Greatest health fear?

[Kate]

What is your greatest health fear? Heart disease? Breast cancer? Ovarian cancer? Diabetes? Etc?

And what are you doing to overcome it?

I have a family history of ovarian and breast cancer. I am quite aware of what my precautions I need to take and have regular check-ups. I try to stay intune with my body and when I feel that something isn't right, I check with my doctor. I am also concerned with heart disease as nearly twice as many women die of this than any form of cancer combined! That is scarey! So I try to cut out the fat, eat more fruits/veggies and get atleast 30 minutes of cardio 5 times a week.

[QuiltAngel]

Cancer used to be my big fear, but I have had to face that head on as I dealt with ovarian cancer two years ago. Having stared cancer in the face and so far beating it, I tend to not think of what can be much any more. For the most part, not many illnesses scare me anymore.

BUT, Alzheimers and Parkinson's are scarier to me. Heart disease also, I am working on my diet and exercise to help with those.

[rads76066]

my biggest health fear i would say is breast cancer,bone cancer, and alzheimers , my mother died of alzheimers, my father died of bone cancer and all my aunts on my mothers side of the family have had breast cancer , i have beat uterin cancer and caught the ovarian cancer before it got anywhere so i fear that it is going to return somewhere else like in my bladder or liver,

[crunchies0313]

Colon Rectal cancer, only because I had never really heard of it till my grandmother, and watching her battle with it. But any form of cancer because there is not too much to do to prevent it.

[spasmo]

I watched my Dad suffer from Alzheimers and that is my biggest fear. I have been told that it is important to have a healthy body and keep my mind in shape and that is what I intend to do.

[Kate]

Rads and Quiltangel, wow, what amazing that y'all beat or caught ovarian cancer. It's amazing because the percentage of those survivors aren't very high, but they are becoming increasingly higher because of awareness for this. Just curious, did you have previous family history of this?

[QuiltAngel]

No, I did not have a family history for this. My only risk factor was being female. Seriously. Mine was discovered Stage 1 for which I am very thankful. You are right that there are mover survivors than there was even a few years ago. Now for an early diagnostic test along with awareness of symptoms. It does have symptoms early, just they are mistaken for other things.

[gemsab]

Cancer!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[lilorphann]

I really do not have a health fear; I think that all things happen for a reason and I am prepared to deal with whatever God throws my way. I will be ready for whatever may come.

I fear more that my beloved hubby or children will get some illness and I will have to feel their pain and not be able to take it all away.

[txgurl]

I fear getting cancer, as it runs in my family on both sides.

I fear getting the diseases and ailments of old age and wondering how I will do. :(

[Marian Paroo]

I was born with an unusual orthopedic defect in one of my legs, and was put on my feet by experimental (at that time) surgery -- was one of the first children to have the op.

I have a permanent fear in the back of my mind that the work will come "undone" (it did when I was 16) and will have to have more surgery or be in a brace.

Not the worse fate in the world, I know that, but it still is in my head and heart.

[LoveRainbows]

I fear cancer, my dad had two different kinds of cancer and his mom passed away with cancer. So it really runs high on his side of the family.I also fear of more prolapse problems.I had a hyster last year due to my uterus & colon prolapsing.My doc. says I must be careful because I could have problems in the future.So that always in the back of my mind.

[rads76066]

Rads and Quiltangel, wow, what amazing that y'all beat or caught ovarian cancer. It's amazing because the percentage of those survivors aren't very high, but they are becoming increasingly higher because of awareness for this. Just curious, did you have previous family history of this?
yes i do have a family history of ovairan cancer therefore i had to stay on top of my papsmears and docotors,, that is why my dr was able to catch the cancer before it went past stage one, it still scares me even though i no longer have ovaries because that type of cancer is known to move to other places in the body,, but so far i am doing ok ,

[clogaholic]

I guess cancer of any kind is my biggest fear. My mom died from kidney , bone and lung cancer ( never smoked a cigarette in her life). Breast cancer was in my dad's family. I had precancerous tumors - benign, thank heavens.

After cancer, I fear blindness. I have one good eye and one bad ( almost legally blind in it). I thank God daily that I can see :)

[Poppie]

CANCER, my grandmother died from breast cancer, my mom had cervical cancer, one of my sisters had uterine cancer. I also fear heart disease as I am now in surgical menopause and not taking any type of estrogen. I am 45, and I do want to go into my 50's heathy, so I need to get on the ball. Carol

[Sophiebelle]

Cancer....my Dad died from lung cancer.

