I have to say that I'm not surprised by the fact that a large percentage of people indicated cancer boils down to destiny and that this feeling increases among older people.
I am walking my 90-yr-old mother (a early diagnosis breast cancer survivor of many decades) through every scan and test you can think of to now determine the cause of recurring fluid build-up in her lung. As I write here, http://www.4women.com/blog/?p=290, even the doctors seem to dismiss her as if the fact of her age qualifies just about any health condition as inevitable and destiny at that age and therefore not worth exploring too deeply.
Furthermore, my mom knows she is 90 and while she was very proactive decades ago, managing to catch her breast cancer early and having a radical mastectomy, her attitude now is so very different. She seemingly doesn't want to know.
I think your recommendations for reducing fear and promoting proactive behaviors are great, but I also think that among our elders, their attitudes might just trump any and all advice. Only if and when I live to age 90 will I possibly understand.
Thanks for the interesting post!!
Susan Beausang
President, 4Women.com
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I have to say that I'm not surprised by the fact that a large percentage of people indicated cancer boils down to destiny and that this feeling increases among older people.
I am walking my 90-yr-old mother (a early diagnosis breast cancer survivor of many decades) through every scan and test you can think of to now determine the cause of recurring fluid build-up in her lung. As I write here, http://www.4women.com/blog/?p=290, even the doctors seem to dismiss her as if the fact of her age qualifies just about any health condition as inevitable and destiny at that age and therefore not worth exploring too deeply.
Furthermore, my mom knows she is 90 and while she was very proactive decades ago, managing to catch her breast cancer early and having a radical mastectomy, her attitude now is so very different. She seemingly doesn't want to know.
I think your recommendations for reducing fear and promoting proactive behaviors are great, but I also think that among our elders, their attitudes might just trump any and all advice. Only if and when I live to age 90 will I possibly understand.
Thanks for the interesting post!!
December 13, 2010 - 9:02amSusan Beausang
President, 4Women.com
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