This is a question everybody asks themselves when they get sick. I have allergies. I didn’t when I was a kid. Today, if I go outside to mow the grass or trim the bushes, I break out in hives and itch all over. I end up taking a Benadryl and I have to sleep it off. I’ve always asked myself, why is this happening to me? When did my body decide not to work for me? When did I become broken? What did I do to make this happen? When I found out I had cancer, I threw up my hands and asked the same questions. There has to be an explanation.
I live a fairly healthy life. I admit I wasn’t always as healthy. I smoked cigarettes when I was in the military. I chewed tobacco when I was in college. I ate fast food when the convenience fit me. But as I got older and saw some of the struggles my father went through with him being overweight, I always told myself, if I can control some of the things my body does then I would try to live as healthy as possible. I pretty much quit any bad habits and exercised regularly since I was thirty.
When I found out I had prostate cancer, I asked myself, “why me?”
There’s an ad that runs daily on the television these days saying if you went to Camp Lejeune from 1953 to 1987 and have a list of cancers you can be part of a lawsuit. My family and friends who know me know I’ve spent time there when I was in the military and have called me to ask, “Is this the reason why you have cancer?” Unfortunately, my time there wasn’t until after 1987 and prostate cancer isn’t on the list of possible cancers. I also think, wow would that make me feel any better knowing that this was the cause. I’m not so sure it would. Then what are some of the other factors that can cause prostate cancer?
Turns out there are quite a few reasons that pre-dispose you.
One controversial reason I found when I was going down the rabbit hole of research on the internet was a Vasectomy. In my early thirties after having our third child, my wife and I decided three’s enough; I’ll get the snip-snip. Well, I’ve seen definitive studies and comments that contradict each other. The first being the book I referenced before “Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer.” This book clearly states it’s not a factor. But I’ve read elsewhere, for example this study (click link to see study) and this study, and others that state that it does increase the risk of high-risk localized prostate cancer, which I have. It’s enough for me to tell my sons they should think twice about getting this procedure when and if they are faced with this decision.
Another is it’s hereditary. It turns out my father had prostate cancer. He was diagnosed in his 60s. Based on this, the relative risk factor for me increases by 1.5 times. Me finding out that I have it in my 50s increases my sons’ risk factors by 2.0 times. Also, if one of my son’s gets it, then the likelihood of the other getting it is 3.5 times greater. It’s quite the unfortunate legacy I leave them. What do I hope my sons gain from this? It is that they start screening earlier for prostate cancer and monitor their PSA levels even as soon as their early 30s. The sooner it’s detected the more likely it can be monitored and treated.
There is also the factor of your gene makeup. There are a lot of different genes that can pre-dispose an individual to cancer and not just Prostate Cancer. For instance, a woman who has the BRCA1/BRCA2 (pronounced brah-kuh) gene; this gene makes them more susceptible to breast and ovarian cancers. Well, you know what? This gene can be passed on to their male offspring and make them more susceptible to prostate and other cancers. Is there a benefit in knowing what your gene make up is? I’d say to some degree. If you find out you are more susceptible you can figure out how to live a healthier lifestyle and decide to screen regularly, such as checking PSA levels in your blood test as well as colonoscopies, mammograms and other screening procedures.
What can be other risk factors? Your diet and healthy living. I’d assume if you diet and exercise regularly you can prevent cancer occurrence though that didn’t prevent it for me. But now my advantage in doing this is in helping my body overcome and prevent recurrences. One thing you’ll hear is cancer loves sugar and stored fat and uses this to help feed its progression. Because of this, I’m focused on determining the right diet, exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy weight.
In the end for me the answer of “why me?” comes down to luck and life. When I was searching on Google for a “why me?” image to feature in this post, I found Arthur Ashe’s picture showing up consistently. Digging a little further I found out why. I found this quote that he stated about his situation. He contracted AIDS due to a blood transfusion which he eventually succumbed to at the age of 49. If you don’t know who he is I’ve included a link, but his words ring true to any situation in life as well as getting sick. A person wrote him and asked him this question below. This was Arthur Ashe’s lettered response:
“Why did God have to select you for such a bad disease?”
To this Arthur Ashe replied:
50 Million children started playing Tennis,
5 Million learnt to play Tennis,
500 Thousand learnt Professional Tennis,
50 Thousand came to Circuit,
5 Thousand reached Grand Slam,
50 reached Wimbledon,
4 reached the Semifinals,
2 reached the Finals and when I was holding the cup in my hand, I never asked God:
“Why Me?”
So now that I’m in pain how can I ask God:
“Why Me?”
Happiness keeps you Sweet!
Trials keep you Strong!
Sorrows keep you Human!
Failure keeps you Humble!
Success keeps you Glowing!
But only, Faith keeps you Going!
Sometimes you are not satisfied with your life, while many people in this world are dreaming of living your life.
A child on a farm sees a plane fly overhead dreams of flying. but, a pilot on the plane sees the farmhouse & dreams of returning home.
That’s life!
Enjoy yours…
If wealth is the secret to happiness, then the rich should be dancing on the streets.
But only poor kids do that.
If power ensures security, then VIPs should walk unguarded.
But those who live simply, sleep soundly.
If beauty and fame bring ideal relationships, then celebrities should have the best marriages.
Live simply, be happy! Walk humbly and love genuinely.
