Cancer vs COPD

[Darcy]

Why is it that if you have cancer that you are struggling against a fierce opponent, that you are brave, determined, resolute, and that you can beat this disease. If you have COPD on the other hand it is your fault, you are weak, nobody seems to care, and you deserve it.

I have seen this attitude repeatedly, even within my own family and I do not understand what caused such a division to take place. You get cancer from smoking, drinking, bad genes, etc, and you get COPD from the same things.

No matter how you break it down you get these diseases from your own life choices like smoking, sunbathing, etc.

Is the only the real difference because I smoked?

Smoking was quite the fad for my and previous generations, I get the point just treat me like a human...

[John]

Here ! Here ! Good point Darcy thumbsupde1

[jim]

Hi Darcy, I know where you're coming from mate and what you say is so true.
A big part of the problem is that people want to remove their own guilt and try their very best to put it on others. I could write more about it, but I'm too tired tonight, I hope you get what I mean.

[Darcy]

Yes I understand Jim but it does not explain the difference in attitudes between cancer and COPD.

[skate4life]

Darcy - I think there are a number of reasons: cancer is invisible, the average person does not associate behavior with getting cancer/it just happens. Tobacco smoke does smell and permeate fabrics/painted surfaces/breath - somehow people are more understanding of the man who smokes the occasional cigar or pipe, does it in his 'man cave'. Many do avoid people who have dental caries breath/poor hygiene, etc.
Then you get into the more modern society of peer pressure to conform - can't smoke anywhere - but everyone wants a fireplace/wood stove, etc. (Ironically California significantly reduced the number of smokers without raising taxes merely by peer pressure.) Those are acceptable visible 'smoke' environments. Regardless of how over the decades smoking and being a smoker became less accepted by non-smokers, the message was that the smoker chose to smoke and be visible.
People do not want to learn that not all cancer patients smoked nor that all smokers get cancer. They just want to make their snap judgement that you did deserve what you got and how dare you look for any compassion - you smoke, you are a bad person through and through.
We have been the butting ram for decades - think about it, how many vocalize such negative judgments to the morbidly obese, diabetic, heart conditions, breast cancer, skin cancer, etc.
There is no easy answer - no smart reply to give these people. They have a tape recording plugged into their head and it plays at the first sign of 'smoke.' They think themselves beyond the current situation, especially if they were a former smoker. They have no use for education or being reminded of the decades of everyone smoking. They still see it as a moral choice.
I've always said the if smoking were such an addiction then why aren't there facilities to detox? Follow the money - cancer is big business!! Alcohol is big business!! Self-help books are big business!
Sadly, if you have cancer and you smoke or were a smoker, don't expect any understanding by most people. Society today doesn't give a sh-t. Look how long it took for AIDS patients to get any compassion as human beings - they were shunned for decades because of their life style. It continues to be the elephant in the room that no one wants to have an honest conversation to learn - they have made up their minds and passed judgement.

[Darcy]

Excellent response, however the difference between cancer and COPD remains. Perhaps not enough time has passed for people to recognize they are caused by the same things.

Would like to write more but my tremors are very bad.

[jim]

Hi darcy, I hope your tremors settle down and you start feeling a lot better very soon.

[David]

Most people are ignorant when it comes to understanding COPD/Emphysema. There are other reasons why people get the disease besides smoking.

[stoker55]

I agree with all of you I think the main reason is lack of education about COPD. I have just now started seeing ads for COPD meds on US TV. When my friends or family see it they ask about if that is what I have. It is almost like when people hear that you have COPD they shut off their ears and minds because 1-they don't understand it and 2-they figure just like you said we deserve it because we smoked not realizing that people who have never smoked get COPD too 3- most people just aren't very open minded