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Saturday, September 13

Childhood Cancer




There are many children in this world who are faced with fighting cancer. I am one of those children. My name is Amanda Hingson and at the age of seventeen I was diagnosed with osteosarcoma. This is a type of bone cancer common is teenage boys in their joints. I had a golf ball size tumor growing from my spine to my ribs. It is highly uncommon for this type of cancer to be in the spine; my doctors were extremely shocked to find this out. Cancer has taken a lot of lives in this world but it knew it would not take mine. There are many ways to treat cancers; I was treated by having two back surgeries and chemotherapy treatments.

My first back surgery was in January of 2005. The doctor removed all the visible parts of the tumor and that back side of four of my ribs. The surgery took about two hours. I recovered well with the help of my loving family and friends. The surgery left a large L shape scar down my back. I was released from the hospital about a week and a half after surgery. At the time I did not know this surgery would be the easiest part of my treatment.

Two weeks later I was told I had cancer. My life changed completely. I met with my oncology doctors at All Children’s Cancer center. It is an amazing hospital. The Doctors told me they had made up a protocol of my chemo treatments and I would be starting next week. By this time I was extremely scared. I went through my treatments like a champ. I was the oldest child in my wing. Every other cancer patient was no older than fifteen and most were under ten. Seeing this broke my heart; however, it changed my look on life. I received different treatments for about two months. I did lose my hair and continually was sick but nothing compared for what was to come.

After those two months of chemo I went to Moffit to have my second back surgery. During this surgery I had the T-8, T-9, and T-10 of my spine removed. I now have a medal rod and six screws in my back. The surgeries did not scare me. I knew I was strong and was not going to let a disease take anything away from me. Three days after my surgery I was up and walking around. About a week and a half after my surgery I was sent home. I was out of chemo treatments for about a month and a half. In that month I did as much as I could with my friends.

Last I went back into chemotherapy treatments. I had received treatments for six months. The treatments got worse as I proceeded with them. I continued to lose weight, not eat, and just stay in my bed. The nurses were always caring and understanding though. At the end of October of 2005 I received a three day treatment. This means I have drugs pumped into me for three days straight. After the treatment I was feeling okay. I was sent home for two days then brought back to the hospital because my blood count was zero, my kidneys were shutting down, and I had a soar throat tat kept me from talking. I was put in an isolation room. I was in the hospital from November first until November twenty-eighth. That whole time I did not eat anything. The doctors had me on a nutrients IV but I just vomited it back up. I did not get out of bed but to use the bathroom. Yes I did spend my worst Thanksgiving in the hospital. I dropped down to ninety pounds. When my blood count finally went back up I was sent home on homecare upon my request. After that treatment I was supposed to get the exact same treatment two weeks later. There were 5 more treatments in my protocol but I decided that I would rather let cancer kill me than chemo. My mother left the choice in my hands to quit chemo or not. At this time all the cancer was removed from my body and the treatments were a precaution to make sure the cancer would not come back. After two weeks of home care I told my doctors I would not be returning to finish out my treatment.

I am now twenty years only and going to college. I am following my heart now. When I chose to stop treatments I have no regrets. I did have a reoccurrence in my lung but it posed no threat. It was easily removed. I am going to school to become a child life therapist. Once I graduate I will work at a hospital with cancer patients helping them cope with their illness. I now volunteer at the hospital that treated me. There is nothing in this world that makes me happier than seeing the smiling faces of the young kids fighting cancer.

What are your thoughts on health issues? How can we promote better health for all Americans?


158 comments:

Da Chris said...

Now, I hate to criticizes the post but what does "My experience with cancer" have to do with "Promoting better health in America". Cancer can't be "avoided" as it can happen to very healthy people.

To actually promote better health one must increase awareness. We live in a pretty "unhealthy" society, so showing or telling people how they should become healthier is the first big step. Shigeru Miyamoto, the maker of Mario as well as the creator of Wii Fit put it best. One you start, you have a sudden urge in how fit you are. So you keep track of exercise and weight. This wasn't verbatim but you get the idea. When they become aware of their health they'll get more in tune with it and get "into shape" per say.

This ideology is carried into the entertainment industry, there known as "upstreaming". What you do is take someone who isn't interested in something (let's say movies) and you move them up, where they become a big movie goer. You start from the bottom and move them up. This is essentially what we should do with health. Get people interested in their health, and the rest will fall into place. They will soon be looking at diet tips, and moving up to diet book, going to the gym and finally make exercise a big part of their free time.

Athena Smith said...

Da Chris
I believe Amanda's story does increase awareness. Although her cancer was "unavoidable" as you say, there are other cancers that are (Think of smoking for example).

Secondly health is not only the result of personal choices but also of availability of health resources. How are we doing on that front?

Third, health, as Amanda proved, can be closely related to personal determination. Maybe some of you have had personal experiences on that.

RSXGirlie1988 said...

First, I believe that we do educate to some extent on how to be healthy and such. However, people are going to do as the please whether it's good for them or not. In high school, students are now required to take a Health class alongside having multiple physicale education classes. How healthy you are, I think, does closely relate to personal determination. In the blog, Amanda was determined to quit Chemo and make it through cancer okay. If she would have just given up, do you think she would be as well off as she is now? From personal experience, I have made a few goals on being healthy. I admit to being a fast food junkie. I'm talking about McDonald's every day, breakfast or lunch. Do I know it's very unhealthy to do that? Yes, I do. Do I want to be healthy? Yes, of course. However, convience is overpowering being healthy at the moment. There have been many of articles on staying healthy by staying away from fast food. However, I still eat Checkers, Taco Bell, and Wendy's for lunch.

Athena Smith said...

My thoughts after reading Amanda’s story focused on the hotly debated link between positive thinking and health. The notion that positive thoughts can promote better results was advanced by a Protestant preacher, Norman Vincent Peale, author of the book "The Power of Positive Thinking." One famous study that supported Peale’s thesis took place at Johns Hopkins hospital where researchers followed 600 patients with heart disease. Optimistic patients were half as likely as their pessimistic counterparts to experience a heart attack or other heart issues. The Hopkins researchers concluded that a positive attitude inhibits the release of stress hormones, a process that promotes health protection.
Similarly, in another research at the University of Michigan, patients receiving placebo painkillers, actually released endorphins in their brains that acted as natural painkillers. So they ended up feeling better.

Athena Smith said...

Needless to say, my admiration goes to all of those who battled disease with sheer detrmination and a smile on their face.

Unknown said...

I myself have had cancer in the form of skin cancer. I had it when i was 10, it was the most frightening thing that i can remember. I think that we do not promote personal health care in our school systems enough. I was lucky that I had caught it early. The same went with a dear friend of mine his sophomore year. If he had not been in the one single mandatory health class that year, he might now have learned how to check himself for signs of lymphoma. I think that there should be more health classes in our school system because after all, that is really our main concern. Perhaps the number of people with aids would decrease, the ever so increasing teen pregnancies would plummit, and this country would be a lot better off.

Kazoom525 said...

I think we are going about health awareness all wrong. Trying to scare people straight may work in theory, but if you tell someone that if they do something that they'll get disease A,B and C,they very well could have no idea what you're talking about. You have to tell the person that if they get disease A they will lose their basic motor skills and not be able to remember what verbs are, then tell them how to change their lifestyle to prevent themselves from getting disease A. That way they will be able to picture what thier lives would be like with the disease instead of just knowing how they could get it.

jayci57 said...

This story kind of hits home for me.. my mom was diagnosed with cancer when she was 13 years old and doctors said she had 6 months to live. She lived until the age of 39, and had cancer 3 more times before she died of an infection. I think its great that Amanda took control of the situation and has no regrets. Doctors are not always right. I think is great that shes going to school and will follow her dreams to become somebody to help others going thought the same situation she went through.

JK said...