Alzheimers.....my aunt and uncle both suffered and died from it. It was so sad. They had worked so hard their entire lives and then when it came time for retirement and their golden years, they both wound up in a nursing home, not knowing where they were, or even knowing each other anymore.

[Mori]

I always feared cancer & sadly my greatest fear became a reality when I was diagnosed with endometrial cancer last August. I was very fortunate that it was in it's early stages & surgery took care of it with no further treatment required. However I will be followed for the next five years by my gyno oncologist & my biggest fear is a recurrence. :(

[Meditating Gramma]

I always said I would hate to become a paraplegic. Having to depend on someone for my every need. My biggest fear is becoming dependent.

Julie

[Mysty]

I have to admit I fear bone cancer because I lost my grandmother and my Dad to it. I am more afraid of seeing my daughter get something that I can not fix for her!

[babsRN]

No fears. We're not promised tomorrow anyhow. I don't think about it.

[shoppergirl]

Cancer probably is right there at the top of course since cervical & colon are in my side. But actually my biggest fear is that one of these or something else will strike my husband or children. I guess I am one that thinks nothing will ever happen to me that I cannot overcome. I know someday that will happen; but let me have it in the right order. Wouldn't we all welcome that! Right now my 21 yr. old daughter is seeing a specialist next week due to a level 2 abnormal pap & blood in her stool; so I am a little freaked out; but I keep that to myself. I ended up w/ hysto. at 28. If this is her path; may God give her time to have a family. Please keep her in your thoughts & prayers.
Thank you

[Kate]

Working in a mammogram center, a lot of women that are under 40 come in for check-ups due to their mom or other family members that have had breast cancer. A lot of them catch it in the early stages. It's tough to see them when they come in and know that even though they caught it early, they are still battling with it. It makes you feel helpless. I saw one today who I will remember for a while. She was the sweetest person. :)

It was reported today that less people are dying of cancer. Such great news! :)

And not saying we need to worry, but for those who have certain family illness/cancers, there are precautions and advanced steps to take. I'm just trying to take care of my body that has been given to me. I'll only have it once. :D

[Arkiegirl]

Something happening to my children...that is my fear. My youngest is going in on the 15th for suspected skin cancer on her lip....we are worried.

[Lady_Amethyst]

I really do not have a health fear; I think that all things happen for a reason and I am prepared to deal with whatever God throws my way. I will be ready for whatever may come.

I fear more that my beloved hubby or children will get some illness and I will have to feel their pain and not be able to take it all away.

I too feel little fear when it comes to my own health, after having been through the wringer (figuratively speaking), come out the other side and survived I figure there's little left to fear....

I do however worry about my daughters health, but i figure i'll deal with it (what ever it is) if and when it happens....one day at a time

kia kaha

[butterfly05450]

being servely depressed and dying of a heart attack due to y weight gain. i am new here and need help any woul dbe great ive been depressed and im seeing counseling on monday. i am overweight and find it hard to lose weight. im scared for my life and my family. i need help and support. my mom isgoing threw depression also.

[gemsab]

{{{{{{{{Betsy}}}}}}}} I am glad you are seeking some help! I was were you are a few years ago. Is there a Curves in your area? I suggest you try this.........it has been a life saver for me. And exercise helps with depression, too. Check with your doctor, too. :hug: s

[butterfly05450]

thanks and yes there is a curves i went there but i cant afford it right now.

[purrsandwags]

Breast cancer. Anything that would take me away from my husband and kids. Not being there to watch them grow up keeps me up at night.

[purrsandwags]

Betsy
You and I are in the same boat. I have been struggling with depression for many years. If you would like to talk, please let me know. I think we can help eachother....
Lori

[sphinx]

Diabetes. As a nurse working with diabetics, I know all too well that diabetes is a monsterous disease that can easily spiral out of control if you are not careful, and even then, sometimes it is difficult to control no matter what you do. I could handle the testing, the meds, etc. But it can lead to so many things....vascular problems, heart problems, blindness, infection are just some of the related issues. It can really be devastating.

[Canadian Girl]

With my hereditary baggage, I've taught myself not to fear diseases. On my father's side, there is a heavy history of health disease, cancer (breast, ovarian, lung, leukemia and throat cancer), diabetes (it's also on my mother's side of the family, but is hereditary from the father's side :hmm:) and clotting disorders. There is even now a case of Alzheimer!!! On my mom's side, there is only a serious history of strokes (both my maternal grandparents died from it) and of high blood pressure.

Because the majority of these problems are linked to being overweight and out of shape, I'm trying very hard to reach a healthy weight and I exercise regularly. I'm also keeping abreast of health developments and I listen to my body.

