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Genevieve
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| Posted: May 08 2006 at 10:18am | IP Logged
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Yesterday I picked up a tub of Plaster of Paris. I had never worked with this medium before and read instructions. There was a warning label that the product "known to the state of California to cause cancer", and at this point I refuse to use this medium. Am I getting a little paranoid?
My family has a long history with cancer. My mother, both grandparents, paternal grandfather and half of my first aunts had cancer. Only my grandfather died because of it. You can say my thoughts swing from denial to utter dispair.
For those who had cancer impacted your life in one way or another, how have you dealt with it? How has it changed your life? I am having a hard time keeping up with current research and sifting through possible causes and mere correlations.
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Genevieve
The Good Within
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Elizabeth
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Genevieve,
This is a tricky one! I've come to a point where I try to avoid known carcinogens (a label like the one on the plaster of paris would do it for me) and to eat healthfully within reason (still searching for the ideal diet  ). When I was diagnosed, I had just turned 23. For all the things my mom didn't do, she was pretty health conscious. We ate very well. I can see three things in my childhood that might have been contributors: (1) an extreme amount of constant stress (my parents are alcoholics), (2) the overuse of antibiotics. Every time I had an earchae, I was on an antibiotic. I don't have a right ear but if that side of my head hurt, my mother insisted on drugs.Looking back, I know the persistent pain was a dairy allergy. I f I don't drink milk, I have no pain. Drink milk, head hurts.  (3)I had a skin graft in the area where there is no ear when I was six. Ultimately, I rejected it, but I do wonder about the correlation btw anti-rejection drugs and cancer. I laid all of these and my otherwise healthy lifestyle out for my oncologist. He shrugged and said sometimes we just don't know. Thus began my lifetime struggle with control and acknowledging how little we have.
Since then, I 've met friends who have children who have had cancer. When you see cancer in a breastfed, well-nourished 18-month-old whose life has been the picture of the perfect babyhood, you realize that much of this truly is beyond our control.
That said, I made a promise when we got the internet.Perfect fear casts out love; it can consume you and swallow every waking moment. I promised my husband I wouldn't google cancer-related rabbit trails. Sometimes, I can know too much; it feeds my fears and it drives me crazy. Every once in a while, I circumvent the promise and ask a friend to look something up for me  . I don't completely bury my head in the sand but I don't let cancer define me nor deny me life. For the most part, I do what I can to stay as healthy as possible and I live every day knowing that it's a gift not to be taken for granted.
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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Elizabeth
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| Posted: May 08 2006 at 11:01am | IP Logged
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How do you like that? My historic 2000th post was on a subject I generally avoid  ?
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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stefoodie
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Thank you so much, Elizabeth. I've read your cancer story before but not the part about you not following cancer-related rabbit trails. I needed that. B/c my grandmother died of cancer and I'm constantly meeting people whose lives have been touched by cancer directly or indirectly, everytime I feel something weird I automatically think, this must be it -- plus the fact that we weren't exactly eating healthy food all our lives, my mom cooked most of our meals from scratch but we didn't stay away completely from other things like hotdogs and processed food! Just last night I was researching cancer symptoms again because I've had a recurring fever the past month and a half.
Your post was a blessing to read. Thanks for sharing.
And Genevieve, I have no words of wisdom for you but I'll keep you in my prayers.
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stef
mom to five
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Genevieve
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| Posted: May 08 2006 at 11:40am | IP Logged
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Elizabeth, thank you for sharing your story. It's a topic that is hard to discuss. We never talk about it in my family. I honestly don't know what I'll do if it comes to my turn.
Stef, thank you for your prayers. I don't exactly have words for wisdom either. *sigh*
Honestly, I think I have been in denial this whole time, ten years ago when the first diagnosis occured within the family. It has been rapid fire ever since then. I don't know of any known carcinogens. The chemical names just gloss over me. I do read labels but if they don't have something explicit like the one on the Plaster, I don't go on to research every single ingredient. As for the organic and natural lifestyle, well... it got overwhelming and expensive. There are so many theories on the right diet. I understand completely about the perfect fear. There is a fine balance between cherishing every moment and fearing each is its last. I want to find out more, but like you, Elizabeth, I believe it would just be opening a can of worms. So am I living in denial?
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Genevieve
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Taffy
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THANK YOU for posting your thoughts on this. While, cancer is not a big concern of ours, autism is as both our oldest son and 3 of our 6 nephews have it in some form or another. I have all of the same fears about autism causes and it really did my heart well to read the comments here. Elizabeth, your words "Perfect fear casts out love; it can consume you and swallow every waking moment. I promised my husband I wouldn't google cancer-related rabbit trails. Sometimes, I can know too much; it feeds my fears and it drives me crazy." are too true.
Sorry for butting in...
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Susan
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Mary G
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Elizabeth wrote:
That said, I made a promise when we got the internet.Perfect fear casts out love; it can consume you and swallow every waking moment. I promised my husband I wouldn't google cancer-related rabbit trails. Sometimes, I can know too much; it feeds my fears and it drives me crazy. Every once in a while, I circumvent the promise and ask a friend to look something up for me . I don't completely bury my head in the sand but I don't let cancer define me nor deny me life. For the most part, I do what I can to stay as healthy as possible and I live every day knowing that it's a gift not to be taken for granted. |
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I'm with you Elizabeth -- my first husband died at 31 with no real cancer in his family history. He had a mole that turned out to be malignant, then it spread to his lymphnodes and the rest is history.
I think you can begin to look for bug-a-boos where there aren't any. But then again, I think in this case your guardian angel or the Holy Spirit had you read the directions and see the notice. Always go with your urges, but don't let fear rule you.