I personally think that us americans dont treat health issues as important as we should. If it doesnt happen to us we dont really get to involved in it. Im not saying that everyone doesnt but most people do.
To promote better health for americans we have to get the word out. There not doing enough on how bad food really is and what the kinds of food that us americans are eating. In the usa we are considered the fat country because of all the bad foods we eat, people just need to open there eyes and really figure out the facts and what the effects are of what we eat. It is a basic concept of awareness that might get more americans on a diet that works.
We can't do anything about cancer, there is no cure for it. We could stop spending all that pointless money on the war and put more of it towards heathcare and a cure for cancer.
I have lost a few important people in my life due to cancer and i wish no one had to go through that so i wish they would make something to cure it.

Jecka said...

I agree with rsxgirlie1988 that we do promote and educate on healthy living. We learn early in life about making good food choices and staying active to be healthy. But like she said people make their own choices and convenience seems to overpower.

With all the promotion we give to healthy living I see a lot of overweight children at my job. I believe it has to do with fast food. We are so tied up with our jobs, husbands or wives and children that we settle for convenience. This in turn leads to high blood pressure, high cholesteral, diabetes and overweight people just to name a few.

I think personal determination plays a huge role in a healthy lifestyle because it's so much easier and cheaper not to be healthy.

@ Amanda I admire your determination and positive outlook on life.

Athena Smith said...

Krossele
I have had quite a few students who are cancer survivors. I have always been impressed beyond words with their optimism and detemination.
Hats off to all of you!

JK
Many cancers are totally cured today. We have close to 80% cure rates for childhood leukemia. Cure rates for breast cancer, if caught early, approache 95%.

Athena Smith said...

Here is the link for the American Cancer Society. You will find lots of info there including volunteering information.

pt4life813 said...

Some of my thoughts on health issues are based on society and the media. The convenience of being able to go grab "fast-food" is becoming more and more part of Americans daily routine thus causing obesity. To me, we get lazy. It's much easier and quicker for me to grab some fast food on any of the 4 corner's on my way home from work than to get home, figure out what meal i want to make and stand in the kitchen after working for 10 hours to cook a meal. On the other hand, the media also (although doesn't really sway my decision), but does to some, tells people that you have to look a certain way to be pretty or accepted in today's society. (Example: Anorexia/Bulimia) This most of the time causes depression, which affects their health. There are so many things that can affect our health and I think that its personally up to each of us as individuals to keep ourselves updated with newer information on the different health risks we take. Although this is very controversial, I'm going to bring it up anyways. I think that stem cell research would be a great way to be able to broaden our knowledge on how and why diseases act as they do and could possibly provide more treatments for the most common diseases we see today, such as cancer. Having this knowledge could possibly increase our awareness.

sweetmentol said...

I am really touched by Amanda health issues,it is very unfortunate that anyone will have to go through these kind of pain, especially a young person. She made a good choice when she refuse to get more treatment. When you look at the way cancer are been trated with aggression,one will come to find out that it is not not the cancer that really kill people is is the treatmnet.The so call chemotherapy desroy the white blood cell that you need in the body to fight other infection, this way the cancer patient are now prone to other diseases because the body immune system has been broken down. There are other reseach on ways to treat cancer without chemo going on in some of our universities and some cancer patient have been cure with this method. The problem we have in these country is that the big business people have invested a lot of money on the chemo medications and these people are behind the delay of other form of treatment that will not affect white blood cell.We all need to voice out our opinion and let the goverment and these other people know that we know what is going on.Health is more important than the money they are trying to make out of people.

Sweetmentol

Trau said...

Cancer is something I have dealt with sense I was very young, not personally but threw family and friends. It’s a horrible sickness that I wish no one ever had to go threw. I lost my father, my step father and my best friend’s dad to it. My current step dad just got doe battling a very rare cancer in the abdominal region that is almost unheard of in men, thankfully the people at Moffit saved him. My boyfriend’s little brother, now 18, has leukemia and has had it since he was six. It went into remission but returned so I am often taking him to St. Joseph’s children’s hospital for treatments.

Every time I think about these cancer occurrences it angers me at how bad it takes a toll on people’s lives. I donate to Relay for Life to help people prevent these types of things from happening and help people get treatment when they need it.

People should get tested regularly for cancer and any other type of sickness, not sit around and ignore it when they suspect something’s wrong. While some people don’t have money or insurance the hospitals will often work with you to treat you and find fundraisers that are raising money for just that, treating people. My step dad’s bills were all paid off that way.

supergirl said...

I think that health issues are going to be an everlasting hot topic in society. Health is the issue that is closest to us all because it is one of the few things that every person has in common-an interest in preserving their health. Better health should always be at the top of one’s “To-Do” list. I know that some counties are putting projects into action to encourage people to exercise more and eat healthier but some things you can’t prevent. Such as the terrible case of cancer. My grandmother just passed away from cancer ten days ago and she was helpless. Some things you can’t prevent. In order to promote better health for Americans I believe that, along with encouraging better life habits, we should encourage research. I know that money is an issue, among other ethical topics, when it comes to research. But the question is: How much money are helpless American lives worth?

Dr.Beemdaddy said...

Whats so sad about this is that you can seldom ask someone if they had caner affect their lives and them say no. Childhood cancer is the most unfortunite and trying thing that a child can go through. The bottom line is, though, cancer is not a curible disease. It is only controlable. Awareness would be your best bet to promote better health. a monthly to bi monthly to yearly checks should be administered to those who have a history.

Dgirl89 said...

Some health issues cant be helped, but some can. Cancer is definately one that cannot be controlled by anyone. My thoughts on health issues are that there should be more groups and associations that should tell people how to make their lives healthier. This could prevent many illnesses.

A close friend of mine eats very healthy, and works as a trainer at Lifestyles and she got diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year. She is one of the healthiest people I know. Cancer cannot be helped, but I do believe we as Americans could do more to be healthier.

One of the ways that we can promote better health is by making it easier for people to get health insurance. I work as a waitress and go to college and still have no health care. I could have health insurance if I wanted to pay $350.00 dollars a month. This is why many people dont attend the doctors on a regular basis to make sure they are healthy and have nothing wrong with them.

Amber said...

Unfortunately, we live in a society that promotes and even encourages unhealthy choices. As a society we tell our kids that it’s ok to watch hours and hours of TV, which shows all kinds of enticing commercials about snacks and fast food. As we get older, it doesn’t really change. We watch the same commercials and see the same advertisements. We become programmed. I have seen people do this for years and years, and then they wonder why their health is failing. Not just with food but with cigarettes and alcohol too. I don’t think we need to be perfect but everything should be in moderation.

I, personally, have changed my life in this respect. Up until a couple of years ago, I use to smoke, drink regularly, and eat very poorly. I was starting to have some issues with my health. I started exercising more often, eating healthy food, quit smoking, and I only have a small glass of wine about once every six months. My health improved and I lost 55 lbs. And have kept it off. I believe that a lot of our health problems in this society stem from the way we eat and treat ourselves.

lkm1991 said...

I admire Amanda Hingson and the way she approached her treatment for cancer. I think the article substantiates the idea that people need to be pro-active about their health and have a positive outlook when they deal with an illness. This thinking connects with the idea that preventive health care is the most positive approach both to living with good health and maintaining good health, and thereby lowering potential health care costs because of neglect or complacency with regard to one's own health. Further, I do not believe that quantity health care for America is the answer for the "uninsured" in our society. I believe that people need to learn to be responsible and prioritize what is important in life, and one of those priorities should be healthy living and health insurance for healthcare. There are many uninsured in this country who have medicaid and other programs available to them and their families thanks to the federal and state governments, and yet the responsible adults in the "family" fail to take the time to sign up even for "free" care/
I am opposed to the ideal of nationalized health care because I do not want bureacrats in government dictating how I choose to take care of my health. That is an isue between my doctor and me. I also do not feel that their is sufficient medical personnel in the country at present who can adequately handle the additional challenges associated with nationalized health care. Give people an adequate health insurance tax break and allow them to choose their own health plans. Perhaps we need to reward good health monetarily. However, good health and preventive care for illnesses and disease are rewards in themselves.

lkm1991 said...

