How many of our Cancers were caused by alcohol and cigarettes

tommyodavey said:

Still Smoked
My father in law had tongue cancer back in the late 70's at age 57. Had surgery and the full RT with extra rads because he took it so well.

During the whole time he continued to smoke and drink. He eventually passed from pancreatic cancer at 74.

So to me it makes no sense at all. Can you blame his cancer on smoking and drinking? Then why didn't it come back within a few years?

Just more fluff for the conversation. It really means nothing.

Pam M said:

Thanks, Family
Your Fault?!? Last I heard, beer was not a contributing factor.

while we're at it, let's blame Uncle Rick for treating the lawn you played on as a child with chemicals. And Aunt Sue for taking you out for fast food weekly. And your sister for getting you to spend your birthday money on candy. And Grampa for living in that house with the weird fungus growing on the storage shed out back. And Gramma for putting petroleum jelly on your face tofight dryness. And Mom for not providing you with ideal nutrition 24/7. And Dad for not instilling in your little head the importance of daily exercise. And society for making us feel we MUST apply the makeup containing known carcinogens to look acceptable. The list could go on. My tumor was HPV negative; my doc said we can't tell what caused my cancer - probably a combination of factors.

It is what it is. Personally, I think that maybe your family members who don't drink or smoke want to think that those are surely the reasons you had cancer - that way they can feel personally "safe".

soccerfreaks said:

95%
When I was diagnosed in 2005 my doctors told me that 95% of head/neck cancers were caused by smoking and/or smoking and drinking. I qualified and wasn't looking for someone or something to blame anyway. What is the point (although Chernobyl might be another story)?

Now they are aware that a sexually transmitted disease (HPV) can be a cause. Do you want to blame all of the partners you ever had, or perhaps your own promiscuity if you are a head/neck cancer survivor? Why?

The point, I would think, is to quit any such negative behavior (nothing like getting your tongue cut on to cure you of the smoking habit...worked for me, anyway). The point is to take care of business with respect to treatment and take care of self with positive behavior (and environment).

Just an opinion, of course. (And if you make it disease-free for five years, there was, in 2005, anyway, also a 95% chance that the cancer would not come back.)

Take care,

Joe

sharonwright said:

Thank you all
Thank you all for your responses, you have made me feel good about myself for the first time in a long time and I am so appreciative to have friends

longtermsurvivor said:

Feeling good about yourself
Don't allow yourself to be judged. It is not their right. Here's a list of support organizations for you:

http://ontopofcancer.org/throat_cancer_support_group.php#board

If people are going to judge you, either for past behaviors, or for current looks, you don't need them. Surround yourself with people who uplift you. It's sad we have to have these huge life crises to learn that.


Pat

babs.smile said:

LOTTERY
Life is a lottery, you come into the world and u take your chances. I do not believe it to be any deeper than that. If you are unlucky enough to be diagnosed with cancer, altering the odds by changing your lifestyle is perhaps a wise choice. Who knows for sure. I survived to tell the story and don't drink nor smoke anymore and started eating more vegetables, chicken and fish and much less saturated fats. I consider myself cured and live a wonderful life. I wish you all the same.