Never too young for colon cancer.. Where I've been

While true that prevention is a great approach to sub-clinical illness, people want to talk about what brought them to the doctor, or problems they already have -- not what in their view is a non-problem.

In general, people adopt lifestyles that give them gain in one way or another. They are not receptive to giving them up for a possible better future when no problem "exists" at the moment; in fact, they rationalize away healthy lifestyle in soooo many ways.

 

I'm really sorry to hear about the setbacks Justin. I think of you often, and have my fingers crossed on your behalf.

 

Attaboy, always looking on the bright side. That will get you through anything.

 

lol

 

sorry to hear this round is so tough, F8L. sounds like they're using the most intense combos they can to attack these stupid cancer cells. the downside that it makes you feel so sick totally sucks

the upshot is that the cancer cells are worse off, those little bastards! i hope this wipes them all out.

regarding the other discussion- y'know folks, i'm all for preventive medicine and using the cheapest, easiest methods available to reduce suffering in any way possible. (diet, exercise, relaxation and stress reduction techniques, what have you.) i am, however, against steps that take us toward blaming everyone for having any health condition in the book. in my opinion, it brings us that much closer to denial of coverage and approval of suffering for "it's your fault, now you endure the consequences". it also has this element of holier-than-thou to it that is truly unsettling in a care setting, if you ask me.

as many of you know, i'm a pharmacologist. i am not associated with any profit-driven entity that markets therapeutics, but i think that we do need to use the multitude of validated tools out there that reduce current and prevent exaggerated future suffering. some dude can't get his blood pressure down and fails at changing his diet? we're not about to start withholding some of the simplest solutions to that and let him have a stroke, now are we? who knows why the guy can't eat right. i wasn't exactly raised to eat my vegetables, and i only figured out some of this stuff in my mid-20s for crying out loud. for the 8 years i was a broke student and some years before that, income was a severe limiting factor in what we both ate at home. (ramen, anyone? dinner of grad students everywhere.) you can't know every aspect of someone's life, and it's a little frightening to me to see the perspective of privilege that people around here seem to have about how it's so simple to eliminate disease by eating this, that, and the other thing. (sigh! if only the unwashed and unhealthy masses got it!) it's not always as simple and clear-cut as people would like to think.

it is not in anyone's best interest to play holier-than-thou and pass judgment. in the blood pressure case, if he can't get it right, give the guy some freaking beta blockers, keep his family from losing him any earlier than they need to. i'm all for responsibility, but i am also for mitigation of harm regardless of the underlying situation.

don't even get me started on addiction, something that is more often than not attributed to personal failure and personal failure alone.

 

Justin: I'm very sorry to hear how rough the new treatments are. I'm thinking of you and wish for you to beat this and come out healthy when it's over.

 

I do not want to send Justin's thread into a tangential abyss, but I am going to briefly answer, only this time, what comes close to a personal attack.

One person's right, is another person's obligation. As a private individual (and I emphasize this is my private opinion) I do not care to subsidize lifestyle illness. Yes, it is true that personal choices and responsibility may have grey areas, but I outright reject the notion that the correct approach is no responsibility for anything, anytime; and full public subsidy for whatever, regardless of cost.

We have the freedom to make personal choices; that freedom carries a cost of personal responsibility.

/signing off.

Cheers, Justin !

 

Justin I'm thinking of you every day. Especially today as I am on the Bay. I regret you are going through such a rough treatment. Sit back, close your eyes, and think of your favorite hike/meadow in a preserve, and know no matter the outcome you have touched many people in ways you can't even imagine.

 

When I first saw the pitcher in MarinJohn's avatar I thought 'icky blood for Halloween'.

Fortunately it's only koolaid. whew

Oh Justin. Keep on truckin'. It may be true that the sun never sets on your gang of well wishers.

 

I'd like to add my best wishes and hope that the cancer responds to this round.

I'd also like to add that I don't know what you're going through. I just know that it Really, Really sucks.

 

I haven't visited FHOP in ages. I'm saddened to hear you've been dealt a few blows again. My mom's been nagging me to get checked and now you've inspired me to schedule the appointment sooner rather than later. Thanks for posting and urging us to do so. You really have reached out and made a difference. Thank you.

 

Okay, F8L, this thread is getting a little sappy. I'm fresh out at the moment, but as soon as I think of a really good zinger, I'll post it.



Tom

 

I just think F8L will be around for a long time, because he's just too cool not to be. I mean, who wouldn't want to be F8L, especially with all those hot babes always hanging all over him...

 

as always, you present a very compelling statement and i agree with you 100% and hopefully Obama's wrinkle in the national health care arena with take care of preexisting conditions (if it stays)

but at the same time, its a snowball that we can no longer push back up the hill. we spend so much on proactive medical care there is nothing left to fund the options to provide services that would promote preventive care.

exercise is the #1 way to prevent health problems. now we come from a different generation,. when i was in elementary school there was program called something like the Presidential Physical Fitness Program in where the school got money from a federal program to pay for sports activities and equipment. twice a year, every child was tested in 5 areas on physical abilities. pushups, situps, etc. we were all timed and categorized (which of course makes it politically incoorect) and rewarded based on our accomplishments. but it also provided a progress report from year to year.

that program no longer exists. the money has gone to pay for something else.

now lifestyle choices greatly influence medical issues but there are too many exceptions to base any kind of policy or rule on that. i can bring up famous examples; Dana Reeve, etc. but why? fact is some people get dieases for no apparent reason whatsoever.

i dont have an answer for what ails us. just an observation; all our problems seems to be solvable. after all, other countries dont seem to have them and it all really comes down to how we want to spend our money.

after this recent election, my state has proven itself to be self-centered and unwilling to lend a hand to help its neighbor. i am ashamed

 

too choked up to talk? ya, i know how you feel