Cancer...

I thought of something the other day. Cancer sucks. Everyone - even those who haven't ever had it or had a close family member with it (are there such lucky people?) knows that. Some of us unlucky ones are genetically predisposed to getting stricken with this calamity. There is absolutely nothing we can do about it but wait or take drastic measures (prophylactic surgeries, prophylactic drugs, etc). Many of us make extremely difficult decisions regarding our risk of contracting this serious disease, some even before a diagnosis is made. Then there are other people who seem to do almost everything they can *to contract* this disease. They smoke, they take medications known to cause or increase risk of cancer, they use chewing tobacco or snuff/dip, etc. At this moment in my life, I'm have a really difficult time feeling compassion for these people who are consciously putting their momentary pleasure over their life-long health.

I'm not the healthiest individual in the world, so I'm not trying to cast stones from a glass house. I could eat more healthy, exercise more regularly, etc. However, in the big scheme of things, baring my cancer, I don't have any of the vices known to cause/increase risk of cancer nor have I taken drugs known to cause/increase risk of cancer (with the possible exception of my chemotherapy). I've also had to make the difficult decision to have healthy (for the most part) parts of my body removed - one cancer-free breast, two cancer-free ovaries & tubes, and one cancer-free uterus. According to my research and breast oncologist from MD Anderson, nothing but my genetics & bad luck caused my breast cancer to appear as early as it did.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that anyone who does the above actions deserves cancer or is any less unlucky than I was to get cancer. What I'm saying is that I don't understand *why* they put themselves at this increased risk seemingly on purpose. Something I understand even less is that the theoretically well-meaning organizations promote some of the drugs/actions known to increase risk of/cause certain cancers. Then you have parents who instead of researching themselves, follow the advice of these organizations for their unwitting children.

Lately even the CDC has gotten into the act by recommending all school-aged children (about 9 years old & up), get the Human papilloma virus vaccine. They're touting it as the vaccine against cervical cancer. However, the truth of the matter is that the disease it prevents is a sexually transmitted disease - genital warts - that can increase risk of cervical cancer. Not to mention that the vaccine itself has been shown to *kill* those that receive it. The best way to prevent getting cervical cancer caused by the STD herpes is to keep your pants on until you're married. Of course, no one makes any money or fame with that suggestion.

Another organization that is *not* practicing what they preach is Planned Parenthood ( I already disrespect PP due to their abortion stance). Many organizations, including American Cancer Society, Susan G. Komen, and other breast cancer prevention groups, donate money to PP in the interest of doing breast cancer screening. However, two of the biggest money-makers and most frequently used services of PP - birth control drugs & abortion - have been found to *increase* the risk of breast cancer. So, if these organizations were truly interested in preventing breast cancer, they'd decrease their promotion of these things and offer instead training/classes in NFP and contacts for adoption. However, these options aren't going to generate money or fame either. So they'll keep to the easy alternatives - drugs & death.