I admire Amanda Hingson and the way she approached her treatment for cancer. I think the article substantiates the idea that people need to be pro-active about their health and have a positive outlook when they deal with an illness. This thinking connects with the idea that preventive health care is the most positive approach both to living with good health and maintaining good health, and thereby lowering potential health care costs because of neglect or complacency with regard to one's own health. Further, I do not believe that quantity health care for America is the answer for the "uninsured" in our society. I believe that people need to learn to be responsible and prioritize what is important in life, and one of those priorities should be healthy living and health insurance for healthcare. There are many uninsured in this country who have medicaid and other programs available to them and their families thanks to the federal and state governments, and yet the responsible adults in the "family" fail to take the time to sign up even for "free" care/
I am opposed to the ideal of nationalized health care because I do not want bureacrats in government dictating how I choose to take care of my health. That is an isue between my doctor and me. I also do not feel that their is sufficient medical personnel in the country at present who can adequately handle the additional challenges associated with nationalized health care. Give people an adequate health insurance tax break and allow them to choose their own health plans. Perhaps we need to reward good health monetarily. However, good health and preventive care for illnesses and disease are rewards in themselves.

Unknown said...

It will be extremely hard to get America to wake up and realize how bad our overall health is and actually do something about it! As you said many of the cancers and illnesses we have are caused by our own doing! Smoking and eating unhealthy are big ones! We are so addicted to convience that we don't care how we end up in a month or a few years because 1-we enjoyed it while it lasted, and 2- we know that with our techniolgy getting better every day there will be a cure, if not something to take away the pain. Look at the cancer survival rates now compared to 50 years ago!

On a diffrent note, there are some things that are unavoidable, like some forms of cancer and those that are heriditary. I applaud those who can go through something like that and still have a positive outlook on life. I believe that something good always comes out of something bad...who knows how many people Amanda's strong and positive outlook effected and will effect in the future.








*******And ladies...it only takes 2 minutes but Thursday September 18 at Nordstrom International Plaza during regular mall hours they will be having what is called "Fit for the Cure". Wacoal will donate $2 to the Susan G. Koman foundation for Breast Cancer research and outreach for every woman who gets fit!! $2 adds up fast and it is the least we can do for our mothers and friends!

Athena Smith said...

Here is a thing we can all do. Saturday, November 8th, 2008 we can participate on the walk by the American Heart Organization. The Brandon campus aims at raising $2000.
I'll be there and I will be thrilled to see some of you or all of you join!
If you want to burn some calories for a good cause register here

The captain's name is Ramirez Sarah.


Come on guys!
Let's get into shape!

Snake said...

A person's health is important to everyone, no one wants to be unhealthy, but no one wants to work to be healthy either. America today will take what they can as fast as possible. Everyone knows that going to a fast food restaurant is bad for you but they go anyway just because its easier, faster, and cheaper to get it. Your determination towards staying healthy is probably the only thing in the end that will keep you healthy. That and a lot of money that you can spare to spend on healthy foods since its so expsenive.

If you want to promote better health for Americans, just do what everyone else does, have commercials and storys of people who are very unhealthy on TV, put adds in magazines, and talk about it on the radio. Use the media to spread the word and take down the adds for McDonalds and Burger King. Everyone knows McDonalds exist, we don't need a commerical about them every time we change the channel. Hopefully the stories that we put up about people with unhealthy problems will hit someone and make them want to be healthy, giving them the determination to do it. All they will think about is "I don't want to be that person. I don't want to look like that."

amooney2 said...

Health Issues is a broad topic. My specific thoughts on health issues in America are related to pharmaceutical and health insurance affordability. I do believe that Americans are blessed with above average, if not the best health care in the world, however, it is the costs associated with this care. There are many government programs to assist those without medical insurance such as Medicare. If we go to a Nationalized Health Care Plan, the government will dictate the type and level of care we receive; which in my opinion will decrease the standard of care available to patients. I do believe there need to be regulations on insurance costs and the cost of medical supplies and pharmaceuticals. Publix Pharmacies gives free oral antibiotics to those who cannot other wise afford it. Where are the discounts for AIDS patients? Diabetics? Cancer patients? Also, Insurance companies to an extent dictate the care of patients by allowing or denying medical tests or certain prescription medication. Insurance companies, not doctors who know my medical history are making the choices regarding my health. And if I wanted the test or medication based on my own decision, I could not afford to obtain it. I believe the Insurance and Pharmaceutical industries must be overhauled and regulated.

The government is doing many things to inform citizens of steps to a healthy lifestyle. We have stop smoking initiatives. They created an interactive website @ www.mypyramid.com for nutritional information. There are billboards and commercials regarding safe sex, exercise, drug use, and smoking. In fact we are inundated with facts and statistics and resources. What it comes down to is personal accountability.

Ronald O. Horne said...

Well first off I will half to say that was a very amazing story. I admire your attitude you had and how you are going to help people now, I’m sure that experience was extremely life changing. My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer 4 years ago. It was the size of a golf ball and I had no clue what was going to happen. She had it removed, went through chemo therapy and had to have breast reconstruction surgery. She is going to the doctor still for check up’s to make sure it is not recurring. She has been cancer free sense yet still has low amount of energy from chemo.
I don’t want to be overly optimistic but I haven’t really noticed much of a problem with Americans health overall. Im sure there are plenty of people struggling to pay some medical bills of unexpected medical troubles, but other than that and most Americans now being “obese”. On the other hand our government has millions of dollars that they could use toward some kind of new fund for people that have these sudden unexpected events and causing thousands of dollars in medical bills.

TaureanWong said...

Geez, I don't even know where to start with my stance (if you will) on health issues in America.
It seems like things such as healthy living, exercise, etc. are in its own category. As would be things like diseases, infections, disorders, etc. Not to mention health issues that differ from being physical to mental.
I do think its amazing the way that attitude can have a role in health. I thought it was fascinating to found out that things like stress & anxiety can lead to all forms of health problems. Not only with blood pressure, but with ulcers and all kinds of things. So for me being that this topic is a bit too rough for me to discuss in + or - 100 words. I'll just say that I too believe in the power of positive thinking. Not to say that its any cure all, but having a positive attitude and outlook I feel can help leading to being proactive about health concerns, visiting the doctor, using free healthcare services or what have you.
I always joke around with my friends when they say 'why you always laughing?' I reply 'laughter is the best medicine, its better than vitamins!! You should try it often plus its free!!' And they always clown on me, but eventhough its not true, I still feel that its a positive mentality that keeps me alert and focused on issues of health that I can control.

tstone1987 said...

I feel that the more people know, the better off you are as far as making a decision, rather than just going on what the doctor says. If you know the options you have,risk/reward, then you and your family will be able to make. As far as promoting a better lifestyle, I feel that this is simple. Stay active and watch what you eat. Im not saying to join a gym and get on the latest diet plan. All you need is 15-20 minutes a day, 3-4 times a week, and cut out all the fast food. Get a homecooked meal, or if you cant cook or are in a position that you cant cook, just make sure that you dont get everything large-sized, or extra whatever. Just get the meal as is, and dont eat that as much.

Shay said...

I agree with Da chris's comment, the only way to know is to be aware. Well of course the fast-food restuarants and such do not help any but we are in control over how much we decide to consume. Some things are uncontrollable. But even the things that are, we don't do anything about.

Also, just to say I do not like the health care system. It is unaffordable to many especially a working/student such as myself. But I have to get it because of my family's health history and because of mine. I know this is something that I have to do, in order to assure better health.

But all in all I just feel it is up to us.

x3tink0x3 said...

I too have an experience with cancer. My aunt was 30 when she was diagnosed with a cancer that is only found in children. She was a strict vegan and exercised 3 times a day. She only weighed 90lbs when she was diagnosed. She past away 6 years ago.

I do not feel there is much we can do about promoting better health care in america because cancer is unavoidable. There are a small percentage of people who do get lung cancer and have never smoked a day in there life. Yes that is because of second hand smoke, but in less we plan on making smoking a cigarette illegal there will still be cancer. Also like i said my aunt lived a very healthy life and she was diagnosed with a rare cancer in adults.

I believe that people are aware of all the health care issues and there is not much to do about a majority of the issues. There are little things that people can do, such as wearing a condom when having sex to prevent the spread of STD's. but there are a percentage of people that do get the STD because the condom isnt 100% effective. So that again says there is not much we can do to prevent a lot of diseases.

x3tink0x3 said...

