Letting go of blame - WHY did I get cancer?
I've just listened to BCNA's excellent podcast: What you don't know until you do, and one of the comments there made me want to share something that might bring comfort to anyone wondering “Why me?” ...
Forum Discussion
You've nailed it, Shae - 'they' (the experts) really have NO IDEA why ANYONE gets ANY cancer.
Well done on checking out Charlotte Tottman's What you Don't know Until you Do tho ...... As a Psychologist who'd advised women diagnosed with BC for some years - she was surprised that when diagnosed herself - she really didn't expect to be so unprepared for 'the process'.
I've had extended family members who've had lung cancer & have never smoked ...... been an alcoholic & never had ANY cancer ..... been a World Champion Triathlete who (like you) NEVER smoked or drank alcohol & NEVER ate unhealthy food - yet died from Stomach Cancer ...
Sadly life can just be SO cruel and unfair sometimes. 😪
However, some cancers are Genetic (eg BRCA gene for BC) ... My own theory is that 'everyone has the chance of getting cancer at any time' ... sometimes it can be an injury that causes rogues cells to multiply ..... or some 'other' condition that may trigger the explosion (maybe a virus or other illness?)
Who knows, maybe one day, they will invent a 'mini chemo' pill that will be taken regularly .... that will hunt down 'circulating tumour cells' that are already in our body, just waiting to find something to attach to! It is a very real possibility, further down the line!
No amount of wondering 'why' will change the diagnosis - but being positive & maintaining a healthy lifestyle during & after treatment should help recovery & ongoing good health.
We all ask 'why' but there is just no realistic answer to it - so no-one should beat themselves up for the diagnosis.
There are so many young kids (under 10) who are diagnosed every year - and lifestyle & food are highly unlikely to have 'influenced' their diagnoses ..... it is just pure bloody bad luck 😢
So .. I reckon it is VERY important to just 'get on with it' to the best of your ability, post op and post treatment ... and do the best that you can, to get thru the treatment. Just keep doing what you love doing (relative to your treatment & side effects - and there may be some!)
Just be very aware that (at any time) lingering aches or pain 'may' indicate a problem .... but, my mantra has been 'If In Doubt - Get Checked Out'!! So far, so good!
Take care & all the best