PATRICK SWAYZE/BRIAN BARRON

[CHAZ]

This may be a sensitive topic for some and if so I do apologise upfront...

Just recently we have seen a rush of "stars" die from different cancers. First Farah fawcett, then Patrick Swayze and now that great Beeb reporter, Brian Barron.

I am sure we all have a personal story about cancer but it is indeed a reminder that life should be lived to the full as this disease hits at any age. Fawcett was 62, Swayze 57 and Barron 69...my Grandma 80...

It would seem that even in this modern age, we still have a long way to go before understanding how to eradicate totally the cancer killers...

So Carpe Diem everyone, tell someone you love them and eat helathy.

[J.R.]

Cancer certainly seems to be the 'In' disease of late.

I was reading in the paper today that the 'know-alls' in the medical profession reckon we will have a vaccine in a few years time.

Swine Flue.

Mad Cow Disease.

Aids.

E-Coli.

I'm sorry, but the 'Big-C' will always be a killer, irrespective of diet, smoking, pollution, OR general life-style.

90% of all well looked after cats eventually succumb to cancer of one form or another. Q.E.D.

[jhopgood]

I am of the uneducated opinion that we all have un-activated cancer cells in us, and that they are activated by some event or circumstances that puts an undue strain on the body, and the weakest link goes. This means that it can hit anyone and cannot be eradicated like a virus.
An excess of anything will not help and I am pretty certain that stress is a major cause of illness that can develop into cancer.

Big C is not always a killer as I am sure we all know people who have apparently been cured, breast cancer sufferers being the ones I know, but they still have regular check ups as the threat is ever present.

Life can be enjoyed very well by doing things in moderation, unless you train to put strain on your body, which most people don't.
Never understood binge drinking and things like that.

[mvgrogan]

So Carpe Diem everyone, tell someone you love them and eat helathy.

forgive me...could this be a miracle cure? How should it be prepared? or is it better eaten raw?

[englishangel]

Last year at my mother's funeral (aged 80 of mouth cancer) my generation pondered which of the old'uns 83, 86 and 88 would be next.

I went to the funeral for my cousin's wife last week, she was 42 and had died of esophageal cancer (John Thaw died of it) usually a cancer of older smokers and drinkers. Karen was a diabetic from the age of 6 and was a non-smoker and a non-drinker. Karen was the youngest of our generation of cousins and we made no predictions of the next time we would meet.

My Dad had a cancerous tumor removed from his colon 5 years ago and hasn't had a day's ill-health since.

[Angela Woodford]

I'm reading these thoughts with great interest... a name came into my head and I cried "Percivall Pott!"

"In 1775, Pott found an association between exposure to soot and a high incidence of scrotal cancer (later found to be squamous cell carcinoma) in chimney sweeps. This was the first occupational link to cancer, and Pott was the first person to demonstrate that a malignancy could be caused by an environmental carcinogen. Pott's early investigations contributed to the science of epidemiology and the Chimney Sweeper's Act of 1788.[2]"

(Thanks, Wikipedia.) PP was a favourite of one of my nurse tutors.

My sister has recovered from ca breast , but my brave niece is courageously enduring chemotherapy. It makes her feel terribly ill, but she is so positive. Radiotherapy yet to come.

[sejintenej]

I am of the uneducated opinion that we all have un-activated cancer cells in us, and that they are activated by some event or circumstances that puts an undue strain on the body, and the weakest link goes. This means that it can hit anyone and cannot be eradicated like a virus.
An excess of anything will not help and I am pretty certain that stress is a major cause of illness that can develop into cancer.

Big C is not always a killer as I am sure we all know people who have apparently been cured, breast cancer sufferers being the ones I know, but they still have regular check ups as the threat is ever present.

I won't comment on the Stress angle - as with every other medical related idea there are many conflicting stories/ideas/theories/hypotheses.

However, back in the bad old days (we're talking 10 - 20 years ago) when it was legal and not frowned upon a renowned surgeon used to perform autopsies on old people who had been certified as having died of old age. He found that almost every one had one and most had three or more different cancers in their bodies - in each case there were no symptoms, no distress and the person did not die of the conditions he found.

There is another theory / hypothesis that the average person contracts cancer almost annually but usually overcomes it. Just perhaps this ties in with the previous paragraph.

Thirty years ago (that I know of) they already had confirmation of a cure for brain cancer (the type Ted Kennedy died of) - just one straightforward injection! In February 2001 they anounced that they had been able to sufficiently weaken the virus cure so that it would not itself kill the patient but that announcement seems to have been premature! Interesting reason for giving someone polio.

[midget]

As someone who has bits of face (and now neck as well) removed farely regularly because of basal cell carcinoma, I have been told that there is a strong possibility that this was caused bt the "sunray" treatment I received as an unhealthylittle girl , before the war. I'd love to know the incidence of skin cancers among such kids.