I too have an experience with cancer. My aunt was 30 when she was diagnosed with a cancer that is only found in children. She was a strict vegan and exercised 3 times a day. She only weighed 90lbs when she was diagnosed. She past away 6 years ago.

I do not feel there is much we can do about promoting better health care in america because cancer is unavoidable. There are a small percentage of people who do get lung cancer and have never smoked a day in there life. Yes that is because of second hand smoke, but in less we plan on making smoking a cigarette illegal there will still be cancer. Also like i said my aunt lived a very healthy life and she was diagnosed with a rare cancer in adults.

I believe that people are aware of all the health care issues and there is not much to do about a majority of the issues. There are little things that people can do, such as wearing a condom when having sex to prevent the spread of STD's. but there are a percentage of people that do get the STD because the condom isnt 100% effective. So that again says there is not much we can do to prevent a lot of diseases.

wrtmillions said...

I think that health issues are an important part of life and how we live our everyday life. Sometimes we put our health issues to the back of list and worry about it when we are faced with a deadly issues. We should take our health more serious and fight of deadly diseases before they even starts. This story really touch my heart and open my eyes to see what kind of patients I will come in contact with after I finish my degree in Radiation therapy. I am happy to see that I will be helping strong, hard fighting, and faithful people. We can promote better health issues to all American thru readings like this one, TV commercials, talking to our families and friends, and most of all starting to help ourselves and leading by example.

Nelly12345 said...

The first thing I haveto say is that i admire the strength it must have taken that girl to stay so determined and optimistic going through something as trying as chemo therapy. On a personal note, my father was diagnosed with lymphoma about a year ago and had to go through chemo therapy, as well as having both of his thyroids removed and in addition, going through radiation therpay. The entire thing was a heart wrenching ordeal for me, my sister and my step mother. Good news is, he made it through his sickness, grew all of his hair back, and is very healthy. The point of this story is that coming from me, a person who has seen what cancer and cancer treatment does to a person, my heart goes out to that girl, and I have so much respect for her and her amazing optimistic mind set. As far as how to improve health in America, I think that America is already one of the most informed countries there is when it comes to how to protect yourself from illnesses and how to treat illnesses. The only thing I can think of to contribute: I believe with all of my heart that they should make HIV/aids tests mandatory. How this could be accomplished? i honestly dont know. Perhaps there could be some sort of system to where you haveto be tested in order to do things that many people do. For example:
- go to college
- own a home
- open an account at the bank
will this ever be they way it is? probably not, but think of how quickly the AIDS virus could be knockd out if everyone made it a point to get tested every so often. To not get tested, in my opinion, is ignorant and irresponsible and there is no reason why anybody should go untested if they are sexually active. Its painless (basically) easy, not time consuming, and its FREE in most cases! So to conclude (if I havent already made it obvious) the one health issue in America today that I have a problem with is AIDS, simply becasue its easily avoidable and you can test yourself at any time, the thing is, peple just .. dont.

mescobar3 said...

I would like to start out with the fact that i believe that cancer for the most part is unavoidable. Therefore promoting better health doesnt apply to me here because its unavoidable. However, we do add on to the chances of this unavoidable event.
Thats why we should increase the awareness in order to get better health. We live in a society were we add to these negative possiblities of gettign cancer. Like eating for example. Eating unhealthy can lead to cancer. Therefore we need to eat correctly as possible. Which our society doesnt. Exercising.. anonther example,,, of what our society doesnt do and therefore increases their chances.. Finally we promote so much the fact that smoking causes cancer.. however our society is some times to ignorant that we simply do not care until we end up in the hospital being diagonosed for cancer...
soo In conclusion, its up to us to realize and be aware of the effects.. and up to us to become better aware of avoiding the possibility of cancer.

rsr said...

I believe smoking and fast food are especially bad for one's health. To promote better health I believe that we should make smoking illegal, even though it will never happen. Smoking is a major cancer target. Secondhand smoking is even worse. When a person quits smoking the body actually starts repairing itself. Just think of how much cleaner our air would be if there was no smoking. Fast food is also very bad and can cause health problems such as obesity and diabetes. Lastly, exercise or some sort of physical activity is important in reducing stress and anxiety so the person is more relaxed and physically and mentally an overall healthy person.

ALong said...

This is a topic that I have thought through. I think we are doing okay in the healthcare industry-not saying that it doesn't have its flaws; however, there is always room for improvement. I completely agree with some of the comments made about increasing awareness in schools. For example, many of you are aware that, in high school, students are required to take some form of drug prevention program. (i.e. Mendez) I think it would be a great asset to schools to also require a program that teaches the basics of the body. Like, how to check for cancer, and other commonly overlooked issues. In doing this, I believe students would benefit from learning simple facts about the body and how it works.

lilbit said...

I think that America does a good job at promoting health awareness.Not only do we have commericials about how smoking is bad for you but they even do storys on tv about people who have been through different health issues and how to better ourselves so it doesnt happen to us. I know that alot of things like in Amanda's case cannot be prevented but one problem that needs to be fixed in this country is how many people that can't afford health insurance. People everyday are dieing because they dont have health insurance and dont have the money to get help so they live and suffer with their problems I believe that this is one way that America could start trying to fix the health issues in this country.

Athena Smith said...

Nelly 12345
HIV testing is obligatory for all immigrants requesting a visa. If the results are positive the request is not granted.
But the test will never be obligatory for residents because it violates "privacy" laws and there is fear that the results will sneak out to potential employers and insurance companies with predictable results.

Now some have mentiond the health system in the US. There are some wrong impressions.

We spend 16% of our GDP on health services and we still have 50 million Americans uninsured. These uninsured people do not have MEDICARE as one of you said, because they do not qualify for it as they are members of the middle classes. They simply can not afford the high premiums. If they were poor they would have qualified for MEDICARE and they would not have faalen into the category of "uninsured."

Also a correction about a national health system. Such a system simply means that the government becomes the main insurance company that has to cover everyone. If you think we don't have it, you are wrong. Think again. MEDICARE and MEDICAID are types of a national health system that covers the poor and the elderly. The whole discussion is whether such a system should cover the whole population.
Yoy see health coverage is regarded by many as "privilege." By others as "human right."
Depends on your prespective.

By the way the state of Massachussets has adopted a universal health coverage for all its residents.

Lessner said...

I think that since the United States is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, the US government should follow in Canada's footsteps by providing universal health care.Most Americans are aware of health issues but they can't afford to do anything about it. A poor person who is sick has to choose between paying a ridiculous amount of money to see a doctor or pay rent. Most decide to pay rent so they can provide a home for their families and end up suffering in silence.We are all very aware of our failing health system and the profit drug manufacturers and doctors look to make off our sickly backs.Health officials advise on eating a healthy diet to stay out of the doctor's office but at the same time, the healthiest foods tend to be the most expensive. Fruits and vegetables tend to cost alot more money than potato chips and sodas.Poor people don't have an option on eating healthy,they just want to eat.It's a catch 22.You can't afford to live a healthy lifestyle to avoid seeing a doctor and you can't afford to see a doctor when you do get sick from living an unhealthy lifestyle.Where
is the in between? Instead of paying billions of dollars toward the salaries of pro-athletes and billions toward an unnecessary war, the US government should use that money toward more necessary issues such as universal health care and poverty in our own neighborhoods.

Costello said...

k

joeyohweoh said...

I’m happy to hear that Amanda Hingson has fully recovered from her cancer and is attending college to help others to get through it. My prayers go out to all people who have to go experience this disease. I believe heath issues in America are worst than ever. More than half of the country does not have health insurance to go to the hospital and when they are injured or sick. It is pitiful for this country to have enough money for war but not enough to help its own people. In order to promote better health care for America there should be a weekly routine where Americans can spend some time exercising, whether it is jogging, lifting weights, or even being active in sports they enjoy.

almostmarried said...

