Posted on 06/18/2013 4:22:21 PM PDT by drewh
Angelina Jolie's decision to get a double mastectomy after learning she had the breast cancer gene mutation has been lauded by many as courageous, empowering, and even heroic. But singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge -- a breast cancer survivor herself -- thinks it's actually the opposite of those things.
Asked about Jolie's recent New York Times op-ed, in which she revealed the news of her mastectomy and breast reconstruction, Etheridge told the Washington Blade that she wouldn't make the same decision for herself. Nor would she encourage others to do so without properly researching their options.
"I have to say I feel a little differently," the Grammy-winning chanteuse (who, incidentally, performed at Brad Pitt's wedding to Jennifer Aniston) said of the choice to get a preventive mastectomy. "I have that gene mutation too, and it's not something I would believe in for myself. I wouldn't call it the brave choice. I actually think it's the most fearful choice you can make when confronting anything with cancer."
"My belief is that cancer comes from inside you, and so much of it has to do with the environment of your body. It's the stress that will turn that gene on or not. Plenty of people have the gene mutation and everything, but it never comes to cancer," she continued, noting that surgical removal of one's breasts is "way down the line on the spectrum of what you can do" to lessen your risk of the disease.
"I've been cancer free for nine years now, and looking back, I completely understand why I got cancer," she added. "There was so much acidity in everything. I really encourage people to go a lot longer and further before coming to that conclusion [of a mastectomy]."
To be fair, Jolie said in her May 14 editorial that the decision to have a mastectomy was a personal one. Her main point was that women should be informed about the various options available to them.
"I want to encourage every woman, especially if you have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, to seek out the information and medical experts who can help you through this aspect of your life, and to make your own informed choices," she wrote.
"Life comes with many challenges," she explained. "The ones that should not scare us are the ones we can take on and take control of."
“Touched a nerve! Good.”
No, you haven’t even come close to getting on my nerves.
“I’m over the target.”
No, I think you’re in over your head.
“I’m getting that “you’re a liberal” namecalling flak.”
No, you’re not. Learn to read. It’s fundamental. You are saying I said “you’re a liberal”. I actually wrote the following: “Like a liberal you’re assuming I have no understanding simply because I disagree with you. Notice, I am NOT doing that to you or anyone else in the thread.”
I was right as well. I never said you do not have understanding simply because I disagree with your view. Rather than properly represent what I said, you chose to do otherwise. Why would you do that? I hope you have the courage to answer that question. Quite frankly I doubt you do.
“It’s the last gasp of those with no grasp.”
No, I think the last gasp is when someone DELIBERATELY chooses to post a falsehood - which is what you have done. Why did you do that?
“No, I’m *concluding* (not assuming) you have no understanding, based on your own testimony, to me and to others.”
Not possible. I presented no testimony to speak of other than a rather sparse personal comment. Thus, your rationalization is false and in fact disingenuous. How telling.
“You have *shown* no understanding, in spite of being given the opportunity to do so.”
No, actually I have shown understanding. Your dismissal of that fact does not change that it exists.
“Your nonsensical mumbo-jumbo and claims do NOT constitute understanding.”
I said nothing nonsensical. I used no mumbo-jumbo at all. Clearly it is I who hit upon a nerve. I’ll sleep tonight without a second thought about you. I don’t think you’ve stopped frothing at the mouth yet nor will you for some time.
“Maybe your public skool teachers told you that your holy opinion was sufficient to carry an argument; if so, they did you a disservice.”
I never attended public school, and if I did I doubt they would call anything they taught me “holy” precisely because it would have been a public school and not a religious one. Not only do you not know what you’re talking about, but you can’t even post something that has any internal coherence.
“Bye now.”
That’s right. Thump your chest...as you take your ball and go home. Gee, I hope you’re not crying in your room. Maybe your mom can bring you a cookie and milk and tell you everything will be fine.
“And please don’t screw up anyone else.”
I’ll continue to keep making sense, thanks. If you believe that screws up anyone, all the better.
Yeah, I think I was the one who touched a nerve. You’re not still crying are you?
Both my parents and a sister died of lung cancer. They all smoked. I've never smoked, but I'm not naive enough to think that I couldn't develop lung cancer. My mother and father's lung cancers were untreatable. My sister, who had stopped smoking five years before, was diagnosed with small cell, limited stage lung cancer (lung and lympth node) in February 2010. She underwent approximately 50 radiation treatments and multiple chemo treatments. The doctor told her that small cell cancer is the most aggressive, but it also responds to treatment. Would it come back? Yes he said...with a vengeance. One of the nurses working the chemo therapy unit told us that cancer has become a chronic disease: you're diagnosed, are given treatments, it goes into remission, it comes back...and the cycle replays itself.
In August of 2010, my sister underwent 10 radiation treatments of the brain to help keep the cancer from spreading there. In June of 2011, they discovered the cancer had gone to her brain. She entered hospice care on July 1st, and died Sept. 2, 2011 on her 69th birthday.
Despite the advances in cancer treatment, it's still more likely to be terminal, than beatable.
Ignorance is bliss. Sleep tight, little boy.
My previous wife died of breast cancer at 39. Her family had a history of bc. My present wife was diagnosed with bc, has had surgery and chemo, and is about ready to begin radiation. Her family has a history of bc.
Both of my wives had regular mammograms, which missed the cancers until they had grown and spread.
It is not a disease to be minimized.
“Despite the advances in cancer treatment, it’s still more likely to be terminal, than beatable.”
Are you sure?
“•Relative survival can vary greatly by type of cancer. This variation can be seen in the four cancers that account for over 50% of the new cases diagnosed each year. In 2000-2002, five-year relative survival for lung cancer (both sexes) was low at 15%, while the prognosis for colorectal cancer (both sexes) was fair (colon 60%, rectum 62%) and breast cancer (female) and prostate cancer relative survival was high at 87% and 95% respectively.”
This is from a Canadian study: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/82-226-x/2011001/aftertoc-aprestdm2-eng.htm
“It is not a disease to be minimized.”
No, it isn’t. And I haven’t.
“Ignorance is bliss.”
You’re speaking from experience - of you’re own.
“Sleep tight, little boy.”
I will, little girl.
Oops! “your own” not “you’re own”.
Yes I am. Sorry to not be more specific. :-)
Because of family history, I started going for the colonoscopy in my 40's. First time they found a precancerous polyp. If I hadn't gone, I could have full blown colon cancer right now!!
Please, people, for the sake of you family and friends - go for the scope!!
>> Please, people, for the sake of you family and friends - go for the scope!!
Yeah, what Kitty said. It’s a VERY effective way to remove many if not most colon precancers before they get a foothold.
The prep is not fun, but it’s not painful either. The actual event is really no big deal.
Plus, as a bonus, Mrs. Tick asked them to look for my head while they were up in there, and they actually found it and extracted it (temporarily)! :-)
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