My friend was 51, she died this summer from a cancer. Another coworker died at 50 2 years ago. And DH's grandfather dropped dead at 55. It happens.

Anonymous wrote:51, dropping like flies seems extreme. But tia no longer the rarity. Also remember it need not be your generation. It could the generation above that you are close to

This. A lot of dying one generation up. Also in folks like 15 or so years older.

You can see the beginning of health problem of people in the 50s… But the issues now are still manageable. It’s like, when something does happen, people don’t think… they’re so young. You’re actually old enough to have health issues seem appropriate.

Anonymous wrote:I'm 53. I passed away last month along with two of my friends (of similar age).

How’s life on the other side?

I'm 53. I passed away last month along with two of my friends (of similar age).

I am 53 and feel fortunate that no one in my close circle has died.

However, I have two older brothers, 4 and 6 years older, and definitely felt like they started losing lots of friends in their 50s. It made me sad and nervous for when I turned 50 and I'm holding my breath for my friends to start "dropping like flies". I did have two friends whose husbands were diagnosed with cancer at the beginning of this summer... both are ok for now but maybe this is the beginning...

I think you should call it 80th decline.

56, have lots of friends who have survived breast cancer, bladder cancer, colon cancer. Mostly breast cancer. None have passed

Anonymous wrote:My neighbor, who is a doctor, says, "if you can make it through your 50s" you have a chance at living a long life. Apparently, lots of heart disease and cancer pop up in 50s, as you noted. We have seen this among our peer group, though everyone has survived, including 2 friends with "widowmaker" heart events.

That's me. It began with long COVID, heart event (LAD remains 100% blocked still), and then triple negative BC. Somehow, feel super duper lucky and know that I will do ok once this year is done. Still in my late 50s.

I'm 47 and relatively healthy (no cholesterol, heart, BP, blood sugar issues) but the amount of pain I'm in every day vs when i was younger is astonishingly higher. If this trend continues, not sure how old I'd WANT to get.

Anonymous wrote:I don’t actually think these threads are helpful. If anything, they are harmful - reading a roll call of people’s friends, family and acquaintances who have died prematurely and tragically in middle age? I have my own stats I could offer up but all we can do is focus on what we can control and take good care of ourselves.

OP - on the contrary I think it is a reminder to live our lives to the fullest and take care of our health.

I had friends die of car accidents in my teens, suicide in my 20s, cancer in my 30s, accidents and cancer in their 40s, and now cancer again in my 50s. I don't think it's worse now than previous decades. The rate of divorce is greater now among my peers--that has been a bigger surprise, especially the financial insecurity that accompanies it.

I don’t actually think these threads are helpful. If anything, they are harmful - reading a roll call of people’s friends, family and acquaintances who have died prematurely and tragically in middle age? I have my own stats I could offer up but all we can do is focus on what we can control and take good care of ourselves.

Anonymous wrote:My neighbor, who is a doctor, says, "if you can make it through your 50s" you have a chance at living a long life. Apparently, lots of heart disease and cancer pop up in 50s, as you noted. We have seen this among our peer group, though everyone has survived, including 2 friends with "widowmaker" heart events.

People can live a long time with extensive medical histories. I see it where I work - on many meds, multiple medical conditions and living their lives.

Anonymous wrote:It's true. 2 of DH's college friends died at 49, a coworker of his at 50, and one of our neighbors at 51.

Of what?

My neighbor, who is a doctor, says, "if you can make it through your 50s" you have a chance at living a long life. Apparently, lots of heart disease and cancer pop up in 50s, as you noted. We have seen this among our peer group, though everyone has survived, including 2 friends with "widowmaker" heart events.