I think there are many unhealthy people in this world, especially in the United States. Many americans eat an abundance of fast food which is the most unhealthy meal you can eat, espacially McDonalds. The last time I had McDonalds i started throwing up. People know what is healthy and what is unhealthy, for example smokers know they are at risk for cancer but they choose to ignore all of the warnings. People need to start taking care of their bodies every little bit helps for example a walk with your husband after dinner can improve your help, and so can a healthy meal from the store, if people started taking care of their bodies I believe there would be alot less sickness in the world. This article does increase awareness because it explains the severe pain that comes with cancer, maybe it will convince someone to lay down their cigarettes.

fefe said...

Amanda’s story is very sad and I have heard so many stories like that by the way my friend had cancer and that was horrifying. For example, in Amanda’s case we cannot do anything except hope for her to get well, and try to find a better way to deal with cancer. However, in many cases we can do a change and stop these diseases from happing like smoking. I believe that most of the people who have cancer are the people who smoke. I just do not understand those people; I mean do they want to have cancer that is why they smoke. At the end I would like to say that if we prohibit smoking that would be best for all people.

fefe said...

Amanda’s story is very sad and I have heard so many stories like that by the way my friend had cancer and that was horrifying. For example, in Amanda’s case we cannot do anything except hope for her to get well, and try to find a better way to deal with cancer. However, in many cases we can do a change and stop these diseases from happing like smoking. I believe that most of the people who have cancer are the people who smoke. I just do not understand those people; I mean do they want to have cancer that is why they smoke. At the end I would like to say that if we prohibit smoking that would be best for all people.

torasu said...

My thoughts on health issues....well, as we all know America isn't the exactly the healthiest(cant spell that) of all the countries in the world, and despite all the warnings of health issues presented to us by scientists and other experts, we still really don't care. I mean, we usually look at loosing weight as a bother, and never get around to doing it. We would rather eat at someplace like McDonalds than go to a salad place like Crispers.(I'm a man, and i don't think salads gay. its healthy)(maybe that's just me?).

Anyway, and to top that off, some people like Mo'nique(spelled right?)are saying that being fat is o.k. Unbelievable. Not only is it unattractive, its just plain unhealthy. You can't get around that. People are shortening their own lives because they think its o.k. to be a little overweight.

Personally, I think physical education should be implemented more in grade school. Not only do sports encourage teamwork and build character, but they also keep you active, and promote healthy eating habits.

But the problem is not just with obesity. Its true that cancer can be avoided, especially lung cancers caused by smoking. But lets face it: until something is invented that is as satisfying and relaxing and addictive as smoking, (and hopefully less harmful),people just aren't going to stop smoking. Period. No matter what is said or done. Same thing with alcohol. The government tried to ban it with prohibition, and got bootleggers in return.

HeatherF said...

WOW! There will always be something in life that really makes people take step back. You hear about children and adults enduring the physical and mental anxieties of disease but never understand what all it entails. I think the basics in promoting good health are obvious, that is a healthy lifestyle, eating properly and gettting adequate excercise. Things like cancer though, what can u do? There is the monthly donation that can be made either financially or through volunteer work but is that really enough? I have never known anyone who has had cancer, let alone anyone who had died from it. I think that the breast cancer marathon is really a beautiful concept, and i have very much respect to the people who continually take part in it. My deepest respect and empathy to anyone who has endured any type of disease or known anyone who has.

kndglv@yahoo.com said...

Tuesday, September 16, 2008
I think health care in the United States is very good. There are hospitals all over the place. If someone gets hurt or is deathly ill, the hospital will help them. It does not matter if you have a dime in your pocket, are an illegal immigrant, or a murder. We have ambulances, and even helicopters that will deliver you. People from all over the world come to America to study medicine. As a rule we take great care of our sick children. There are many charities focused strictly on raising money for research to fight disease.

With that being said, there is great room for improvement. The biggest problem with Western medicine is: There is not enough emphasis on preventative health care. One reason for this is, the capitalist pharmaceutical companies. Why would they sell you the cow once, when they can sell you the milk forever. In fact why would they not create the disease, so they could sell the cure. Are there any stories of pharmaceutical sales reps' children getting sick? You can bet your bottom dollar when they DO get sick, they have access to the good stuff; "on the cheap!".

Another flaw : As a society we do not care for our elderly as well as we should. Nobody seems to care until it is their grandma or grandpa. From an economic point of view, they have already made their contribution to the capitalist machine, and now they are disposable. Too many elderly people are living on fixed incomes, are having to take medication they can not afford. It is unacceptable! IT IS UNBELIEVABLE, REALLY!
And yet another flaw: We have to willing to explore alternative/experimental treatments. Of all the things that have happened during President Bush's administration that were not DIRECTLY his fault, the one thing he could have done for the betterment of the entire human race, was to fund stem cell research instead of banning it. It might not be the right answer, but it deserves a better look. I guess the "pharmaceutical" lobbyists offered him a more attractive package, than the "sick and dying people" lobbyists did! Let us not even get started on the medical marijuana laws!!!
I do have to send big shout outs to: Shands hospital, the Shriners, and the Ronald McDonald House. For every greedy scumbag trying to make a buck at someone else's well being, [let's hope they all die of Cholera!!(just kidding!)], let us hope there are ten good souls trying harder, wanting to make the world a better place.

Ferran said...

What are your thoughts on health issues? How can we promote better health for all Americans?


From what I've heard and read, there are quite a few countries in the world that have much more efficient health care than we have in the United States. (Germany, Sweden, Japan, and several others are ranked above the US) They've put more emphasis on the people's well-being. That isn't to say that we are so lacking in health care, but we could do better. One could argue it's the capitalistic nature of this country that prevents the more socialistic privilages of those countries.

We could (and more than likely will, in time) achieve greater awareness which will help the individuals as much as the society, so to speak. A better welfare to assist the unpreventable diseases and such, and like 'da chris' mentioned, a healthier indiviadual due to major lifestyle adaptations.

cstat said...

as for any human being im pretty sure every one wants to live a long and healthy life. and there are certain types of cancer that can be avoided and others that cant. so i think health issues the 1's that you cant control all you can do is maintain them as much as possible. and those cancers and diseases that we can control but people chose to keep doing the same thing thats gonna cause it and make whatever it is worst its kinda like your asking for a bad health. but all we can do with these types of situations is better educate ourselves so we can either come up with a cure for it or see how it is caused and what can we do to prevent it happening to anyone.

Nurse4U said...

To promote better health for all Americans we need to get the word out. Teach our children at young ages to eat healthy and live healthy. Stop promoting the "fast food" joints. There are so many websites out that give advice, recipes and more on "healthy" living. Our society has become obese and unhealthy while making McDonald's extremely rich.
Also, lowering healthcare costs. So many Americans don't take care of themselves because they can't afford it. At my place of employment if I wanted to cover my family of three the insurance would take half of my paycheck. My family and I can't live on half of a check. I think America should focus on the poor, ill and homeless in our backyards rather than those in other countries. That may be selfish of me but if we don't look out for ourselves...who is?

wes said...

.................

Anonymous said...

Health issues, that is a very wide topic. In today's materialistic society, health and beauty are considered very important. Improvements in medical technology are making it possible for us to live longer than ever before. One can assume most people know what to do to take good care of themselves, in my opinion part of our health is a matter of choice. We have all the equipment, information and resources we need to make a conciderable difference regarding our well being. Health care, nutrition and exercise plans are all at our finger tips, we just choose not to use it. Most of us know what to eat,we just choose not to eat it. They even use video games to promote personal fitness. We can't really do much else to pomote good health, wejust have to begin to take action.
Of course, diseases like cancer and AIDS have no particular "cure" yet (most of us know that already) so we have to do what we can to stay at the top of our game. (It's easier said than done.

Artimid said...

Interesting history, and I also would have quit chemo, if I even would have started it. As the first poster said, it is odd to go from that story of your past to the question, but not a problem; I can go with the flow for the sake of the grade.

Second: In my eyes, there is no link of good thinking to good health. The reason these people get better is they say, "I will accept this pain, because it will work" compared to, "Forget the pain, just let me die." It isn't positive thinking, so much as how they actually handle themselves better. And, before asking, I say this with several family members having died of cancer, at least one family member I actually witnessed die, and several friends who died of cancer. The one I watched die was the one who just gave up caring, and thus stopped the medicine and started sabotating herself, the others fought as long as they could; though some could only fight for a month before the cancer killed them.

