Why does BC have to be so common???

I can just say, let's be glad they are being found. Why? We really have no answers, but to look at the new survival rates, it gives us hope. When I found out about a close friend, I cried and cried. Not because I was afraid she'd die, but because I felt sorry for her, her life would be forever changed and all of the crap she'd have to endure. I fet worse for her dx than mine.

I am sure sorry it is so common. I am also sorry I got it.

I believe they do know what causes it - pollution in the food, water and air. As countries become more industrialized, cancer rates soar. They are anticipating this in China in the next 10-20 years.
Is there much research being done in terms of prevention? I know the ACS spends less than 10% on that.
From what I read it is an endless list of blame the victim, she had kids later, she ate tofu/didn't eat tofu, she didn't breast feed, she has/had dense breasts.
Gee whiz the rates went down a bit cause doctors stopped pushing estrogen replacment therapy to "treat menopause". Recently there was researching showing MRIs are much more effective than 50 yr old technology breast x-rays at detecting cancer and pre-cancer, but will insurance cover it? Only sometimes with a fight.

I think somewhere, someone already know what causes many cancers including BC, but a real cure would sure put a damper on drug companies, doctors, hospitals, (the list goes on and on) profits now wouldn't it. So instead of finding a cure, they find more and more poisons to push at us. I am thankful they are coming up with better drugs, but.... the "find a cure" pink ribbon hoopla in reality is "forget the cure, lets come up with more drugs".

Speaking of the pink ribbon hoopla, our city just had their 'race for the cure' walk a couple of weeks ago. There were over 20,000 people who walked (and yes, I was one of them). Now, if you just take the cost of entry to walk alone (25.00 x 20,000) that comes up to over $500,000. Not to mention how much money people who walked raised with the donations. Thats an astounding amount of money AND this is just what one city has raised, this race is in several cities every year. How much money total this year was raised from this org alone?? Where is all this money going? Do they ever say, not that I can find.. Makes me wonder....

PS: Hope I didn't offend anyone who is affiliated with the pink ribbon. I'm done ranting now...

Linda

A friend of a friend's father passed away yesterday from cancer. My friend was pointing out to me that she lost her father to cancer and two of her closest friends now have lost their fathers to cancer. It's not just breast cancer that has become more common. It's all of them. I am convinced it is our polluted society. Perhaps the additional hormones in our food has added to the increase in breast cancer. I agree whole heartedly with Linda about the drug companies - no one is really looking for a cure - they are looking for a way to contol it when it happens because our society is not willing to give up our creature comforts or profits which are probably the root cause of the increase in all cancers. Yes, I am a skeptic and I do intensely dislike the pink ribbons because I know that the money is not going to look for a cure. Just a way to make money by selling a product (expensive new drugs) to a captive audience. JMHO

watch what you grow in your back yard also, I was informed by government to not grow and eat vegetables on my property, the whole area is laden with lead, wish they had told me that 35 years ago, when we bought the house, was proud of feeding my family my homegrown produce, this was shared when my grandson was found to be lead poisoned.

I think that with the advancements in mammography (digital)and MRI that the cancers are being found in earlier stages. My aunt was diagnosed in 1978 with cancer but they could not find her primary tumor, she had 'seeds' that spread throught her body. The doctors at NC Baptist put her through the tests that were available then but all they could do was treat the mets. After her death 7 months later through an autopsy, her primary tumor was found in her ovary.

When my mother was dx 6 years ago, her mother cried saying that my mom was going to die like Arlene. Mom comforted her mother by saying that they did not find Arlene's primary tumor but they found mom's and they took it out. She had to go through the chemo and rads.
After her dx they started watching me closer and my DCIS was found in stage 0. double mast with no additional treatment for me.

Sheila

I truly do not agree with anyone who thinks they are hiding a cure for BC or a cause. There are a hell of a lot of other diseases and other forms of cancer to cure and make money from. Research people have loved ones die too of cancer. It is tricky and hard to predict. Each morphs differently.

As to all the 'Walks' for a Cure, do you realize that BC walks like Komen, ACS Making Strides has really made a difference?? there are more drugs and clinical trials for BC then any other cancer! Ladies, that is amazing.

Do you realize that 30 years ago Childhood lukemia had a 5-10% SURIVAL rate? That is up in the 90s now?? AMAZING.

My husband works in part of the industry. Printing..Studies are not Clinical Trials. I hate that any money is spent on grapefruit or frenchfries or those who slept on the R side cause BC.

We know that smoking is a leading cause of lung cancer. But people still do it.

Just some rambling thoughts on a Thursday night.

Janis

I find your language totally offensive. There is no such thing as a nice cancer unless you are a masochist!


http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070824/hl_nm/hrt_dc;_ylt=Arfif.IyWBVfJPJJa8V3yLEQ.3QA
As I said, since they have stopped shoving hormone therapy at women, the rates have dropped. Imagine how the rates would drop if they cleaned up the meat, poultry and dairy?

Quote:

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I find your language totally offensive. There is no such thing as a nice cancer unless you are a masochist!

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I was talking about how society views it-- offensive to you or not, that's the way it's viewed by many, many people. Have you ever talked to lung cancer patients? There aren't many long term survivors you can talk to.There are few if any walks and fund raisers for these folks, even though they die at a much higher rate than breast cancer survivors. Like it or not society views breast cancer differently, in a much kinder, nonjudgmental way.

I've never heard anyone say BC is a nice cancer. If anyone ever tells me I have a 'nice cancer', there not going to get a very nice response back. BC is not nice, not even close.

I read an article somewhere, can't remember where, that there hasn't been a cure for any disease since polio. The article may not be credible, don't go shooting me if I am wrong.

This may be off topic in a way, I have always been a anti-drug person, hate taking medications and don't unless its absolutely necessary (until this year, sigh). I cringe everytime I see a drug commercial, (which is quite often), they would like us to believe we need to pop a pill for everything under the sun. The image they are protraying (at least to me) is by bombarding us with these commercials its all about the profits, and we'll mask the symptoms, but not cure them.

Research needs to be done to find the cause, you find the cause and you've found the cure. Are the pharma companies doing that? My bet would be no.