now, the cancer and other diseases may be in our genes. All we can do is try to be the healthiest we know how and hope for the best!
Thanks for your response! Have a great weekend!
1 person likes this
@diutay (1327)
• Philippines
23 Apr 09
Maybe. It might be that there were already a lot who suffered the existence of cancer before but were not diagnosed as such. Nowadays, people are more aware of cancer. That's why maybe there is a rise in the reported cases. I am not discounting though the very high percentage of people who have cancer. 
This may be attributed to a lot of factors like genetics, diet, lifestyle, vices, jobs and the likes. Also toxic chemicals
have become very common and can be found everywhere and anywhere. I come from a family with a history of cancer so I guess I am more susceptible to it. Actually, I am in the process of having a thorough medical examination with a battery of lab tests in order to rule out cancer in my condition. Hopefully, all of it will come out with good results. The risk is there but with the advances in the medical field, I am hopeful.
This may be attributed to a lot of factors like genetics, diet, lifestyle, vices, jobs and the likes. Also toxic chemicalshave become very common and can be found everywhere and anywhere. I come from a family with a history of cancer so I guess I am more susceptible to it. Actually, I am in the process of having a thorough medical examination with a battery of lab tests in order to rule out cancer in my condition. Hopefully, all of it will come out with good results. The risk is there but with the advances in the medical field, I am hopeful.@cobra1368 (702)
• United States
23 Apr 09
Good point. With the advances in medicine, it is possible that they are simply detecting more different types of cancer that were undetectable before.
I agree that things like lifestyle and toxins are contributing factors, and also that genetics plays a role. Cancer obviously runs in my family (given my story above), but I'm trying to keep myself as healthy as possible in order to reduce the risk of it happening to me.
Good luck to you with your tests! I hope you get the results you are hoping for.
1 person likes this
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
29 Apr 09
Unfortunatly I think it becomming more common place. I think you are right we use so many products and truly do not know the nature of their componets. No different than buying your groceries you have no idea what pesticides were used on your produce or what hormones your meat animals were give so they could produce more meat & milk. You are right though about being sedentary there are so many things we do sitting on our rears than anything any more and people have become isolated in their homes due to fear, habbit, age, or other uncertainties. I've noticed that once some folks retire that it seems they start becomming ill. I'm sure some scientific genious out there is developing a theory as to why it occurs.
But I think too with technology they are discovering & testing for things sooner. As my Aunt had no idea they do PAP's on women of all ages, she just thought it was for 40yr+. I'm like women can get various cancers of their reproductive system at any age, and being younger & having it caught isn't that uncommon. And as we are getting older we realize more of what diseases are out there.
@cobra1368 (702)
• United States
29 Apr 09
I think the illness of our elderly population is a combination of age suppressed immune systems (the immune systems becomes weaker as you age, like other body systems), and the build-up of toxins in our blood and tissues. After a while, the body just can't take any more, and it reflects this by making us sick.
Elderly people who have not taken care of their bodies fall ill simply because their lack of care or concern has simply caught up with them.
@ibelle09 (155)
• China
16 May 09
Oh, that's too bad. That's true that more and more people are getting cancer. Health seems not to keep as easily as our ancestors can do.Don't think so? See, there was SARS attacking the world severl years ago, and now we have A(H1N1) bothering us. We really have to keep our health. Best wishes for you.
@cobra1368 (702)
• United States
16 May 09
Yes, we certainly do! I think just cutting out sugar, breads and starches, and dairy is a good start for everyone. Did you know that as much as 80% of the world has an intolerance to either wheat products or dairy? Most people don't even know it, because they don't recognize their current maladies as being attributed to diet.
Thanks for the response! :) Take care.