I guess that, right now, since I'm at the age where my dad had his first heart attack, I'm mostly concerned with heart disease.

[jcme]

Anything that will require assistance from others. When a doctor recommended surgery last year part of the reason I put it off so long was because I wasn't sure how I was going to be able to handle things for myself during the recovery period. I live alone and the only family I have is 600 miles away and had their own health problems to deal with. Those I considered close friends that I thought I could count on are about an hour away. By the end of the recovery period, I knew who my friends really were...definitely not the ones I thought.

[sphinx]

You know, after posting earlier I was thinking...sometimes it's the things you DON"T fear that get you. For whatever reason, autoimmune disease never even occurred to me. Then I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Even though I am a nurse, I never realized what a horrible illness this is. Chronic, progressive and incurable. It's an invisible disease that's not going to kill me, but is going to cause me pain for the rest of my life. Luckily they treat agressivly early in the disease process now, so hopefully joint damage will be minimalized. I've yet to get it under control, but added a new med last week and have positive thoughts. Every day more research is being done, and maybe sometime there'll be a cure. We can hope! :)

[Ingy4Peace]

Alsheimer's and dimentia! Though there isn't much family history for it, whenever I forget things and can't bring words to mind quickly or forget a name, I just hope that I won't become a burden to my family.

[Duchesslady]

my greatest fear is Breast Cancer! however i had a total hysterectomy 8 years ago and am now on HRT which increases the risk and my mum died of ovarian cancer 9 years ago so everything is a bit of a worry!

[kitnkat]

Just one word Cancer
I lost my father to Cancer 6 years ago and he died in agony. I've never seen anyone go through something like that before.....it really scared me.
I am absolutely mortified of Cancer.
I am a Diabetic diagnosed in September last year. I immediately took it very seriously.....have lost 30 pounds, eating properly and keeping my blood sugars in perfect control (well I do fall off the wagon maybe once a month but not really badly or anything), and trying by best shot at exercising(which I hate doing)....hoping that is enough to control the disease, because I didn't realize it was a Progressive Disease until I took the Hospital 2 day course in October.

[Mysty]

kitnkat I know how you feel.. I went through the exact thing with my father it will be 4 years in August. It is the worst thing I ever had to witness and I pray I never have to see it again! He started with cancer in his espagus and stomach. That was removed but it came back in his bones several months later. Cancer is so cruel! Sending you a hug!!

[kitnkat]

kitnkat I know how you feel.. I went through the exact thing with my father it will be 4 years in August. It is the worst thing I ever had to witness and I pray I never have to see it again! He started with cancer in his espagus and stomach. That was removed but it came back in his bones several months later. Cancer is so cruel! Sending you a hug!!
Hi Mysty,
Bid hugs to you too! I don't think we will ever forget what we went through with our Dad's...may they RIP....but it really disappoints me that with all the modern technologies, they can't keep the dying pain free!
I wouldn't watch one of my pets go through what my poor father had to go through.

[windgoddess]

I'm a bit superstitious in that I think sometimes we get what we most fear. So I try not to fear illness (not always successfully). I think it is good to be prepared though. While researching my family tree, I have found out what I can of illnesses suffered for a couple of generations back, and it fits in with the medical view of genetic predisposition. It means I can work on the lifestyle changes required. For example, bowel cancer in early fifties is a factor in my family. I have cut down on my red meat and fats consumption for the past ten years now. And increased my fibre from fruit and veges. I turn 50 this year and have just had a screening colonscopy which showed no signs so far. I will have another colonoscopy in another 5 years.
Of course, some things cannot be prevented. I don't want to waste any of my precious time on worrying about things I cannot prevent.
But I don't always do what I should. I need to lose weight but it is very difficult.....I love food for starters!
I get annoyed at the media for making me feel guilty for being a bit fat. (There is so much in our newspapers here in NZ about how bad obesity is.) I don't believe that being a bit overweight, of itself, leads to death. I think it is what it can lead to - diabetes, heart disease. I know of lots of women older than me who were my sort of weight from middle age onwards and have lived into their 80's and 90's. Do I have my head in the sand?

[Mysty]

kitnkat you took the words right outta my mouth so to speak!! I agree totally. I still haven't nor do I think I will get over that ever. Thanx for the hugz!

[lisac]

Mine would have to be having an anyurysm as i was just told a week ago that i have one that is located frontal lobe..very scarey.

[klisme]

Ovarian cancer. i am so afraid that i will go the same way my sister did and that my kids will have to watch.

