STEAM ROOM FOR ANGER

mara51506

I hate pinktober but still wear it other months because I also like a good dark pink. I don't wear pink in October myself though.

MelissaDallas

Our office got an email sales pitch from Staples already on 08/20, and what a bunch of BS:

"Fight for the Girls!"

1 in 8 women in the United States will develop Breast Cancer. Support your mother, daughter, sister, or friend by utilizing the power of pink. Whether you're raising awareness, attending a fundraiser, or looking for patient gifts, pink merchandise will strengthen your support in the fight against Breast Cancer.

edj3

True (funny in a weird way) story: I bought a steamer recently, and got it really cheap b/c it was . . . you guessed it, Breast Cancer Pink. HA.

jaycee49

This is pissing me off. All of the news articles about Cokie Roberts say this: "Her death was due to complications from breast cancer." I get it. Her family released this info. Why can't they say she died of breast cancer? Is no one supposed to die of breast cancer? Is it not politically correct to die of breast cancer? I bet if Cokie reported it, she would say she died of breast cancer. She was a great reporter. Old school. RIP.

Meow13

I agree, sometimes complication deaths can be the treatment she received. Wonder what her story was.

jaycee49

Meow, that would still be dying of breast cancer IMHO. Why not just say it? Actually, I read about five pieces and only the NYTimes said it without the complications part. I don't have a thing for the NYTimes but that got them some points in my book.

5graces

Yes, I thought the same thing when I heard "she died of complications of breast cancer." Why not just say she died of breast cancer.

Meow13

Most of us probably want to know what happened, what mets did she have what was her treatment and so forth. Especially because we share a BC diagnosis.

5graces

Yes, what happened?

R.I.P. Cokie.

Beesie

I've been a big fan of Cokie Roberts for decades. I am so sad to hear that she has died.

I would like to know more about the circumstances of her death and when she was diagnosed with mets, but it is Cokie's family's right to release however much or little information they choose, and I would expect that Cokie probably discussed with them what would be said. The simple fact is that it's pretty unusual for families to release much information about anyone's death; often I see in a news report that someone died from "cancer" but then can never find any more information even about what type of cancer.

Cokie Roberts and her family are entitled to their privacy, as frustrating as that is for all of us.

ctmbsikia

I

RIP Cokie. I wonder after some time if more info on her particular type and recurrence will be make public. If not, I certainly respect the family's right to privacy. I read where her health issues started this summer, but of course we don't know if that was a recurrence or a progression. Bless her and her family.

runor

Of course her family is entitled to their privacy! But lots of us should never do things we are entitled to. In fact, idiots who run around acting 'entitled' are a general annoyance to the rest of us. Sometimes this whole 'we are being quiet and private' is actually a very huge attention seeking action. Transparency and disclosure are way more honest that this whole hush hush, maintain our privacy bullshit. If you tell someone 'she died of breast cancer' they are satisfied with that answer and go away. But if you say something mysterious and leading like 'she died of the complications of breast cancer' which tells nobody anything, all you do is create curiosity and deliberately keep people asking questions. I feel it is often extremely provocative and baiting behaviour - under the guise of their right to privacy.

Maybe the state of breast cancer would be served if the families of high profile women stated LOUDLY and CLEARLY that BREAST CANCER KILLED OUR MOTHER / WIFE / SISTER / DAUGHTER, rather than some shuffled, muttered, fuzzy statement cloaked in a 'right to privacy'. Do they have their 'right' to privacy? WIthout a doubt. Is it always the intelligent or ethical or useful choice? Hard no.

wrenn

Edited to say that I need to give more thought to what I post and not just blather.

I am sorry Cokie Roberts has died.

Artista928

I think the fam has every right to disclose what they want. At least bc was mentioned. Sometimes you hear heart failure and you dig and find the person had cancer. Did it cause the death or was this person doomed only because of the heart condition. I don't think it's always clear if the person was in remission.

kathindc

Yes, complications can kill. Other examples are hypertension and diabetes. Both can lead to heart attack, stroke and kidney failure. All can kill you if intervention doesn’t occur in a timely fashion. I have heard on occasion that the cancer doesn’t kill you, it’s the complication(s) that do since a major life sustaining organ shuts down. I do feel the family does have a right to disclose what they want. Let’s respect their wishes.

