Check out this thread: blaming people for having cancer

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/15/530737.page#8299336

The person -- OP -- is effectively saying that people make bad choices and end up with cancer.

Sorry, it took me a while to work my way through this. I'm not sure if you realized, but you linked to your own post. I assume that you are referring to the long post that is quoted in the message to which you linked? My understanding of that post is that the poster is referring to one specific type of cancer and providing suggestions for reducing risk. I am not sure what is controversial about that and I do not agree that it is blaming the people who have cancer for their cancer. I do realize that this is a sensitive topic to many and that some readers may interpret things differently than I do, but I don't feel that thread requires any intervention from me.

I am sorry -- I screwed up the links. the ones that bothered me were at 02/01/2016 21:11; [Post New]02/02/2016 06:07; and 02/04/2016 06:02. In all three of these posts, they suggest that the dominant factor in cancer is lifestyle.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/15/530737.page#8299336

The person -- OP -- is effectively saying that people make bad choices and end up with cancer.

Sorry, it took me a while to work my way through this. I'm not sure if you realized, but you linked to your own post. I assume that you are referring to the long post that is quoted in the message to which you linked? My understanding of that post is that the poster is referring to one specific type of cancer and providing suggestions for reducing risk. I am not sure what is controversial about that and I do not agree that it is blaming the people who have cancer for their cancer. I do realize that this is a sensitive topic to many and that some readers may interpret things differently than I do, but I don't feel that thread requires any intervention from me.

I am sorry -- I screwed up the links. the ones that bothered me were at 02/01/2016 21:11; [Post New]02/02/2016 06:07; and 02/04/2016 06:02. In all three of these posts, they suggest that the dominant factor in cancer is lifestyle.

The first one says this (in part):

"A major cause of cancer is [/b]lifestyle[b], years of living. Or genetics,"

I'm not sure what the issue is with that one.

The second one says:

"You're the only one "blaming the victim" on this thread, 5:54. Are you profiting from the cancer epidemic, by any chance?"

We could have done without that post, but it doesn't suggest that the dominant factor in cancer is lifestyle. Moreover, there is a very substantive reply to it that I would also need to remove. I think it is better to leave it.

The third one contributed nothing (though I still don't think it suggested that the dominant factor in cancer is lifestyle) and I have removed it.

[Anonymous]

Jeff, I am sorry if I am being a jerk about this. My objection to the first one was that the quote was edited: it was edited from:

A major cause of cancer is life, years of living. Or genetics, I suppose. Are you saying that only cancer-free people should pass on their genes?

to:


Anonymous wrote:

A major cause of cancer is lifestyle, years of living. Or genetics, I suppose. Are you saying that only cancer-free people should pass on their genes?


There fixed it for you.

The original quote was changed from being alive to how we live our lives, which is very different. There i actually a joke in the cancer survivors community about the person that clames we can cure cancer by rubbing kale over it.

[Anonymous]

Really who cares what someone else's opinion of the cause of cancer actually is?

There are theories its caused primarily by a virus.

No one actually knows for sure, which is why there is still so much fundraising for research.

Just leave the thread if you don't like the terms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Really who cares what someone else's opinion of the cause of cancer actually is?

There are theories its caused primarily by a virus.

No one actually knows for sure, which is why there is still so much fundraising for research.

Just leave the thread if you don't like the terms.

Exactly. I remember when physicians would smoke in your face, because they believed that it had zero effect on your health. Now they're learning that your thoughts affect your health and happiness.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/15/530737.page#8299336

The person -- OP -- is effectively saying that people make bad choices and end up with cancer.

Sorry, it took me a while to work my way through this. I'm not sure if you realized, but you linked to your own post. I assume that you are referring to the long post that is quoted in the message to which you linked? My understanding of that post is that the poster is referring to one specific type of cancer and providing suggestions for reducing risk. I am not sure what is controversial about that and I do not agree that it is blaming the people who have cancer for their cancer. I do realize that this is a sensitive topic to many and that some readers may interpret things differently than I do, but I don't feel that thread requires any intervention from me.

Cancer patient here who posts somewhat frequently on cancer threads, although usually I confine myself to threads providing support to newly diagnosed patients.

FWIW, I'm in agreement with you on this, Jeff. I don't think that thread requires any intervention. I have not posted on that thread, but I've read it. I can see how some of the posts can feel hurtful to those of us with cancer. I think it's less about the specifics of prevention or reducing risk and more about the tone of some of the posts. Some of them make it sound like the issue of cancer is so simple. Live a clean lifestyle and you'll be fine. But everyone knows that isn't true. You can do everything "right" in matters of lifestyle and still find yourself with stage 4 cancer and little long term hope. If you're in this position, or presently in treatment and struggling to get well and still live a fulfilling life, it can be irritating to read posts that sound insensitive, especially if it *sounds* like the poster has no direct experience with cancer.

So, there's a lot of emotion involved. That said, opinions are like...noses and everyone has one. Some I like. Some I don't. But I don't think opinions necessarily need deleting.

I'm thankful you took a thoughtful look at it and responded to concerns. For me, this is enough.

Thank you.