Some people just can't get a break*

[doodab]

A lot more people beating it, or at least living longer with it.

This is true, certainly among some of the more common cancers breast and prostate have pretty good survival rates now, as do some of the less common ones. Bowel and lung cancer much less so unfortunately.

Cancer survival for common cancers : Cancer Research UK

The big problem with the "hard to cure" cancers generally isn't treating them, it's detecting them early enough for a cure to be possible. That's certainly the case for GI cancers (oesophagus, stomach, pancreas, bowel etc). By the time they start causing noticeable symptoms it's usually to late, although they do have screening programs for bowel cancer now so progress is being made.

[VectraMan]

Well about 1 in 3 people get some form of cancer at some point in their lives so it's quite probable they do know someone who has or has had it. Not everyone talks about it as much as me, especially those who've had it and beaten it. I know a few people like that who never mentioned it until they found out about my condition. I guess they either don't like to talk about it or prefer to move on and take maximum advantage being alive rather than letting it define them.

A lot more people beating it, or at least living longer with it, which obviously increases the chances of meeting someone who has or has had it. 20 years ago that would have been completely different.

I had the scare last year, but actually it turns out I have Crohn's disease instead. Which I suppose is good. My cousin had what Doodab has at 36.

[doodab]

It feels like it's on the rise, everyone seems to know someone with cancer, but I imagine that's not really the case.

Well about 1 in 3 people get some form of cancer at some point in their lives so it's quite probable they do know someone who has or has had it. Not everyone talks about it as much as me, especially those who've had it and beaten it. I know a few people like that who never mentioned it until they found out about my condition. I guess they either don't like to talk about it or prefer to move on and take maximum advantage being alive rather than letting it define them.

[d000hg]

Yes I saw that. I think younger people with cancer in the news do tend to jump out at me a bit now.

Me too actually - partly due to yourself and partly because I have a friend in her 20s who had Hodgkin's Lymphoma (luckily it responded excellently to treatment even though detected at a fairly advanced stage).

It feels like it's on the rise, everyone seems to know someone with cancer, but I imagine that's not really the case.

[oscarose]

I have about 5 in response to that but I didn't post to make fun (puns just happened) so I shall refrain.

The captain's a good man - seen him at Sheffield a few times.

[doodab]

Yeah. He seems a nice guy on TV too.

And somehow I totally missed this one: BBC Sport - Elena Baltacha: Former British number one dies of liver cancer

Yes I saw that. I think younger people with cancer in the news do tend to jump out at me a bit now.

[d000hg]

poor form with the pun

I have about 5 in response to that but I didn't post to make fun (puns just happened) so I shall refrain.

[d000hg]

He is an unlucky bugger.

Yeah. He seems a nice guy on TV too.

And somehow I totally missed this one: BBC Sport - Elena Baltacha: Former British number one dies of liver cancer

[oscarose]

poor form with the pun

[doodab]

He is an unlucky bugger.

[d000hg]

BBC Sport - Ali Carter: Snooker player diagnosed with lung cancer

Makes massive changes to his life to cope with Crohn's disease, comes back on great form.
Diagnosed and treated for testicular cancer, comes back again and looked good in the world championships
Now he has lung cancer
Life just won't stop kicking him in the nuts**



*I only realised the pun after writing the title, honest.
**OK, this one was deliberate