1. consider yourself lucky if you have or had breast cancer, the most surviveable of all female cancers, while women and children with far more dangerous, underfunded continue to suffer and die.It is so easy to support breast cancer, as a nurse and hospice cordinator, It sickens me that these poor young ladies dying from Ovarian cancer, a cancer there is not even a test for, let alone even treatment. because every penny goes towards breast cancer. breast cancer survival rate is nearing 94%. It's time we to take a serious look at this. Like I said, God forbid you are stricken with cancer, breast cancer is by far most surviveable...most of my patients with far more serious cancers, sadly have little options.

Posted at 2:58AM on Aug 19th 2006 by sean

2. I do not consider myself "lucky" to have breast cancer, but I do consider myself fortunate to not have any additional cancers. Breast cancer is the most common for women, so it makes sense to me to raise money and awareness. I don't personally want a brush signed by a celebrity, when my hair grows enough to need a brush, I might consider a pink one with a bow instead of the regular if they cost the same and some proceeds go to help another victim of this disease. I pray that my children will know even better results than I do.

Posted at 10:33AM on Aug 19th 2006 by Sarah

3. Sean, you know really it's those other women's faults that they got ovarian cancer or any other less popular cancer other than breast cancer. They totally should have thought it out before hand, because those of us who have/had breast cancer did and look how we've benefited. I'm glad I got the popular cancer because everyone likes me so much more now.

Let's face it Sean, you're a tool. Anyone who would say someone is "lucky to have or had breast cancer" has got to be one sandwich short of a picnic, or more. No one is "lucky" to develop ANY sort of cancer, whether or not it's more or less popular with the media and capitalist pig corporations who want to turn a profit from a goddamned pink ribbon. And that's all it is . . . fucking corporations riding on our tit-tails to make a profit and look nice while doing so.

Furthermore, let's consider your logic. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, right? Ok, so then it makes sense that it's received the most funding and the most coverage and the most media attention because more women have developed it. It makes sense then that there are significantly more diagnostic tests, treatments and a possible cure on the horizon. However, are these things developed for breast cancer only beneficial to breast cancer? Do these innovations only affect the breast cancer community? Do no other cancer communities benefit from these developments?

Lastly, you know, if the other cancer communities want more media coverage and charity funding and capitalist profiteering then they need to have more vocal aggressive people seeking those things out. If it “sickens” you so much, then shut your pie hole on here and go out and DO something about it. It can't be all that difficult - all us lucky sots with breast cancer got it.

Posted at 11:34AM on Aug 19th 2006 by Adrienne

4. I thought I was done, but I have more. Sean, consider WHY breast cancer is SO survivable . . . it's BECAUSE of all of the medical research and awareness and marketing and vocal people out there. If none of those things were in place, women would be dying in droves from breast cancer.

Posted at 11:50AM on Aug 19th 2006 by Adrienne

5. Adrienne is absolutely right, it is ignorant and disrespectful to say anyone with cancer is 'lucky'. I am 32 years old and I have to worry about whether it will be safe for me to have children or whether it is a waste to put away money for retirement since I might not live that long.
There is nothing 'lucky' about having breast cancer.

Posted at 11:53AM on Aug 19th 2006 by Georgia L.

6. Sean,

If "we" are lucky we got breast cancer. I guess the women that carry the BRCA gene that get both breast and ovarian cancer, are really lucky.

I am sure it is frustrating that ovarian cancer is hard to diagnose, but be part of the solution, not part of the problem.

Posted at 11:56AM on Aug 19th 2006 by Lorri

7. I have to agree Sean you are way out of line. No one who gets any type of Cancer is'lucky'. I was 40 when I was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. My chance of survival is slim. I only had one positive lymph node at surgery but the cancer had already spread to both lungs.

So not be so quick to judge that I should have known earlier. As with many younger breast cancer survivors I had extremely dense breast tissue and was generously endowed. The 'lump' showed up basically overnight.

In addition, many younger women are often not taken seriously by their doctors and professional people like you because of the blind belief that they are just too young.

Since it was freely moveable my oncologist and everyone else was told me that it could have been deeply buried for months if not years. None of my Docs had ever felt anything on breast examinations, including one done just 3 months prior.

Do I feel lucky because I have breast cancer? No, for almost 3 years I have been on continous chemotherapy. I only dream about having enough hair I could use any brush and all that chemo has given me heart failure.

