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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Prostate Cancer / February 2004Optimism
Speaking of news articles, here's one. The URL is too long and cumbersome, but you can google for: "Optimism Doesn't Prolong Lung Cancer Patients' Survival" "An optimistic attitude, often touted as an important psychological tool against cancer, doesn't prolong survival for lung cancer patients. Worse yet, telling such patients to have a positive outlook may even add to their burden, claims a somber Australian study in the Feb. 9 online issue of Cancer." What a relief! Now people can't blame me for not being optimistic enough. "The study author is quick to add, however, that her team looked only at lung cancer, which typically has a bleak prognosis. People with other types of cancers may get greater survival benefits from a positive outlook, says Penelope Schofield, a research fellow at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne." Ratz. So they're telling me I'm not off the hook yet. JohnG I saw a similar study about a year ago that reached the same conclusion. Basically it said, "A positive attitude may make you a nicer patient to be around, but it won't make you live longer." JP > Speaking of news articles, here's one. The URL is too long and > cumbersome, but you can google for: "Optimism Doesn't Prolong Lung [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > JohnG > Speaking of news articles, here's one. The URL is too long and > cumbersome, but you can google for: "Optimism Doesn't Prolong Lung [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > JohnG I debated showing that article to my DH Curt becos he believes so much in the power of positive thinking. I still haven't decided. I am his filter, I find articles, etc and pass them on to him. He thinks he has to everything so perfect. another quagmire. Lori > I debated showing that article to my DH Curt becos he believes so much in > the power of positive thinking. I still haven't decided. I am his filter, I > find articles, etc and pass them on to him. He thinks he has to everything > so perfect. another quagmire. > Lori That's OK. I debated after I posted it whether I should have done so. (Post first, think later.) Different people need to do different things to keep themselves going. I remember when my dear beloved grandfather, then in his early 70s, had an intitution that he wouldn't live the night and wanted to say some appropriate words to me before going. He not only survived the night but lived another 20 years, mentally alert to the end. It wasn't exactly a positive outlook, but he often was like that. I'm not making fun of him, btw. He was my favorite grandfather, and I was his favorite grandchild. I still miss him and can get teary-eyed about it, even though he has been gone for nearly 24 years now. JohnG Like the survivors of the Holocaust, prisoners of war, etc... they all stated that they survived becasue they had something to live for, to look forward to, whatever that was - it was a very strong emotion and or goal/task/belief/mission. The same could be said for people with cancer. Had a friend a few years ago, her daughter was going to get married in 18 months and the Doctors gave her 1-3 months to live - she lasted 19 months. She died a month after the wedding. She stated everyday that if it was the last thing she would do, she was going to attend the wedding. We should all have something to live for and believe in strongly. If we don't have something then find something. I don't know if a positive attitude will help - I believe it does - I feel strongly that if you really have something to live for and are willing to fight cancer on a daily basis in whatever way you can - never giving up hope - to the end you - it will extend your life by days/weeks/months/years/decades. Never, Never Give Up - There is always hope - A cure is on its way or at least a drug to hold PCa off. That is my optimism. I simply believe and no research/study or person can take that away from me or you. Dave P. > Speaking of news articles, here's one. The URL is too long and > cumbersome, but you can google for: "Optimism Doesn't Prolong Lung [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > JohnG I think of it this way: It may be that you will live 30 more years. Or it may be that you'll only live one more year, or one month, or one day. But however long it is, you've got to focus on living for that time, and not throwing away the time left in depression and despair. Life is about living, not about dying. I try to be optimistic, not that I will live forever - I know something will eventually kill me, and it will happen not too many years from now - but that the time I have is worthwhile and enjoyable, that I'll get something out of it and give something back too. So for me, "optimism" doesn't mean that I'll beat this disease, though I hope I do. It means that I'll try to be upbeat about all the time left to me, whether it's long or short. Alan > Like the survivors of the Holocaust, prisoners of war, etc... they all > stated that they survived becasue they had something to live for, to look [quoted text clipped - 44 lines] > > > > JohnG Hey, you can look at this way: My prostate is half-empty vs my prostate is half-full!!! Philski The optimist says your glass is half full, while the pessimist might say sure, but you're soaking your teeth in that glass ; ) Tom > Hey, you can look at this way: > > My prostate is half-empty vs my prostate is half-full!!! > > Philski That make sense! (Since my wife has false teeth and leaves them on the window sill in a half-full coffee cup soaking each night) And my bladder is ALWAYS empty! (Seems to be just a temporary place my urine passes thru on it's way to the Depends Deposit).... :) Philski |
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