The C Word

I don’t want to start out on a negative note, but after reading quite a few newspaper articles and reading social media stories lately I find myself asking why we hearing about people who are fighting cancer every day.  The papers are full of sad and heart-breaking stories.

Many of the victims we read about are young people.  Does this mean more people are being diagnosed with the disease or are we just hearing about it more?

I was reading a story a few days ago about the head boy of Christchurch Boy’s High who had only recently been diagnosed with cancer.  He left his hospital bed to give a speech at final prize giving.  My heart just broke reading his story.  What an incredibly brave young man he is and what an amazing role model.  From what I understand his chances are good and I can only wish him nothing but the best as he deals with his treatment.

Every day or two there are stories of people who are fighting this awful disease.  There are often articles about young women diagnosed with terminal cancer, who are having preparations made for their dream wedding rushed through in time.  This all seems so unfair.  Life is not meant to be like this.  What is going wrong, what are we doing wrong?  Why has a cure not been found?  So many questions, and so few answers.

I think there is hardly a family that has not been affected by a family member with cancer.  My father had it, my granddad, my father-in-law and my sister-in-law – all dying way too young.

We are all afraid of the word ‘cancer’ and what it means and if we get it and what are our chances of survival.  I personally have three friends who have survived breast cancer, but the road to full recovery has been a difficult and trying one.

Recently I am sure a lot of you would have heard about bacon and processed meats not being good for you.  Once upon a time it was burnt toast that was considered carcinogenic, and I am sure there are many other food items we are told not to eat as they ‘may’ cause cancer.

I personally think far too many pesticides are used to stop bugs getting into our fruit and vegetables. All these chemicals that go into our system cannot be good for us.  

Nothing really beats fresh fruit and veges straight off the tree or from the garden.  We never use pesticides on our fruit or plants.   But are we now living in an age where everything we eat is starting to look a little ‘too perfect’ due to the chemicals being used.  Some of the early forced fruit like strawberries are now completely tasteless.  I remember picking apples off my Grandfather’s fruit trees and there would be a bit of codling moth in them – Granddad would cut it out and give it to me to eat.  Apples then were ever so sweet, in fact all fruit was.   Often when I buy fruit now the family are so disappointed and tell me it tastes so bland.

I know we ‘are what we eat’ and I am far from the ideal weight which I blame on a family trait, but our family on the whole do eat heathy, well-balanced meals.  I should exercise more but my excuse is my arthritis for holding me back.   

I don’t know what the answer is and how we can stop ourselves getting cancer, but I do really hope some of the drug companies come up with an answer sooner than later.

We need to see young people have a full and healthy life, not have it cut short with this dreaded disease.

The other thing that really gets to me is how so many people have to reach out to the public and do online funding in order to be able to afford the drugs that may prolong their life.  This is so cruel – people who are already battling this disease should not be denied medication that may help them.  Something radically needs to happen here.  Why are these drugs so expensive?

Try and look after yourselves everyone – keep healthy, enjoy summer and enjoy every moment of your life and, live every day to the fullest.

By Kay Rayner. Read more here.