Even within breast cancer there are sub types of breast cancer. Since I am what is referred to as a triple negative and not as many of us are out there, there is little research being done to target medications for us even though our cancer tends to e more aggressive.

Do I hate that? Yes, but I understand that there is only so much money available and it is being applied to benefit the most individuals possible. Is Ovarian cancer a tradegy. You bet, so is all types of cancer.

Please do not brush off any cancer survivor/patient because of your flawed, misinformed opinion.

Posted at 10:01PM on Aug 19th 2006 by Cheryl

8. Lucky Sean? A friend is entering hospice who was diagnosed with Stage 1 (yes stage 1) breast cancer 3 years ago. She did surgery, radiation, chemo and hormone therapy. Despite having a "curable" cancer and an excellent prognosis, it spread to her brain. Now she has less than 6 months and the doctors have told her there is nothing more they can do.

And besides all my grief for her, that scares the shit out of me -- I was dx 10 yrs younger than her (in my early 30s), node positive, more agressive tumor & hormone negative.

All cancer stinks. How dare you tell a cancer patient they are "lucky" to "only" be diagnosed with breast cancer.

Posted at 9:11PM on Aug 20th 2006 by anonymous

9. Your so right Sean I'm very lucky!! to have lost my mother/best friend to Breast cancer when she was just 48, and I also count myself lucky that she wasn't around to see my wedding day or enjoy her three beautiful grandchildren. Furthermore I too have just been diagnosed with an aggressive triple negative basal like B Carcinoma 6 months ago [age 42] and my 18 year old daughter is ecstatic about the very real prospect of losing her mum.
Forgot to mention she is planning a huge party to celebrate her positive breast cancer gene test results so she can get down to the serious fun of deciding whether or not to have a preventative prophylactic mastectomy in the near future.
By the way I'm being sarcastic> Just in case you really are as loud mouthed, arrogant and totally ignorant as your post suggests.

Posted at 9:26PM on Aug 21st 2006 by Elaine Merrilees

10. Whew! I'm really glad to come on here and learn that breast cancer is not a serious cancer. I'm so relieved. I mean, after watching friends die, and hearing that you're never really cured of breast cancer, you either get it again or you don't...and that it could come back at any time, even 20 years down the road, really had me worried.
But the stars and planets are aligned and the world is set straight again because "sean" says I have a cancer that's not really serious.

Sean, I know you're still reading this. You probably aren't in the health care profession at all. Probably just some idiot who's mad at the world about something and decided to try to ruffle some feathers. And if you WERE in the health care profession, I think those women with their ovarian cancers and "far worse" cancers would be as sickened and disgusted as the rest of us at what you wrote. I think you really should consider a career change. Maybe pumping gas or something.

Posted at 7:52AM on Aug 22nd 2006 by Cindy

11. Yes, I'm so lucky to have been diagnosed at 25 years old, now I'm 28 with METASTATIC breast cancer. I get to live with the fact that I probably will not bear my own children or possibly even see my 30th birthday. It's because of women like those who have posted that breast cancer has become more well known and supported. Those same people create fundraisers to support breast cancer research. If you're upset about other cancers not getting as much attention, then DO something about it instead of telling us that we're 'lucky'. You have a lot of nerve.

Posted at 9:42AM on Aug 22nd 2006 by Kelli

12. Yes I'm so lucky to have been diagnosed at age 25 with aggressive breast cancer, now age 28 with METASTATIC breast cancer to lung and mediastinum. I may not live to see my 30th birthday or ever bear my own children. It's because of women like those who have posted on this site that awareness has increased. If you're upset about other cancers not getting as much attention, then DO something about it. But, DO NOT tell me I'm lucky I was diagnosed with breast cancer. You have a lot of nerve.

Posted at 9:46AM on Aug 22nd 2006 by Kelli

13. I am so glad to learn that my daughter (Kristi) has that good
CANCER. I was a little worried
but according to Sean I have not
a worry in the world.
I cannot put on here what I would
like to do to Sean. One thing I can say is I wish I could give him
4 doses of A/C & 4 of Taxotere
some herceptin & a few hundred
zaps of radiation. Then maybe he
will keep his big fat mouth
shut.



Patti A

Posted at 1:57PM on Aug 22nd 2006 by Patti Anastasi

14. Sean, if you truly are in the health care field I suggest you find a new line of work. Your tactless comment shows how utterly useless you would be at working with a patient who had a disease you didn't deem 'worthy'.

