The truth about breast cancer is that it happens. No one knows the cause or the cure. The only known causes of breast cancer are too many birthdays and being a woman. Every woman is shocked when she hears that diagnosis. I know I was. I couldn’t understand how I could have a fast growing life threatening disease when I felt great. Not until I started my treatments did I feel sick.
Last week the NY Times ran a story with a teaser headline under the picture of an obvious cancer patient, “Non-smoking, vegetarian who exercised was shocked when told she had Breast Cancer”. This is a tough story for this woman because after treatments her cancer returned. For those of us familiar with breast cancer, that is what it does, it comes back. There is no cure for breast cancer.
If eating blueberries, flax seed, walnuts, broccoli and such, and daily exercise was really the preventive cure we would see a drop in breast cancer statistics. This is not the case. Cancer is not one disease. Breast cancer may not respond the same way as treatments for another cancer, and varies from individuals.
Researchers are always looking for funding from foundations and companies to find a cure. In 1971 Richard Nixon vowed that the United States would find a cure for cancer. 38 years later the Obama administration is vowing to look for cures. I am forever the optimist and would like to see a cure for breast cancer in my lifetime. This administration seems to understand the complexity of cancer and hopefully will make head way for cures or causes.
Early detection is great. Healthy life styles are wonderful. The truth however is there is nothing to insure you against breast cancer. Like life, no guarantees, warranties or do-overs.
Metastasis breast cancer, no longer a hasty death notice, is cancer that has spread to other parts of the body that can be treated as a chronic condition. Treatments are on going, meaning for the rest of the woman’s life. This is the status of the woman in the NY Times story. I wish her well.
All user-generated information on this site is the opinion of its author only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. Members and guests are responsible for their own posts and the potential consequences of those posts detailed in our Terms of Service.
Add a Comment2 Comments
Haralee,
Tough talk, and rightly so.
My sister's best friend has been battling breast cancer for about four years now. It spread to her brain (3 brain surgeries later, and they feel the brain is clear) and is now in her bones, for which she's undergoing incredibly rigorous treatment.
There hasn't been a day in the last four years that she hasn't had to fight like hell. No remissions, just more metastasis and more fighting. But she won't give up. She has a young son (he was 6 when he was diagnosed) and she's determined to not give up the fight.
So often during her treatment, when my sister would tell me that there had been yet another development, yet more chemo, or yet another surgery, I ask myself if I could be as strong and as single-minded as her friend has been. And I believe she was 33 or 34 when diagnosed.
On the other hand, I have a friend who was diagnosed with breast cancer after a mammogram found a lump in her breast. It had not spread to her lymph nodes, so she could have chosen mastectomy or lumpectomy. She had a mastectomy and has never looked back. That's been more than five years ago now, and she's doing fine. She was 50 when she was diagnosed.
Breast cancer is changing. More younger women are getting it, and more epic struggles are being waged. But also, detection is better and more women are surviving. The best we can do is stay in the fight, donate to the research organizations, and keep ourselves aware.
Thanks, Haralee.
May 7, 2009 - 8:20amThis Comment
My hubby often jokes that laboratory rats and healthy living cause cancer. But, it's no joke that his half sister is ravaged by not only breast cancer, but other cancers, on top of an already compromised immune system due to a severe case of systemic lupus.
One of my best friends died a year ago last Christmas from a brain tumor that also signaled a return of breast cancer, and she was a survivor of over 10 years.
I, too, hope there will be a cure found in my lifetime. At least treatment has progressed significantly since the day when my grandmother was diagnosed with bone cancer.
One of my running buddies is a new survivor. She's awesome, and I hope to keep training with her for many years to come.
May 5, 2009 - 7:08pmThis Comment