Breast Cancer

Yesterday, another woman lost a long battle with breast cancer.  Joan (not her real name) was a sister-in-law of one of my best friends.  I don't recall how many years since she developed this dreaded disease, but it was many years.  Less than a month ago, she was told she was in remission.  Over the last five or so years, (I lose track of time!) she has been up and down.  There were times she seemed almost cancer free.  Other times she was down.  Then they would try a new treatment on her. . . and on and on.

Recently, a faculty member in the department I work in at URMC, learned she had breast cancer.  Not that I would wish this disease on anyone, but Mary (not her real name) is just one of the nicest people you could ever hope to meet.  Unlike many of the clinical and research faculty at the Medical Center, she not only is a brilliant clinician and researcher, but most importantly, she has a life outside of work.  In other words, she's a down to earth person.  It really isn't fair.  In her case, it appears they caught it early as she is Stage 1.

I'm no different than most every other educated woman.  I do all the right things, eat right, get preventive medical care.  I beat heart disease in its tracks.  Yet cancer can cast it's evil spell on anyone. . . anyone.

Is it the environment we live in?  The chemicals in the food we eat?  Stress of everyday living?  The air we breathe?

This country has made great strides in so many areas.  Why can't we make cancer a thing of the past, like polio, tuberculosis and all those other diseases from yesteryear?