No news is good news, isn’t that what they say? Sometimes “they” can be entirely wrong. Sometimes no news is bad news, the very worst news that you can get. As in the case of cervical cancer for example. The little hell virus lurks undetected and unsuspected for years, multiplying its abnormal cells higher and deeper into the cervical lining until nothing can be done about its invasion and the only conclusion is death. A little timely news in an instance like that would have been good news indeed.
If caught in time cervical cancer is treatable and if treated the recurrence rate of cervical cancer is low. This makes it a good news cancer. Unfortunately it is one of the deadliest cancers around. This is due to its extremely low detection rate. It is caused by the human papillomavirus, which has no symptoms at all. And unless it is specifically tested for, it goes undetected. If you do not find this fact scary as hell, you probably have something scarier.
Many women would rather die than go to a gynaecologyst, spread their legs and be extraordinarily uncomfortable for about 15 minutes. Which is kind of ironic because a percentage will end up with cervical cancer and have to spend large amounts of time with their legs up in the air anyway. If they had done it sooner they could have saved themselves some pain. A cervical smear is all it takes to detect abnormal cells and that smear can be done during your regular internal exam. It doesn’t take long, doesn’t hurt and it could save your life. If that isn’t worth a few minutes of discomfort then I don’t know what is?
What if you do get cancer? What then? Well, as stated previously cervical cancer is a good news cancer, it can be treated if caught early. How long early lasts probably depends on how good your oncologist is and on how good your surgeon is and on how good the communication between the two of them is. It would also depend on the rate of growth of the cancer cells.
Before we all get too depressed it is vitally important that we remember that attitude plays a major role in the healing process. Plato recognised it when he said that, “the part can never be well unless the whole is well”. The medical profession is starting to recognise it as they try to address the treatment of the patient as a balance of all systems, physical, psychological, nutritional etc. Yogi Berra once said about baseball that “90% of this game is half mental”, which is a very American way of putting it. If you ignore the obvious blunder, you can apply that statement to recovering from cancer, indeed any illness. Steve Dunn believes that one very important element in attitude is activity. He believes that you can be pessimistic and active or optimistic and active and still achieve results; it’s the active part that makes the difference. He also believes in the ability to see crisis as an opportunity, not a gift, but an opportunity to reflect on your life, to learn some life lessons, to simply be.
Writers Ernest Rosenbaum MD and Isadora Rosenbaum MA see willingness as important, the willingness to act and believe and live. Helping and sharing with others is important in maintaining links with the world and sharing your pain and sorrow, fear and anger. Close family and friends are especially important here and it’s important that they show their support and not shy away or distance themselves in any way. It’s also important that they don’t make the cancer the person’s whole life, there is still life beyond cancer and the person with cancer is dying to live it. You may think your life boring and insignificant in the face of the fight taking place inside this person’s body but they would love to here about your day and how some dumbhead cut you off in traffic and the string of colourful language that you set sail after them. Doing things to help themselves and others also helps to resolve negative emotions and depression within the cancer sufferer. It brings on feelings of value and worth, and this is important in regaining and maintaining control of their lives and their independence and self-esteem. It is important that they live to the maximum of their capacity and always in the present, never in the past. Set realistic goals but be prepared to compromise. Follow a healthy and improved diet and try to get regular exercise. Finally the most important thing according the Rosenbaums, and probably the most important thing ever any way: Nurture hope.
We could all use a little more hope in our lives. Without hope we might as well all be dead. Hope gives meaning to life, to our presents and to our futures. Hope is not only for the sick and dying. We should all treasure hope and live in hope.
The news that no news is good news is outdated. Early detection is better. Cervical cancer can be treated. Attitude is important. Some attitude factors that are key.
Sandra wrote this article for the online marketers Tell Her cervical cancer information one of the most informative and user friendly sites on cervical cancer on the web
Article Source: http://www.eArticlesOnline.com
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