Anyways, to the question. To help promote health care in our country, I would first suggest having someone research half our races health issues, as the other half has things covered fairly well. Once we have someone researching more of the diseases, we have can then educate the people through our school systems, and through the web. I had to take several health classes, and AIDS classes during my high school career; I am quite well aware of what needs to be done to get healthy. Our country actually has more fear of health issues than most others. The problems come in that our doctors and health care systems themselves keep us away (http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/05/15/1198/). Our people in this country are so worried that every sniffle is a disease we read on WebMD, and we must -must- have the pills to fix it, that we are also responisible for creating many diseases that are resistant to antibiotics.

Maybe I should just phrase it as such, we need better hospitals and better research, and then we can let the results be what spreads awareness.

Artimid said...

Oh, and for the people talking about national health care: You can't compare Canada with the U.S. for really anything. First off, the entire population of their country is less than we have in California. The UK has a system as well, that barely works from what my family friends tell me.

Also, Medicare/Medicaid has a pretty strict guideline, I don't think I qualified for it when I was unemployed and needed my finger put back into just one piece. And for people wondering, that 5 minutes in the hall with a doctor cost me close to $5,000 due to them charging me $300 for a pill, $800 for a room I wasn't in, $200 an x-ray, and the rest was for the doctors pay.

America can't have a national healthcare that covers everyone here, it wouldn't work. Our country is rich, but we would soon only have Doctors, and the poor people if we tried that.

lolita said...

Health in america is definatly takeing a turn for the worst. while there is increasing awareness of health and excersise,people just dont seem to be listinging. we are so acustom to the extremely lazy life style we have adapted to in the states and excersies is just too much effort. Now, I say this from experience because I know how hard it is to work up the motivation to get up and do something, and there is no excuse for that. Therefore my position on health is very impartial,"to each his own" if you will. Dont get me worng thats not to say that I dont care about my health or anyone else's its just that s*** happens and we can only do so much to help.

Yes, as many of you said education is the way to change all this, however, it needs to start at a very early age and as for convincing today's generation its going be pretty tough because old habits die hard, so I applaud anyone who is willing to go out there and spread the word.

Unknown said...

I think one thing is that our lifestyle has made the American people just not care about our bodies. We guzzle down Starbucks and stuff our faces with McDonald's, and then destroy ourselves with alcohol and drugs. What's worse is we know how bad all of these things are for our body yet we continue. Take smokers for example, we have spr4ead awareness for lung cancer and the harm smoking causes, yet 45 million people smoke in America.

We can raise awareness but what we need to do is make people care about their own bodies for once.

vhagwins said...

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Athena Smith said...

I made a mistake in my last comment. Medicaid is for the poor and Medicare is for seniors.

Tyler
You are right about smoking. The bright side is that we smoke far less than Europeans do!

hunter07 said...

I think the schools should educate more on being healthy. You are required to take P.E. but all that does is make you go outside and play games you don’t really learn the affects exercise or lack there of will have on you in the long run until you reach high school where they go in depth a little more. But by the time many students reach high school their eating and exercise habit’s are well established and it is harder to break the bad habits. Also, the fact that we live in such a fast pace everything is about convenience. Even if we do eat at home a lot of people are buying frozen dinners that are just as bad for you as going to McDonalds.

blue sky said...

I think the ratio of people who are aware of diseases that pose threats to our life every day, to those who are blissfully unaware is unnerving. Sadly, when we become interested in an illness usually falls right around the time it becomes personal. Health is the most important issue and the one taking for granted mostly in our society. Some diseases are hereditary and can run in your genes but it would behoove you to research family illnesses to take everyday precautions to help reduce the risk.
For example I know diabetes runs on both sides of my family so I make sure not to over indulge on my sugar intake. I would like to make sure my body is strong enough to fight whatever illnesses may loom in my future life.
I do understand that realistically speaking all situations differ from person to person and disease to disease. If we spent more time just learning the basics of the symptoms, what causes certain types, preventative measures, hereditary traits etc. It can help us to recognize earlier when a problem is coming. This way treatment start sooner and optimal outcomes might begin to increase.
As far as what can be done to raise awareness the answer lies in the individual. When you have suffered something or know someone who has speak type whatever but make sure that you relay signs that were missed. What might have caused it? Let people know the severity of the disease if it is one that is overshadowed by the mainstream diseases we hear about every day. Also as individuals we need to "ASK." Knowledge is power and its not only for your career or education, or even to debate who has a better team. It is for your health and your family's sake. Just a little research can lead to life changing lifestyle and habits.
FYI the human body and organs have a lifespan of 150 years. Yet the average life span is about 65-75 years old. You do the math we cutting ourselves just a little short of what we were born with. Educate yourself and inform others you can for the have a little control of your health if you know what to avoid.

PixieBob said...

First of all I want to say that I have deep respect for Amanda and the courage and strength she has shown.I have had family members that have been diagnosed with cancer, all of them very close to me which makes me very aware of the possibility that one day I myself might become a statistic. Because of this I have learned how to self-exam, and though I do not have health insurance I always make sure I have my yearly exam.

Though Americans do have self destructive habits such as drinking, drugs and the food we eat it is not always the unhealthy people that get cancer. Taking care of yourself is extremely important but not always preventative. The surest measure is to make sure you get check ups on a regular basis- women need to make sure they get checked yearly by an OBGYN,men of a certain age need prostate exams. A person could think that they are perfectly healthy without realizing they are slowing being destryoyed.

As for promoting better health in America, education is the key to knowledge, but knowledge can't help the millions of people who don't have health insurance.We are a nation who "claims" to care about our poor with such things as Medicaid and Medicare, but these services are fickle with who they will help and how much they are willing to cover. I think the only solution to promoting better health in America is an overhaul of the medical beauracracies- we need to learn from other countries and have free medical coverage for everyone. I would be willing to pay more taxes if it would save more lives.

Unknown said...

I believe that the health care system has a lot of room for improvement, but Americans also need to take more responsibility for their health. We chose to eat unhealthy foods, smoke, drink alcohol, and we are constantly trying to get/stay tanned, and then wonder why we have problems such as obesity, lung cancer, liver problems, and skin cancer. I understand that many people have no control over their health ailments and that they do need help from the health care system. The health care system could be improved by having more thorough health screenings to catch diseases, such as cancer, in the early stages so the person has a better chance of surviving. It would also improve the healthcare system if everyone had access to affordable health care. If people could afford health care, they would probably go to get regular health check ups. Some people without health insurance often go the emergency room for non-emergency situations and people with real emergencies have to wait for hours. People should take responsibility for their own health by staying educated and making healthier choices when it comes to eating, drinking, not smoking, etc.

sduffy3 said...

First off, I would like to say that my heart and prayers goes out to all of the families that are dealing with cancer. I have lost two of my closest relatives to cancer, one of them being recently. So I can relate to the pain that they are going through, and TOUGH just doesn't even begin to describe it.

As far as today's health issues go, most types of cancer and diseases are unavoidable. I do think that in the school system children are educated to a certain extent about living a healthy lifestyle. But, in today's society, everything is based on such a fast pace environment that the majority of our society relies on fast food chains to keep themselves and their families fed. The routine "family dinner" that was once a part of everday life, is now something that my generation has never even heard of. So even with education and healthy food being available, the consumtion of greasy fast food is a hard habit to break. It becomes to some people and addiction, much like cigarette smoking and the consumption of alcohol.

It is really up to the person at hand to make the decision to step up and start living a healthier lifestyle. All of the education and doctor's lectures in the world will become useless if we do not decide to make the change in ourselves first.

Starbuzz said...

This is truely a sad story to hear. Its always harder hearing about kids getting sick. But we all should learn from this article and know that there wil be times in life when you think its over but you just have to stay stong and fight it. Now as far as promoting good healt. Frst thing girst i think the mass media needs to stop advertising fast food on tv. Fast food is not good for you at all. Yea if you eat it every once an a while its nots not gonna kill you. Another thing is somehow we need to get rid of cigarettes. More and more people die every year from smoking cigarettes. But to be honest i don't see any one of those things happening anytime soon.

kirby <(^_^)> said...