For my own kids, particularly the two older who are from my first marriage, I try to keep them out of the sun too much and give EVERYONE healthy food. This seemsto work the best for us.
But again, as Elizabeth said, it's so out of our control in many ways....
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MaryG
3 boys (22, 12, 8)2 girls (20, 11)
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Elizabeth
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| Posted: May 08 2006 at 1:36pm | IP Logged
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stefoodie wrote:
B/c my grandmother died of cancer and I'm constantly meeting people whose lives have been touched by cancer directly or indirectly, everytime I feel something weird I automatically think, this must be it -- plus the fact that we weren't exactly eating healthy food all our lives, my mom cooked most of our meals from scratch but we didn't stay away completely from other things like hotdogs and processed food! Just last night I was researching cancer symptoms again because I've had a recurring fever the past month and a half.
Your post was a blessing to read. Thanks for sharing.
And Genevieve, I have no words of wisdom for you but I'll keep you in my prayers. |
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Stef,
I'm thinking about cancer a lot lately because of Nicole. And I'm wondering why God has put me on this paticular road at this particular time. But I must confess, I do do what you've described, too. Just this morning, my 3yo said her head hurt "right here" and she pointe one finger on a spot above her right ear. I asked if the hurt was inside or outside. Dh offered a kiss. While he's "kssing to make it better" (the normal response), I'm thinking "Brain tumor." The trick is turning off the thought when it really is unfounded. As some of the patient ladies on this list who have listened to my fears know, I'm not always good at turning off the thoughts.
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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Elizabeth
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Taffy wrote:
| THANK YOU for posting your thoughts on this. While, cancer is not a big concern of ours, autism is as both our oldest son and 3 of our 6 nephews have it in some form or another. I have all of the same fears about autism causes and it really did my heart well to read the comments here. |
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Taffy,
We have that going here, too . My dh's nephew and my only cousin's son are autistic (so, both sides of the family), plus what appears to be Tourette's syndrome and some severe learning disabilities in this house ...
whole 'nother thread, but related indeed.
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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ladybugs
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Elizabeth wrote:
Stef,
(the normal response), I'm thinking "Brain tumor." The trick is turning off the thought when it really is unfounded. As some of the patient ladies on this list who have listened to my fears know, I'm not always good at turning off the thoughts. |
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Ohmigosh! This is soooooooo me! We're kindred spirits!
I feel better knowing my thought processes are not unlike all of yours.
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Maria P
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Jenn Sal
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Hi Everyone! Just stepping in to say that I am right there thinking something is going to cause suffering. I haven't been able to get pregnant since my miscarrage last December. I've been wondering, "Do I have a cancerous ovary?" Now, my sister, Angie Mc. can laugh with me on this, because I am CRAZY  ! A part of me believes this and wonders if I should get checked out. Another thinks, no, you're just worring AGAIN. Then the other part steps in and says, yeah, but what if you're right this time! WORRY is one of my biggest challenges. I am aware of this and that helps. What also helps is having people who can comfort that part of me and not try to make me feel weak. 
Thank you for forwarding this forum to me Angie! Hmmm, I wonder why you thought of ME!! 
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Jennifer, Texas
Wife to Mark, Mom to Cora 13,Kade 10, Sarah in Heaven 12/05, Colette 7, Corin 5, & Kieran 2
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Jenn Sal
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Genevieve,
I just realized that I didn't address your question. I'm sorry.
My husband is a chemical engineer and I posed your question to him. He said what you probably already know. It depends on what kind of cancers they had. Certain carcinogenics cause certain cancers. Long exposures to cigaretts & radon are huge causes among many others.
As far as diet, I can't afford nor find good organic foods all the time. What I try to buy organic are foods that take a long time to grow (asparagus) and foods that I can't take the peel off of (lettuce). Then I just use a good veggie/fruit wash on everything. I eat whole foods as much as possible, eat out rarely, and don't eat red meat. I figure if I'm trying, then I can be at ease. 
Be Not Afraid has become an important song in my life. So has laughter. I poke fun at myself when I worry (so do others)! These don't always work as quickly as I would like, but I have them in my heart. 
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Jennifer, Texas
Wife to Mark, Mom to Cora 13,Kade 10, Sarah in Heaven 12/05, Colette 7, Corin 5, & Kieran 2
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Jenny
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Wow! I'm not the only one! I've had a headache the last couple of days. I immediately go to brain tumor, my dh says, "oh yeah, me too. The allergies are really bad right now." My sister says the same thing. Well, she did add, "ok, Chris & I have now told you the same thing & believe me, he didn't just call here to warn me of your call so would both give you the same answer. "
I thought for a year I was going to have a heart attack at age 31 b/c I saw something on tv about a-typical heart attacks in woman in their early 30's. My dh actually said after about 7 months, "just have it already & be done " IT took me a year to realize that the women telling about their heart attacks...didn't die.
I do not search for scary medical problems, I cannot watch medical things on tv or read about them b/c they scare me & kick me into high worry. I confessed this every time I went to confession for years and received a great consolation about 3 yrs ago in the confessional that has helped tremendously, but some days it is right below the surface.
Well, more than I though I would share here. I didn't want to scare you all off from me
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Jenny
Chris' wife and momma of 7. My blog: The Littlest Way--Bible Journaling, Inspiring Bible Quotes, Daily Affirmations, Prayer Journaling & photography
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Genevieve
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Jennifer,
Thank you for your common sense approach to my concerns. Sometimes I need to be reminded of that.
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Genevieve
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Genevieve
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| Posted: May 09 2006 at 7:04am | IP Logged
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4mothermary wrote:
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Nope... you don't scare us off. We all have our moments.
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Genevieve
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Precautions against cancer
