Cancer Screening: I Don't Want To Be An Inspirational Story!
Posted: Sunday, July 12, 2009
by Jon Searles
Those of you who are over 35 years old may have noticed that cancer is more prevalent in your lives. Now, I do not know if cancers are stronger and more rampant today than they were possibly 20 years ago, I just know that I hear more about them from friends and family. The peripheral edges of my life have been touched by those who have had cancer since high school when a girl friend was diagnosed and treated for lymphoma. We lost touch after high school. Through friends I found out that she passed away in her early 40's from another cancer attack. Knowing her in high school I am confident she met death with strength and a strong faith. In high school she was an amazing person with a positive outlook and a never ending optimism. She was also a pretty good two stepper at the local country honky tonk.
While living in Alabama I was introduced to a phrase that people used when delivering the news of cancer as a death sentence. They would simply say that the person to which they were referring has "got the cancer." It didn't matter which one, they just know that the many times rural, uninsured, possibly uneducated person that had been diagnosed with a late stage type of aggressor had "got the cancer" and the outlook was grim. Rich people with insurance beat cancer, the poor fight and lose.
Very recently a close friend was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer. This cancer could have been caught early and prevented costly and lengthy treatment, but we are all too busy to go to the doctor for screening. His battle with this cancer has been inspirational. He is an extremely strong and optimistic person who just views this as a bump in the road that he will overcome with attitude and the medical aptitude of his doctors. I speak with him daily concerning his treatment and often wonder if I would have the strength and focus to deal with such a diagnosis and treatment. I have a feeling I would not.
The more I speak with friends and family concerning cancers found in our society the more I hear stories of triumphant, miraculous, and amazing human spirit. Some people win a long and lengthy battle and some fight hard only to lose to one of the many cancers that invade and kill. Many times the cancers could have been caught if men and women would listen the advice of friends and doctors and get screened at the appropriate age. Most prescreening procedures are covered by medical insurance, not necessarily because the insurance companies care about you, but it becomes very costly for them if an insured person must be treated for a late stage cancer and cuts deep into executive bonuses. Just 96 pills taken by my friend with colon cancer cost $28,000 dollars. That is $291.67 per pill. He counted the pills and found there were only 95 !
Cancer brings out amazing stories concerning the strength of people. The struggles have inspired national programs, books, and movies and have allowed all of us to share and cry. Many people have no choice for whatever reason their bodies allow for the invasion of cancers and cannot seem to fight off attack. However, many of us have the ability to be screened early to prevent the heartbreak and we do not need to have our strength tested. I fear that I would fall short and not have the same stamina and resolute faith of my friends and family who have bravely battled. So whether it is breast, prostate, colon, skin, or any area seen as attack by cancers talk to your doctor about screening at the appropriate age and time. Sometimes it is a good idea to be screened early if a family member has experienced and early onset of a cancer.
This type of article has been written and rewritten (much better than I have conveyed my thoughts) but many will still wait and thereby become an inspiration to others. Don't be and inspiration, talk to your doctor about cancer screening.
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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)A well-written article with excellent advice, Jon. My nephew is 13 years old today. On June 27th, his 52 father died of lung cancer. He was only 52. I hope you get many readers who will take your advice and also share this article. I will.
Happy Sunday!Please log in to respond to this comment.Avis,As always I am late to respond. Thank you for reading and my prayers with your nephew. 13 years old is still a growing age for a young man. Thank you for reading.Please log in to respond to this comment.
As a survivor of stage 3 tesicular cancer (in 1995) and stage 3 colon cancer (in 2007), I really appreciate this article. Screening, as well as seeing my doctor when I first noticed the symptoms, could have helped me immensely. Both cancers probably could have been caught in stage 1 and, as a result, I would likely have avoided chemotherapy in each case. However, I seem destined to learn everything the hard way.I think my problem was fear. I was afraid of what the doctor would find and therefore held out as long as I could, hoping the symptoms would just go away on their own. Not a smart strategy.I fear illnesses like cancer not just because they are deadly. As you pointed out, they are also very costly, with the potential to bankrupt anyone. They are also humuliating and damaging to one's ego. It's hard to strut around like a peacock when you have cancer.Please log in to respond to this comment.Terry,I am sure you would have rather shared the experience of bike riding with Lance Armstrong instead of cancer. Thank you for sharing your experience and your strength. Thanks for reading.Please log in to respond to this comment.
I also lost someone close this week he was a 52 yr old farmer who never wore a shirt in summer and ended up with skin cancer. As climates change people have to be more aware fo the damage sun does Pete had one small mole thats all which he too chose to ignore. I would rather go to the Dr and get it checked and be thought a worry wart than not go and be told I came to late.Please log in to respond to this comment.Robin,It is a worry, but with all the great literature and understanding of screening, so many could avoid a bad diagnosis. Thank you for reading.Please log in to respond to this comment.
An excellant article. I am certain that anyone who reads it can relate to your experiences and concerns. Hopefully, more will be inspiried to go for screening.Please log in to respond to this comment.
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