Also, when looking at survival percentages, you should also look at the number of people diagnosed with each type of cancer and number of deaths caused by complications brought on by breast cancer. Remember basic math - a 94% survival rate for 100 people is still worse in # of deaths than a 50% survival rate for 10 people. My friend Karen was 'lucky' enough to get breast cancer and she died (doesn't sound too lucky to me).

If you or a loved one is diagnosed with breast cancer, just don't forget how 'lucky' that is!

Posted at 4:51PM on Aug 22nd 2006 by Dea

15. Tactless AND ignorant. God forbid YOU are at my bedside when this young, stage four breast cancer body of mine begins to corrode away.

I am going to say a prayer for you...and you patients.

Posted at 6:35PM on Aug 22nd 2006 by Brooke

16. lucky

i was rotten, now i'm clean
i was eaten up, now i'm free
should be greatful what i got
should be thankful but i'm not

just look what they've done to me
i'm not the same girl i used to be
i got a scar across my heart
and a black cat at my feet
i'm so lucky

i'm a monster, i'm dead
i've been burned and i bled
it's all my fault being afraid
pushing you so far away

maybe if i had loved harder
maybe if i was brave
god wouldn't have chosen things to end this way

the table's filled with doctor bills
even though i'm no longer ill
i just smile and hide
rabbit foot inside

just look what they've done to me
i'm not the same girl i used to be
i've got a scar across my heart
and a black cat at my feet
i'm so lucky

by larissa dalle, 4 year breast cancer survivor

Posted at 11:56AM on Aug 23rd 2006 by larissa dalle

17. PRAISE GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am LUCKY!!!! Diagnosed at 34 years old, pregnant and unsure what the drugs would do to my unborn baby, unsure if I will ever see my then 15 month old grow into a little boy much less a young man, unable to have anymore children, have been sliced, diced, poisoned and cooked, have the dark cloud of the "probability" of it returning over my head ALL the time, can't remember SHIT from all the chemo.....hmmmmm I feel so LUCKY just writing it all down!

Okay, let's take a closer look at this.... the American Cancer Society projected that there would be approximately 215,000 new cases of breast cancer in 2006 and approximately 20,000 of ovarian. They expected almost 42,000 deaths from breast cancer....twice as many as the new diagnosis of ovarian!!!!! You wonder why there is more research etc for breast cancer??? There is not one cancer on this earth that I would ever say it is LUCKY to get. Breast cancer sucks!! Ovarian cancer sucks!!!! All CANCERS suck!!!! But to tell someone they are lucky because they got the "right" cancer is just plain ignorant and hurtfull.

If you are the 4 year old child having to say goodbye to your mommy as she lay dying from cancer, can you honestly say they were lucky it was one or another!!?? When a young husband has to raise his children without a mother and answer their never ending questions on "why?" is he lucky!!!! My God, how ignorant can you be??

Do we need more research for other cancers? Absolutely!! But, do we take it from a cancer that claims MORE lifes and hits more women and families each year? Oh yah, that's right, those families should consider themselves lucky to even have it.......

I guess I had better go tell my 5 friends children and husbands to stop whining because they were lucky their mommy's and wives, who are now dead, had the lucky kind of cancer!!

Posted at 10:04AM on Aug 31st 2006 by Traci

18. 3 days ago my best friend in the world, Kim, told me she received the horrible news that she had breast cancer about 2 weeks earlier. She had kept it a secret except for her boyfriend and her sister until she knew more.

A couple days ago she received the detailed diagnosis from all the tests, scans etc. It's stage 4. She is negative on estrogen and progesteron. Tomorrow she will find out if she is her2nue positive or negative.

She is starting treatment right away etc. Only you brave women know what she is feeling and going through.

She is 42 and is going this weekend to tell her Mom and Dad.

Gary

Posted at 11:48AM on Aug 31st 2006 by Gary

19. hey sean....you know who is lucky??YOU ARE...you are sooooo damn lucky you aren't in front of me now!

Posted at 4:12AM on Sep 3rd 2006 by ellen79

20. I am shocked to read the first comment on your site, having had a relative who had breast cancer, I am grateful that we did not come across a nurse like Sean. Perhaps there are tons of illness and plagues but how could you not see these people for what they had to go through. The physical and mental abuse when you go through breast cancer is immense and I would hope that all going through this would have better support from the medical community. No matter what your wound if a nurse treats it as no big deal IT IS NOT OK! Have some compassion for breast cancer it works better than any medicine...or please quit your job!!!!!

Posted at 8:32AM on Sep 21st 2006 by tehz