I myself used to be affected when someone got cancer, but now in this day and age there is any chance to get it, and plenty of chances to survive. It almost seems a cliche' thing now to hear when you someone says they have cancer or a brain tumor, sure it's sad but I believe we all have the cancer inside us it's just most of us haven't had it react to anything. I'm sorry if I sound bigoted or anything but I've had so many people I know get it, the only way you can really protect yourself is just eat healthy, work out, wear sunscreen, and definitely don't smoke.

Frogger said...

Health should be a main concern for everyone. We should all do our best to get in the best shape we can and try to maintain for our families and ourselves. Sometimes we have no idea how much our sisters, brothers and friends look up to us, and if we do our up most to stay fit, healthy and most of all happy, we can help our family and friends do the same. Education is the only way to spread the word that we can prevent or at least help to prevent many diseases. We need to make sure that schools keep there physical education classes and that they do more at the elementary level to teach good eating and exercise habits. If we were all taught when we were young, we would not have to be retraining ourselves now.

chantillylace26 said...

I believe that health issues can be improved by health awareness, and also using different health methods. A lot of what people aren't educated about is the medications they are being prescribed. The pharmaceutical industry has promoted diseases that don't exist just to get people to take their medications, which in turn harm their bodies. A lot of elderly people, for example, are on many different medications, half of which hurt their body more than do good. I think people should become educated on hollistic health methods and look for a more natural way to heal sickness. The world doesn't know half of what is provided in our rainforests and other plants. If people would look to a more healthy lifestyle and approach then most harmful medications won't be needed. Chemo therapy for example is extremely bad for the body, and I'm sure there are other ways of preventing cancer. People just aren't educated and aware.

Jinkzt3r said...

Personally I believe the first thing that needs to be done to improve health is that the government needs to crack down on a variety of ingredients in the food industry that people know cause health issues, i.e. Trans fat and MSG. A lot of people opt for the more affordable variety, and in mostly all cases, the "cheaper" food is the least healthy. It's unavoidable for many, it's either purchase this cheaper food or only have enough healthy foods to feed your family for a couple of days instead of a week.

I am a person that believes that the government should pay the health care tab for all children. At least to all 16 and under, perhaps even extending to 18 year olds and dependents. Easier said than done of course, but the American people should care more about their children, their future, and their legacy rather than them selves. If we can donate millions to third world countries, we can do the same for children in America (Not that I disagree with it).

Of course, many health problems can be avoided, but if you can't look around and say America is quite the hedonistic society then some thing is wrong with you. What I’m saying is, people will eat what they enjoy, not exactly what is healthier for them, and they will smoke even knowing that they could get cancer. Yes, there may be a select few who sacrifice more enjoyable foods for less enjoyable, yet healthier foods. We’re also a fast paced country, so many people can’t just devote an hour to prep, make, and eat a good meal... hello McDonald’s.

Tell me it’s not true.

DiamondSteel47 said...

I believe that health issues affect everyone and there is only so much you can do. For example, one blogger posted that if they took better care of themselves they could lower the risk of health issuses, I have to disagree with this statement. Take Tedy Bruschi from the New England Patriots, he suffered a mild stroke and was having heart complications, most would think they an NFL player would be in top shape and impervious to health issueses, espically ones envolving the heart. As a whole in a America, I do believe we have to take better care of our bodies by eatting better and more excerise.

Costello said...

This story is one that will make people open their eyes. It was a sad story but fortunely this person is still alive. Not all people are that lucky.Approximately fifteen hundred people die each day because of cancer. That is over five hundred and fifty five thousand people die each year because of cancer. These statistics should open peoples eyes to this epidemic.I believe more money should be granted by the government to help with cancer research. Also more charitys should be formed to support cancer support.

Costello said...

This story is one that will make people open their eyes. It was a sad story but fortunely this person is still alive. Not all people are that lucky.Approximately fifteen hundred people die each day because of cancer. That is over five hundred and fifty five thousand people die each year because of cancer. These statistics should open peoples eyes to this epidemic.I believe more money should be granted by the government to help with cancer research. Also more charitys should be formed to support cancer support.

CandaceRenee07 said...

I think the common health issues people experience today is because of their personal habits. People nowadays cause more health problems on themselves and others by smoking, drinking excessively, having a very unhealthy diet, and depending on technology to do their work, which causes less activity. However, I think our technology is continuing to improve and saving more lives every day. Our doctors are still trying to come up with a cure for cancer and one day, I’m sure they will.
The best way to promote better health for Americans is to inform them of the risks and teach the proper ways to maintain a healthy life. Healthy diet and exercise along with regular check ups with a family physician would be a perfect start to promote better health.

Anonymous said...

My thoughts on health in this country are pretty fair. Considering that we do live in America with some of the best technology known to man. I believe that we have the will and desire in this country to keep people from getting sick and getting cancer. But if cancer does come into your life we have the personnel and technology in this country to do the best we can in making you feel better and continue with your life after the sickness.

JulyssaV said...

I do believe that America has a role to take to take care of its citizens. It should promte good health and I belive it does. I just got out of high school and I was so hurt when they took out pizza and cookies and all kinds of good stuff and were giving us all this healthy junk which was so gross so I just didn't eat at all. As much as I hated the food (and I was really healthy because of sports lol), I still think its good that our schools are stripped like that. So I do believe that good health is promted well but then there are the people who just don't care. I just can't stand people who know what they're doing is wrong and then go ahead and do it and then in the end try to sue someone.

Athena Smith said...

I don't know if you noticed something on this campus guys.
Both cafeterias close at 2:30. After that, only vending machines.
What do they sell? Water and Coke. That's it!

Amanda Rush said...

I think this story was truly inspiring.Its amazing to see sumone in what seems to be a hopeless situation be so positive and overcome it. I think that in America we should so a better job in taking the burden off of familys with children with serious illnesses. I think after all they have to go through, taking the financial pressure off of them would help them get through it that much easier. But i do feel that in America we are well eduacated in promoting healthy living and do have amazing medical establishments as oppose to other countries.

bucs06 said...

I think one way the health care system could improve is that doctors should be more straight forward with patients and help to get a quick and easy resolution to a problem. I think health insurance is a huge problem in health care. This was an amazing story about a boy who fought cancer and won but many are not so strong. Health insurance can sometimes prevent an illness from being cured, for instance my grandmother passed away from cancer, doctors said it could have been cured if were caught sooner but her original doctor saw no signs of cancer after finally discovering the cancer there were many hoops to jump through with insurance companies having to this specialist and that specialist running this test and that test before finally diagnosing her with the disease. Health care has much room for improvement in many areas and to promote better health for Americans we can do this by informing and educating in schools and at home how to lead a healthy long life. Bucs06

MiiStAkEn iiDeNtiiTY said...

My thoughts on health issues are that they are not being promoted enough. Many peopl till this day are still very much so uneducated on health factors. I think we should offer many more classes and try to be more proactive with health.
I feel as though that we can promote better health for americans, by showing them that other foods can be tasty just like McDonalds, Burger King, etc. and still be healthy.
We can also offer classes where their our more dietary nutritions and we can just have peer groups where each and everyone can share their ideas on health and even what they have gone through.
I feel as though allowing these classes people will see that they are not alone and that they can turn their health around for the better

Ashley Michelle said...

I once saw a program on television that said positive thinking and laughter are some of the best medicines you can have on yourself. I believe there are health issues we can't control but also many we can control. I was a smoker for 3 years. I understand when people say that even though it's horrible for you, you still continue to do it, and I knew cigarettes were extremely bad for me but I still did it. I knew I was upping my chances for getting cancer, strokes, heart attacks, aging skin, yellow teeth, and man, the list goes on. I have finally quit smoking for good and I have never felt better. I feel so much healthier and I can finally breathe. I agree that we all need awareness. America is extremely unhealthy and critics say it's only going to get worse, and in the future, almost everyone will be obese. I definitely believe that. The way people are driving everywhere, eating fast food all the time, I definitely believe that people are not treating their bodies the way they should. I am sure the age of death has lowered over the past few years. I think to promote better health, people just need to do it on their own. You can have someone preach at you everyday for the rest of your life, but that doesn't mean you're going to go exercise, or eat healthier. You definitely have to want it yourself. When I smoked cigarettes, I constantly had people telling me I was going to die, and I still didn't care, it wasn't until I woke up one morning and told myself, I NEED to stop. People need to want it. Determination, will power, it's all on you.

bomana said...

