6 ms·

Cancer seems more scary to me than a stroke or a fatal car accident because you can try to prevent those things. Health choices can decrease chances of a stroke

by toxican 10y ago

Cancer seems more scary to me than a stroke or a fatal car accident because you can try to prevent those things. Health choices can decrease chances of a stroke, being an alert/careful driver can decrease chance of an accident. Cancer though...I mean yeah you can avoid longterm sun exposure or not smoke, but there are so many out-there types of cancers that just swoop in out of nowhere that you don't stand a chance of preventing. Obviously you can't live your life in fear like that, but I think there's good reason to be more fearful or at least angry about cancer than something like a stroke/wreck.

lintiness 10y ago
with terminal cancer, you get time to set your life in order, say goodbye to your friends and family, and try to make a difference (pertinent given the example set by p).
- _pmf_ 10y ago
  > and try to make a difference The cynic in me assumes that with children and a spouse, you're most likely too busy filling out forms and applications that ensure that they will not be screwed over by insurance companies and medical providers.
emodendroket 10y ago
When it comes to cars, nothing is stopping some yahoo not paying any attention from careening into you no matter how careful you are.
- Retric 10y ago
  In many ways it's not preventing accidents that's important it's preventing people getting hurt. Being a defensive driver can drastically change your odds of being killed by some random yahoo. Further, the kind of car you drive can make a significant difference and improvements in car design are largely responsible for a huge reduction in fatalities. Remember, our dealing with V^2 and slow reaction time so a 50MPH car has half the energy of a 70MPH car.
  - emodendroket 10y ago
    Yeah, I mean, I agree, but I got rear-ended twice in the past year and it's changed my perspective a bit. For what it's worth, we have also drastically reduced exposure to carcinogens for most people.
- nkrisc 10y ago
  Of course not. The point is there are things one can actively do to decrease risk (though not eliminate it). With many types of cancer that isn't the case.
  - emodendroket 10y ago
    But how is that any different from getting enough sleep, foregoing tobacco and unhealthy foods, etc.?
    - Practicality 10y ago
      Odds. As you get older your chance of getting cancer increases substantially.[1] Getting older doesn't increase your changes of getting in a car accident. 1: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/age https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/a...
      - emodendroket 10y ago
        > Getting older doesn't increase your changes of getting in a car accident. I beg to differ. > In 2012, there were almost 36 million licensed drivers ages 65 and older in the United States.1 Driving helps older adults stay mobile and independent. But the risk of being injured or killed in a motor vehicle crash increases as you age. http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/older_adult_drivers/ http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/older_adult_drivers/
- cozzyd 10y ago
  By choosing not to drive and being vigilant while crossing the street, you definitely reduce your cross-section (although drivers do plow into pedestrians every once in a while)
KillnBTBC 10y ago
Cancer is scary bc of the lack of education about it in general across the global population (including the medical professionals). the Research and Technology and etc change slow but quickly, effective but ineffective...it is based on various perspectives. And the "cause" of cancer is simple and complicated and of the slight unknown...it is a long discussion. From a now 2 1/2 year post awake Brain Surgery w 90% malignant cancerous tumor removed, radiation and now bc of my re-direction of my tech biz and research/genetics, I have gene mutations discovered that generally put me on the scale to a longer lease, if you will, but this mutation has be picked up by the good ole' immune system and new research points to a intersection in the future with a increasing possibility of attacking the mutation and then my cancer specifics hit the "launch button" and go red hot to a nasty grade 4, quickly...but that is if I do nothing. I'm not the type :) but the point is, as all cancers are scary, some have become very treatable, we are still human and the relationship between each cancer usually has a genetic connection to others to at least one magnitude or more.

by toxican 10y ago

lintiness 10y ago

with terminal cancer, you get time to set your life in order, say goodbye to your friends and family, and try to make a difference (pertinent given the example set by p).

_pmf_ 10y ago
> and try to make a difference The cynic in me assumes that with children and a spouse, you're most likely too busy filling out forms and applications that ensure that they will not be screwed over by insurance companies and medical providers.

emodendroket 10y ago

When it comes to cars, nothing is stopping some yahoo not paying any attention from careening into you no matter how careful you are.

Retric 10y ago
In many ways it's not preventing accidents that's important it's preventing people getting hurt. Being a defensive driver can drastically change your odds of being killed by some random yahoo. Further, the kind of car you drive can make a significant difference and improvements in car design are largely responsible for a huge reduction in fatalities. Remember, our dealing with V^2 and slow reaction time so a 50MPH car has half the energy of a 70MPH car.
- emodendroket 10y ago
  Yeah, I mean, I agree, but I got rear-ended twice in the past year and it's changed my perspective a bit. For what it's worth, we have also drastically reduced exposure to carcinogens for most people.
nkrisc 10y ago
Of course not. The point is there are things one can actively do to decrease risk (though not eliminate it). With many types of cancer that isn't the case.
- emodendroket 10y ago
  But how is that any different from getting enough sleep, foregoing tobacco and unhealthy foods, etc.?
  - Practicality 10y ago
    Odds. As you get older your chance of getting cancer increases substantially.[1] Getting older doesn't increase your changes of getting in a car accident. 1: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/age https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/a...
    - emodendroket 10y ago
      > Getting older doesn't increase your changes of getting in a car accident. I beg to differ. > In 2012, there were almost 36 million licensed drivers ages 65 and older in the United States.1 Driving helps older adults stay mobile and independent. But the risk of being injured or killed in a motor vehicle crash increases as you age. http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/older_adult_drivers/ http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/older_adult_drivers/
cozzyd 10y ago
By choosing not to drive and being vigilant while crossing the street, you definitely reduce your cross-section (although drivers do plow into pedestrians every once in a while)

KillnBTBC 10y ago

Cancer is scary bc of the lack of education about it in general across the global population (including the medical professionals). the Research and Technology and etc change slow but quickly, effective but ineffective...it is based on various perspectives. And the "cause" of cancer is simple and complicated and of the slight unknown...it is a long discussion. From a now 2 1/2 year post awake Brain Surgery w 90% malignant cancerous tumor removed, radiation and now bc of my re-direction of my tech biz and research/genetics, I have gene mutations discovered that generally put me on the scale to a longer lease, if you will, but this mutation has be picked up by the good ole' immune system and new research points to a intersection in the future with a increasing possibility of attacking the mutation and then my cancer specifics hit the "launch button" and go red hot to a nasty grade 4, quickly...but that is if I do nothing. I'm not the type :) but the point is, as all cancers are scary, some have become very treatable, we are still human and the relationship between each cancer usually has a genetic connection to others to at least one magnitude or more.