[julies1022]

My biggest fear is heart disease or heart attack. I would say the second is breast cancer. These two things run big in my family. Scary but if it happens we will deal with it. I think with the heart, if I can be healthy that will help tremendous.

[Beach Bum]

My biggest fear would be some kind of cancer..We've had so much of it in my family. Whenever anything is wrong with me, it seems that's the first place my mind takes me.

[klisme]

heart attacts and cancer are the ones for me.

[DJAKoala]

My health fears would be to lose my ability to care for myself. I am very active and have a career in providing care for others. The loss of self scares me.
Debbie

[joyinaz]

Ya know I am not really afraid of anything. I know I should be. My dad had cancer and died from it 6 yrs ago. It was horrible to watch. And he basically died from it cutting off his liver and him choking on his own bile. So that is worrisome to me. I just try to remember that God doesn't give us more than we can handle, but I tell ya there are days I really wonder. But i made it through his death with that thought. Then I had basically a mental breakdown about 3 yrs after that happened. So I am on depression medicine. I just don't ever want to go through that again. So maybe that is my fear.

Betsy, I can totally sypathize.....Please just talk to someone soon. Someone who can help you. I will have you in my thoughts.

[GirlyGirl]

I fear getting any kind of cancer. I lost my mother in December 2004 to a very brief 6 month fight with ovarian cancer. I just recently helped with hospice care for my Uncle who lost a very long fight with prostate cancer. I've lost several family members and friends to cancer. I truly hate this disease and I pray contantly for early diagnosis tools for my two dear daughters.

[kyhunny]

My biggest fear is cancer due to the fact that I've been dealing with cervical cancer for the past 1 1/2 years. I've had it twice now, and I live in constant fear that it will come back again and spread. Anytime I have an ache or pain, I start freaking out wondering "what if".

kyhunny

[SmallSpaz]

Dying from diabetes like my mom did is/was a horrible death. It hit her hard her last year, in and out of hospitals a total of 8 months. Screaming for her mom as if she were a child, not being in a coma and hurting all at one time!
The next would be CANCER again!

[Renata333]

Quite honestly, my biggest health fear is where mental health is concerned.... I had a great fear of cervical cancer, had the precancerous cells after my daughter was born, close to ten years ago.. had a hysterectomy at 31, this past december so that is no longer an issue. But, with everything that is going on now a days, all the problems everyone faces on a regular basis, the mental health is very fragile....need to take care of the mind, body and soul...holistic approach. We need to nurture ourselves as women, mothers, daughters, sisters... there are tons of people out there who are more than willing to step all over us, so we don't need to be doing it to ourselves.. we are too hard on ourselves as is, so self nurturing...(work in progress with me) should be at the top of our priority list...if we are not well, we are no use to anyone...food for thought!

[newleaf]

I'm at an age, 49, that I actually do think about things like this. I started doing this within the last year. I don't like it. Thoughts like, "Am I just biding my time here until I die?" Weird, huh? Why get a divorce and start dating (been separated for over 3 years). If I got married again, soon one of us will get sick. I don't want to burden someone with having to take care of me. And do I want that for me?

It's not that I'm depressed or anything. Just strange thoughts. So I think the best thing to do is just be thankful I'm not the one in charge here. God is. I'll let him decide how the rest of my life is to flow and trust that He will be with me every step of the way.

[LuvMaui]

I think my biggest health fear is ANY TYPE OF CANCER.

[celtictigeress]

Alzheimer's is my greatest health fear. My mother had it and I'm terrified that I will get it too. My mind is my greatest asset, and I can't imagine losing it the way my mother lost hers...Every time I forget something or get confused I think that I'm on my way to the same horrible end. I really think I would rather die than live like that. :(

[bonnieclaire]

If I were asked that two years ago, I would have said cancer was my greatest fear. No one in my family had it at that time, but I saw the results of cancer on some of my friends....some have even died. Since then I have had cancer (endometrial), had surgery and needed no further treatment so I do not fear it as much; but my Dad had an acute stroke and that was even more devastating than cancer....he has since died from complications due to recurrent strokes.

My greatest fear has shifted from cancer to stroke. It is a horrible disease. If affects your mind as well as your body and can completely or partially paralyze you...and it can recur over and over again.

[Marian Paroo]

Alzheimers and other forms of dementia and senility.

[Marian Paroo]

Alzheimers and other forms of dementia and senility.

[angelah4]

I fear heart disease. Every family member on my father's side has had their first heart attack at age 40. I have passed that milestone and have made sure that I am very proactive about my health. Quit smoking, try to eat right but most importantly I have regular and thorough check-ups every year. I insist on them to be exact.