Angry Rant -- WebMD Says It's our Fault! "Research" shows!!

Well, we know perfectly well that another study will come out in a week or so refuting the study we just read!

The only thing I remember about weight being an issue is that I think they've proven that estrogen is stored in fat (not created, but has a place to lurk, so to speak), so heavier women can have more estrogen in their bodies to feed ER+ breast cancer. Not that it causes it...just that it has more fuel.

But I'm not kicking myself for anything. Anything I've done, I've done in moderation. Except smoking...I've never smoked. Or birth control...used a diaphragm.  I guess it was my fault I was exposed to something that caused this, but darned if I know what it was.

I had a MD tell me that 90% of cancer could be prevented by healthy living (shortly after my diagnosis, and in a social setting. Needless to say, I don't see her socially any longer!). In my case, she thought it was probably due to my weight. My BMI is 26! After gaining 10 lbs through treatment! That's the only risk factor I had (oh except for being tall) and that's not very far into the red zone! 

Whoever said "correlation is not causation" is right.

Yeah - how to feel like a loser!  On the other hand, let's all sue McDonald's and Pizza Hut, etc. for causing our cancer!!  And Ben and Jerry's and Dunkin Donuts and...   I can see this working out for us!   

Any attorneys among us?

two things I keep in mind about these types of articles;

1) health stories "sell" so there is a lot of pressure to publish them. Most health journalists don't know much so they just parrot whatever they've picked up without giving it much critical thought.

2) a lot of these 'studies' are done on aggregates. They get big files of stuff about people and run routines on them and bam -- people with cancer also had this or that..... While it may hold true for the averages, who among us is average?

That said, if you live an unhealthy lifestyle you are likely to have health problems caused by them. Too much weight does contribute to diabetes and high blood pressure. Plus you have to wear spandex undergarmets to look your best.  so there are benefits to trying to live a healthier life style.

But cancer isn't the patients fault. It just happens.

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Thank you Beth for taking the time to write your rant! I totally agree with you.......and with Maire........WebMd is not my first choice of reputable research sites. I'm sure after they published this information, there were diet books and food advertised right next to it. So much easier to blame the victim instead of finding the causes and cure

I'm convinced that my BC was due to exposure to DDT until I was about 16. My  mother kept her own personal "stash" in the basement of the house even after it was outlawed and no longer sold. She was a true believer in the benefits of DDT - having lived an impoverished childhood in depression-era Ireland, 13 children in a two-room thatched "cottage" (hut), swarming with bed bugs, and when DDT was invented the Irish all proclaimed "God bless the man who invented DDT!" When I grew up I recall trucks spraying the beaches of the Long Island sound while we kids buried each other up to our necks. Today DDT is still being used in third-world countries, because the risk from death by a mosquito bite is greater to them than the risk of getting cancer when they are "old". But where are the research studies showing the relationship of DDT to BC? I think I found just ONE online - that disputes the old studies that have been forgotten after they outlawed this insectiside because of the danger to birds' survival. This one study shows that it's not how much DDT is in your body NOW - as an adult - while you have BC that is important. What's important is how much DDT was in your body BEFORE you had breasts. The same thing is being said about radiation exposure - it's the exposure prior to having breasts that sets the stage for developing BC..........but this is difficult and expensive to prove.

Everyone is looking for the quick and easy answer - so of course blaming it all on excess weight is an easy thing to do. My maternal grandmother died at the age of 88 - over 200 pounds, never exercised a day in her life - and she didn't get BC. Same with my DH's grandmothers........but these women lived their childhoods in a different world - where horses still pulled milk wagons, where plastics didn't exist and the only food preservatives were ice and salt.

Thanks again Beth for starting this thread!

cp418: I, too, was told that taking birth control pills would lower my chance of ovarian cancer, which I worried about for YRS because my mom died of OC...

Now, I have BC..... Lovely!