Beesie

Cokie Roberts was open about her initial diagnosis. I'm guessing that when she developed mets, she didn't want people to be on a deathwatch - we have no idea how long she has been dealing with mets; maybe it was months or maybe its been many many years. She last appeared on This Week in August and had noticeable weight loss. She released a statement saying ""I am doing fine" and that she was "looking forward to covering next year's election.". She chose at that time not to mention metastatic breast cancer.

With severe weight loss and the effects of treatments on her health, she might very well have died from a condition caused by her treatment, rather than from the breast cancer mets itself. In that case, I think saying that she died from "complications of breast cancer" would be wholly accurate.

How sad that her family is being criticized for how they have announced her death. As Artista said, at least they mentioned breast cancer. And seriously people, she just died. How about condolences and respect rather than anger and criticism?

Meow13

I don't think people are criticizing the family or Cokie just fellow BC people wanting to know. I find myself thinking about the return of cancer I wish I didn't go there but my mind does it anyway.

mara51506

I agree Beesie, the family should be met with compassion not with the public criticizing what was released. In truth, they are not required to disclose anything except for if Ms. Roberts had asked them to mention something before her death. If it was unexpected and that conversation did not happen, they are not required to say how she died at all, let alone saying breast cancer. Complications can and do kill or there could have been another underlying comorbity that contributed, it is not for us to know. Only an autopsy and her health records would know. My thoughts go out to all that loved her, family, friends and anyone who was inspired by her.

Meow13

Take a deep breath.

7of9

She was 75 and sure seemed to appreciate her family and loved ones. God bless her and her family. Sounds like she went down swinging. 75! What a blessing for someone who was first diagnosed 17 yrs ago, she got to see grandchildren enter the world. So many of us fighting to see just our kids grow up. What an inspiration! btw not looking forward to Pinktober here either.

jaycee49

I didn't hear any anger and criticism. I just wish people would not use the word "complications." It is meaningless. Saying she died of breast cancer and saying she died of complications of breast cancer convey exactly the same thing. Why use complications? No one is invading the family's privacy. A few people just wondered/wished they could know more of the story. So do I but that is the nature of the beast. We will never know nor do we deserve to. Sometimes I wonder if some famous person is really here under an assumed name. Could be, right?

mara51506

You found me out Jaycee!

pingpong1953

I'm watching PBS Newshour and they're showing a recap of Cokie Roberts' career. They ended with a clip of her being interviewed by Gwen Ifill. How ironic. (And somewhat iconic!)

Meow13

What a depressing day.

Artista928

I think since bc has been said to have many tx options even in stage 4 and survival stats are better that may be why complications was used. Tx options ran out. She may have gone longer than expected. Again who cares what the term used was, you got the bc in the post mortem.

DogMomRunner

People say complications from Alzheimer's disease (even though it could be another form of dementia and that it WAS dementia that made them stop eating or caused organ failure) all the time. I do think it's important for the general public to understand that many people die from breast cancer (and other things about breast cancer) just like they need to know that many people die from dementia.

RIP Cokie Roberts. She was a true journalist when so many are just entertainers

Artista928

I have and had family members with dementia and have spoken to professionals. They all say you don't die from it. The complications that happen like aspiration, pneumonia, heart failure... organs failing because the brain can no longer tell them how to function right is what eventually does them in.

Artista928

wow. Just saw on the news about how a guy with als was refused service because the restaurant thought because he slurs he must be drunk. The wife went home and brought medical papers proving he has als. Poor guy just wanted a nice dinner with his wife.

This makes me realize that some folks have it worse and be grateful that I don't have something horrific as als. There really needs to be better txs for als and other neurological disorders. I'd take bc over any of those.

Meow13

some people always assume the worst.

Artista928

just saw on the news cokie was first dxd in 2002. They didn't day stage or when it went mets assuming she wasn't stage 4 to start with. Stephanie here went 25 years before she succumbed.