“I wanted to let you know that you have been important in my life.”

By: Michael Beiter

Yesterday was tough. 

I posted a social media quote: "A healthy person has a thousand wishes. A sick person has only one." 

Then I got this message from a long-time client:

"Hey! Your post today hit home for me. I hope you and your family are well. 

I wanted to let you know that you have been an important person in my life and really made an impact when I was down- you were such a friend to me when I needed one. I also had so much fun in those days. 

I loved meeting Bridget and the golden boys too at the new place. 

I'm so happy for your success. 

I have been diagnosed with terminal Cancer- you're right about wishing for one thing!

It makes things really come into focus and also realize the importance of friends and family and letting them know how meaningful the relationships are. 

This is your notice!

I hope you and Bridget have a beautiful Christmas and the best 24. 

Thanks to you both.

Love, (Redacted)

I saw the message come in early and assumed it was my friend reaching out, as we hadn't seen her in a while. So I took my regular nap and opened it when I woke up. 

Then my stomach dropped.

Cancer is the most feared word in the English language. 

Learning that Cancer is afflicting someone close to you is hard to describe. Add 'terminal' to the diagnosis, and you're in for a unique human experience. It makes you question everything. It tugs on your faith so hard that some people lose their belief. 

For me, the worst part is knowing how little I can do. Notice, I didn't say 'nothing.' Cognitive Therapy has taught us that 'doing nothing' is not possible. Even if you avoid contact and run from the realities of Cancer, that is something, and that response doesn't help anyone. I know it's difficult, but even the smallest gestures and support can be life-altering for the terminally ill. I only suggest this because I've done it a few times now, and even though I felt like I didn't matter, the sufferers claimed I did. 

Carl Sagan named one of his books The Demon Hunted World: Science as a Candle In The Dark. Cancer might as well be the scariest demon lurking in the dark that our generation will face. Sagan's subtitle points to science as the candle that can illuminate the darkness and rid us of our demons. Like we've done with Polio, Diphtheria, Small Pox, Tetanus, and Typhoid fever. 

So what does science say about Cancer, and how can we best dodge this demon? 

I found an interesting article in Skeptic Magazine that touches on toxins, Cancer, and common misconceptions. Here's a condensed version for you:

~ The world is filled with various toxins, yet the ones we encounter daily, like radium, benzene, arsenic, and asbestos, are less likely to cause harm than lifestyle factors such as smoking, drinking, obesity, and excess sun exposure, which contribute to about 50% of all cancers.

A notable food toxin is Aflatoxin, found in moldy peanuts, linked to liver cancer, primarily in parts of Africa and Asia where hepatitis B is prevalent. However, claims about everyday items like soda, microwave popcorn, and sweeteners causing Cancer often lack scientific evidence.

It's crucial to approach claims cautiously. While some chemicals may show carcinogenic effects in lab experiments, the doses are usually much higher than what a person would ingest. Not everything that causes Cancer in rats or bacteria necessarily affects humans similarly.

Despite living in a world with various poisons, our evolutionary defenses have adapted to neutralize many threats. Contrary to popular belief, there's limited evidence linking trace toxins in our environment or food to Cancer.

Efforts to "cleanse" the body through various products often lack scientific backing. Research shows no evidence that detoxifying products improve health or prevent Cancer. 

Evolutionarily, our ability to heal from wounds contrasts with our struggle to fend off Cancer, a disease often appearing after reproductive years.

While Cancer remains a significant global concern, the increased incidence in developed countries is primarily due to longer life expectancy, not toxins. 

Cancer constitutes only one-sixth of global deaths, and the majority of cancer cases occur in older individuals.

Lastly, common beliefs like a low-fiber diet causing colon cancer or antioxidants preventing Cancer lack substantial evidence when scrutinized in more extensive studies involving actual people. ~

***

Losing loved ones to something we hardly understand is frustrating. But without science, we would know nothing about cancer. At one point, nearly all cancer diagnoses were terminal; now, only some of them are.

Science is our best method of investigation to unravel the mysteries and add cancer to the list of diseases we've defeated. Imagine the day that cancer doesn't cause stomach drops and spine shivers from the mere mention of the word. Imagine when, like chicken pox, a quick trip to the doctor or even a home treatment will make cancer another inconvenience. I can't wait until our lexicon of fear shrinks even further, and cancer stops robbing us of our loved ones.