Society today creates an atmosphere where people think if they live a very healthy lifestyle...they will live to  be 100 and never look a day over 40  Living in a healthy manner is certainly good for you...but no guarantee for perfect health.  Stuff happens and some of us get cancer and other diseases for no apparent reason or cause.  If people can be blamed or made to feel they caused thier own illness...then the self absorbed can go on their merry way and dismiss you as someone not worthy of compassion.  I think seeing this teaches us a lot about how it may feel to be mistreated or ignored due to other forms of bigotry related to race, gender, occupation or religion.

I personally believe my cancer was caused by taking the HRT drug...Prempro...I was given it by my doctor when I entered menopause...it was almost automatic and I didn't question it.  When they came about with reports how it increased your chances of BC, I went off the Prempro.  Do I wish I hadn't taken it?  Yes...but that can't be undone. 

I feel that I have been through enough without being told I'm responsible for my cancer.  I think it is nothing but a bunch of skewed statistics anyway.

 It happened, I've done everything I can within reason to keep it from coming back.  Am I going to live my life watching everything I say, do, eat or drink because I'm worried about the cancer coming back...no.  I am trying to develop a healthier lifestyle, but I'm sure not giving up everything I enjoy...kind of pointless in my opnion....Yes, I could  possibly live live a bit longer, but if I don't enjoy myself....might not be worth the effort.  I am not equating the balance beteen healthy living and enjoyment....I know you can do both at once, but for me...my enjoyment takes precendence. 

I refuse to feel guilty or take the blame for getting BC....it is bad enough to go through it...no point adding any additional bad feelings

I went for my mammos regularly...had cysts aspirated form time to time and had a normal mammo/us 6 months prior to diagnosis.  I was diagnosed at Stage 3C, borderline 4 with a grade three cancer.  I would think that maybe the radiologists reading my reports may have missed it...can I prove it ... no...does it change anything...no.  So I may as well just ignore things that try to make me feel bad about myself and I hope all of you do too!

 Liz

Before diagnosis, I used to exercise so much, and, it is painful to admit, I was smug about it.  I still exercise a lot, but am no longer smug.

At 19 years old I switched to using Aliminium free deoderant, all cosmetics, shampoos, showergels etc were paraben free, and the food I ate was probably 50% organic, I ate the recommended 5 a day, did not consume red meat and all because I did not want to get BC. I'm the perfect weight for my height, have been active from a very young age (captain of most of my team sports) and I don't have a family history of BC or any other cancer... but at 29 I found myself on the operating theatre having my breast removed, and have just finished 2 years of treatment.  I know there are many other young women who have found themselves in the same position.  It's so hard to read these studies, it would be interesting to know how young women with the same history manage to come into contact with BC.  When I look at friends who are overwieght, don't exercise, drink heavily, smoke and eat processed foods constanstly, it's hard to take these studies seriously, especially when they could potentially live longer than me.  

Kathleen, your message made me spit on my screen.. lol.   I am wondering if wearing tennis shoes causes cancer, if being ticklish?   Give me a break - Good grief, I am left handed and I still got cancer.   Too funny, too sad.   Thanks for letting me vent.  

Oh my, yes!  It must be so -- I'm left-handed too LOL!!

Now I'm just waiting for the next study that refutes it!!!!!!!

Ahhh , the great witch hunt! Well , I've drank , I smoked , I'm overweight , yeah , I win! Wheres my cure!?! And all you ladies and gents who have not par-taked in the above , and got bc anyway, where does that leave you in this great witch hunt? What is the cause of your bc? How many times have we heard the studies on coffee? Its bad. No , its good. No its bad... on and on. Pardon me , but they don't know jack. Lets see , when cells start growing wild and out of control , you have cancer. And yes , it has been said , if you live long enough , everyone would get it. I trully think they need to "clear the slate" and start anew. We need a cure. But then , there is probably not to much money in cures huh? In my honest opinion , maybe looking more into genetics and hormores. But what do I know. I'm just a person who got breast cancer... I hope I haven't offended anyone. Just needed to "get it off my chest"...