The biggest cause of death
By marguicha
@marguicha (223001)
Chile
March 6, 2012 7:42pm CST
From time to time I hear that cancer is the biggest cause of death. I think that it might be the most feared of cause of death, but not the biggest nor the worst. The biggest, of course, is the fact of being alive: we are all going to die at one time or another
Just a while ago I answered yet another post about this and decided to make a copy-paste of my answer to start a discussion from my point of wiew. As my friends here know, I had chemo for several months last year and will have to be with monoclonal antibodies for at least 2 more years. Between each dose (a wait of 3 months between each one), I can travel, mylot, ktit for my granchildren, watch TV, garden and create new dishes.
Here´s my answer to the post:
"We have now a longer life span than our forefathers so there are illness that harm us. But cancer is not the only one. There are the heart related illnesses, the depressions and other neurological and mental problems, AIDS and flu, you name it. I think that people, for some reason, are more afraid of dying of cancer that of another illness. Death is normal, as long as we are born. In this moment there are lots of new drugs that are helping cancer patients to live a longer life. Many of them are better than they were years ago and have less side effects.
We usually know of few people who have nice stories to tell about getting well. People don´t always tell their stories. It is the same as the news in newspapers and TV. If you believe that that´s the only thing that happens in the world are the bad news, it would seem that the planet will explode any minute now.
I was treated last year with chemo and I´m planing to go on vacations after I receive at home a mylotter friend who will be visiting my country in March with her 2 children. I´m living a happy life and only would want my hair to grow faster"
What do you think about illness, my friends? Are you so much afraid of death that you don´t dare live life to the fullest? Do you dread cancer? Why?
Just a while ago I answered yet another post about this and decided to make a copy-paste of my answer to start a discussion from my point of wiew. As my friends here know, I had chemo for several months last year and will have to be with monoclonal antibodies for at least 2 more years. Between each dose (a wait of 3 months between each one), I can travel, mylot, ktit for my granchildren, watch TV, garden and create new dishes.
Here´s my answer to the post:
"We have now a longer life span than our forefathers so there are illness that harm us. But cancer is not the only one. There are the heart related illnesses, the depressions and other neurological and mental problems, AIDS and flu, you name it. I think that people, for some reason, are more afraid of dying of cancer that of another illness. Death is normal, as long as we are born. In this moment there are lots of new drugs that are helping cancer patients to live a longer life. Many of them are better than they were years ago and have less side effects.
We usually know of few people who have nice stories to tell about getting well. People don´t always tell their stories. It is the same as the news in newspapers and TV. If you believe that that´s the only thing that happens in the world are the bad news, it would seem that the planet will explode any minute now.
I was treated last year with chemo and I´m planing to go on vacations after I receive at home a mylotter friend who will be visiting my country in March with her 2 children. I´m living a happy life and only would want my hair to grow faster"
What do you think about illness, my friends? Are you so much afraid of death that you don´t dare live life to the fullest? Do you dread cancer? Why?3 people like this
4 responses
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
8 Mar 12
There are illnesses that concern me and cancer is certainly one of them. It seems that everything you come in contact with has been said to have a cancer link.
I actually am a little bit afraid of going..but it is going too soon that scares me the most. I have a lot of things that I am trying to fit in to a very short amount of time it seems.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (223001)
• Chile
8 Mar 12
Why don´t you stop thinking about going or dying and center your thoughts about what you will do now? I am almost 67 years of age (I don´t say "old") and am being trated for a lymphoma. But that does not hinder me from thinking about what will I do "when I grow up". True, now my ideas have a shorter spam as time goes. But I am now thinking about vacations in April as I have my nexy appointment with the doctor in May.
. True, now my ideas have a shorter spam as time goes. But I am now thinking about vacations in April as I have my nexy appointment with the doctor in May.1 person likes this
@marguicha (223001)
• Chile
12 Mar 12
Good for you! My next plans for life (in spite of my cancer) are to be a good hostess to my friend Maxine (a mylot friend who will visit me with her 2 children for some days in a little over 1 week). Then I´ll like to see if any of my friends want to go with me for a week to Buenos Aires. Then I will prepare myself for my next checkup and procedures for my illness. And then I´ll start making plans again.
