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I know this sounds heartless, but once in a while I do have to prepare patients that in this day and age, with our cummulative lifetime risk factors and increasing longevity for those in the baby boomer generation that most will likely be diagnosed with one type of cancer or another.
The great news is that more and more cancers are treatable and survivable. It is common in my practice for a women to be diagnosed and treated for skin cancer, diagnosed and treated for her breast cancer and then actually prevent a colon cancer by having her pre-cancerous polyp removed-all in the span of 15-20 years of her life after 40.
The latest stats are that 1 out of 3 will be a cancer patient and most of those a cancer survivor. Many women survive thyroid cancer and many men prostate. Both sexes can live with and do often live a normal lifespan with certain blood cancers.
Cancer is slowly losing it’s icy grip of fear and resignation for those in the medical and general public alike as more focus is on prevention and treatments continue to improve. Expect to encounter it, expect to beat it- we work hard at it too.
*Excerpt from the E-book series WHAT TO EXPECT IN YOUR 40’s
I have lost some people near and dear to me because of cancer; many others have totally beat it. I have to say that I’ve lost many more loved ones because of strokes and heart attacks…the latest my cousin at just 33. It is good to be prepared for just about anything, and try to stay healthy and positive as you get older.
Denise,
I am so sorry for your loss. As terrified as we all are about receiving a diagnosis of cancer, heart disease is the number 1 killer- precisely what you alluded to.
Your perspective is right-on on every level. Hope for the best, prepare for anything, stay healthy and stay positive. Well said, Denise!
Thank you for sharing this new perspective on cancer. More of us will die of heart disease than cancer, yet cancer has such a grip on our emotions and fear. Chronic disease is the major driver of healthcare costs and there is only so much we can do in terms of prevention. The rest is up to good physicians like the two of you, new and improved treatments and patients’ attitude and willingness to focus on good health and wellness.
You could not have said it better Kassy. Thanks for your comment.