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
18 Sep 12
I don't want to die (who does?), but I'm not really afraid of it. I know it will happen some day whether it be from cancer or from some other cause. I often wonder how many more people will get diseases now that we have treatments that will keep them alive longer only because they will be alive to get the diseases. There are times when I think that maybe we should get rid of the pharmaceutical companies and start using more natural treatments and let nature take its course. Not to say that I want people to die but I would rather live a healthy life than a long painful life because I am being kept alive artificially.
1 person likes this
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
20 Sep 12
I saw my mom on life support for a week and the second time she went into fibrillation we told them to pull the plug since she had expressed a desire to my brother apparently that she did not want to be kept alive like that. I know when my sister was in the same condition with pneumonia that did not respond to antibiotics she had them cut her off (she was mentally 6 months old at age 29 with cerebral palsy. The worst part about all of that was in my sister's case the social worker wanted us to keep her on life support even though the state of California was paying for her care and no family members were nearby. In my mom's case, a medical student (I think) commented that "We are not in the business of euthenasia". When the end is near like that it is better to let them rest in peace instead of being in constant misery.
@pergammano (7682)
• Canada
8 Mar 12
I hate to say this...guicha..But my moods, fears..optimism's and anxieties fluctuate, seriously with the season. When the weather is dreary, gloomy and grey...so is my mood, so spirits dampened and I ponder more..the end of life, the terminality and the two more biospsy's awaiting me!
BUT NOW, with the harbingers of spring (dafs, narcissi, crocus, etc.,) and the warmish sun becoming more prevalent...So follows my mood, my optimism, my joy and peace, from soaking in the rays, hands in the warmer soils, I get very optimistic with plans for spring and summer...the gardens, the birds, and taking time to smell the flowers.
Weather so affects me! But leafing thru the "latest seed catalogues" gives me a bright and new lease. New energy and plans for the future!
SO, so nice to have you back...and know you will be there when I come to the computer each morning...Have missed you dearly...but that is selfish! I truly hope your stay in the country was truly fulfilling and invigorating! Much love!
@marguicha (223001)
• Chile
9 Mar 12
I rested and had fun with my friends, perg. I know what you mean by the changes of mood that come with seasons. Somtimes I´d love to live at the Caribbean all year around. I suppose that I would eventually get bored.
I´m checking at my seed too and will start some lettuce for Winter produce. The weather is still unusually hot for this time of the year but I´m helping out one of my daughters with knitting for my grandson (10) who outgrew everything.
Why do you need more biopsies? Exactly what ails you, sweetie? Please mail me if you´d rather. A BIG HUG
. I suppose that I would eventually get bored.
I´m checking at my seed too and will start some lettuce for Winter produce. The weather is still unusually hot for this time of the year but I´m helping out one of my daughters with knitting for my grandson (10) who outgrew everything.
Why do you need more biopsies? Exactly what ails you, sweetie? Please mail me if you´d rather. A BIG HUG @manaleli101 (146)
• South Africa
12 Mar 12
I think like HIV?AIDS, there is, some sort of dread surrounding cancer.The minute somebody receives news that hey have tested positive is that they are going to die, there is no hope. I think you are a remarkable force to be reckoned with for surviving this far..what differentiates winners from losers is what they decide to do. Winners decide to fight till the last minute,while losers just give in. Good luck and hoping the worst is over for you.
@marguicha (223001)
• Chile
13 Mar 12
I agree with you that there are winners and losers whatever the outcome (as we all must die someday). But we can choose how to live and that´s very important. I think AIDS (as other illness in the past) have a lot of dread due to lack of knowledge. One or two generations ago, any sort of mental illness (that now can be kept under control with the right meds) meant burying the person inside the closet