The main thing that needs to be done to promote health awareness is to provide people with health insurance. It's pretty tough to stay healthy or learn how to maintain good health without being able to visit a health professional. Also, there should be more in the way of outreach. By this I mean offer programs that are not only informative but fun. Tampa General has a lot of great programs that are free, fun, and they teach you a lot of things about nutrition and good health without treating you like an idiot. They also provide you with a healthy dinner when you attend and give free exercise equipment. There should be more programs like this.
Schools can do more to educate children on good health habits as well. They should probably begin by not serving pizza three times a week and not selling junk food snacks. Video games that get you moving around instead of sitting still is a great way to get people to exercise while having fun. Games like Dance Dance Revolution and Wii are examples of games that are enjoyed by moving around instead of the usual veg out games. Maybe if health awareness was more fun more people would get into it.

Darren L. said...

My views are this, If someone found out they had cancer, and felt fine before anything was said to them, then why should they get the painful chemotherapy, or have to take on surgery. I believe that it is a situation where, if you feel no pain, why do you need to give it to yourself. I found out a couple of years ago i have a binign tumor on my right arm, which could eventually turn into melanoma. This was upsetting, and they wanted to remove it, and do all types of surgery but i refused, there is no pain, so i'm not going to worry about it. I think that a good way to help promote better health care is to start educating health at a younger age, so instead of making health classes mandatory in high school, for only two classes, teach it regularly in early ages, like elementary school. Also, they should really really enfore Physical eduation more, kids these days have gone soft, and it's pathetic.

Belle said...

When I read the blog it was very touching. That is one strong girl and I bet her story has helped other young people with cancer have hope.

The sad thing about our society is that the convenient way to live these days is very unhealthy! There is fast food at every stop light and the children of today would rather play video games than run outside and actually sweat. I think heath should be a bigger deal in schools and not just a class you are taking in high school because it is “required for graduation.” P.E. should not be so dreaded by the young students. I remember I hated having to change and it felt more of a hassle than anything else but now that I see the importance of exercise in ones life I incurrage kids to see the good in P.E.

I have talked mostly of children because that is our worlds future. Now onto adults, I think most are seeing how unhealthy they live. I like to think most people are doing something about it or at least know that they should be. One thing Florida is trying to do is the “Tobacco Free Florida.” The Rays players and manager have all kinds of commercials for it and even at the Rays games they play clips of the commercials in-between innings. At least it is showing the kids how unhealthy tobacco is and most probably listen because they look up to these players!

Livelife220 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Livelife220 said...

We all know that bad habits are harmful but we simply do it anyway. We take required health courses in high school so we can learn the facts but in the end, it’s up to us to decide what to do in our lives. I think media has a lot to deal with some of our health issues. For example, I see McDonald advertisements everywhere and I’m tired how it can easily influence viewers. We as viewers are easily convinced so we drive to the nearest place and pay highly priced food and wait for even 10-15 minutes. From my personal experiences, I know that fast food isn’t even really fast. I had to waste my gas money (especially when gas prices are high) and my time to wait. What I could have done was use the money and time wasted into something else like exercising or cooking my own meal for a decent price. From that experience, I learned to stop eating “fast” food and make decisions wisely. I started becoming active because I noticed the stuff I ate made me feel lazy, unhealthy, fat, and even depressed. We can promote better health for all Americans by simply having media/advertisements show the food that is healthy and nutritious rather than showing fat food. Media should show that being healthy is the cool and right way to go.
As far as decisions go, there is an extent; we cannot control our fate especially when cancer can affect both healthy and unhealthy people. So, I give credits to the victims who are optimistic and still live their lives to the fullest!

greenjellybean said...

Although some diseases are unavoidable no matter how physically fit you are there are still many other things such as diabetes and lung cancer that we can avoid if we choose healthy alternatives. We can choose not to smoke or to eat our three healthy meals a day instead of stopping by the local fast food resturants advertised on television and billboards. I think a persons will power takes a huge role in their personal health especially with the billions of dollars that are spent toward advertisement for unhealthy foods alone. When I was younger I ate whatever junk food I wanted and had my mom grab Mcdonalds or Burger King on the way home. As a child I began noticing I became pretty chubby compared to other kids. If i still had the same eating habbits i would probably be at risk for being overweight. The motive for change in my eating habbits was after I took my first mandatory nutrtion and wealth class in high school. It really opened my eyes to the damage certain foods can do to your body and it was intense. I feel if we continue to promote mandatory health courses and maybe intensify them a little further it would really benefit our society. Giving children longer recess, having them take a mandatory P.E. course atleast once a year, or even finding time to go outside and play with your kids can have an extremely positive outcome. At the end of the day it is still that persons choice if they are going to go home and eat another burger or wake up and go for a morning walk or jog. Because of that, it is important for schools and the rest of society to educate others on healthy habbits and exercise to help society avoid horrible health conditions in the future.

iROCK. said...

Promoting better health is a very big campaign ad to me in America;
and some health problems can be avoided, while others can't.
Cancer is avoidable in some cases but most of the time it can’t be.
I think we should pay more attention to what’s important for
our lives [literally] by being more careful on our
intake of whatever it may be. (cigarrettes, drugs, alcohol..)
and that will surely do the population some good by raising the (good health) rate in our country.
Everybody knows America as being the most "overweight" countries, as well as un-healthy; and i find that funny because how can we be so un-healthy, when we have basically like the best medical attention?
People from all over the world travel to America just
to seek medical attention because they cant get it in their country.
So really and truly, I think we should be more
appreciative of the wonderful medical help we have here.

CrazyFred21 said...

Being in good health is important to most Americans, young and old. But being healthy for the most part is a life choice, and with all of the fast food restaurants and other temptations available to choose from its sometimes easier said than done. I believe if an unavoidable disease, such as cancer plagues a person’s life they deserve to get the best healthcare treatment available. Americans have taken leaps and bounds to get healthier in the past few years. For example the reality TV show "the biggest looser" which encourages morbidly obese contestants to loose weight with a strict diet, exercise, and team challenges. Cigarette smoking has also been on the decline, since it is now looked down upon in most social cliques. This just goes to show that society has recognized a problem with unhealthy Americans. But I don’t think people who choose to be unhealthy will ever change.

Flip Barbie said...

People have been promoting organic food and honestly, NOT all of it is as disgusting as it sounds. Of course I'm not trying to promote anything about organic food, I dont believe in free advertisement, but it wouldn't hurt anyone to at least try it. And I'm definitely not going to tell anyone how to eat and live their life, but it wouldn't hurt if you cut down on the Big Macs and fries...

irishqt7 said...

I had my gall bladder out when I was only fourteen because I had gall stones. My doctor told me I was the second youngest person ever to have it removed. The doctor that I had messed up my surgery, because I had internal bleeding as soon as he was done. They had to rush me back into surgery and I had to stay in the hospital an extra two weeks. Ever since I had my gall bladder removed my stomach has never been the same. Even though I was still a kid I couldn’t eat junk food. I think that kids should know more about health issues and how to keep healthy. Unfortunately, our society promotes unhealthy choices.

Miranda said...

hh

Miranda said...

What this guy went through is amazing! My mother had cancer when i was a little girl, i saw what it did to her. She only had to go through surgery once and it almost killed me to see her be in that much pain. I cant even begin to imagine what this little boy at the time had to go through! Multiple surgeries, having parts of your body removed, knowing that something poisonous was growing inside of you threatening your life everyday that you were alive. The fact that this kid was strong enough to say, "No More Chemo" makes me want to cry. I think that what this guy is doing now is amazing! Working at the very same hospital where cancer almost took him, that takes balls to do. Him helping little kids get through this difficult time in their life is awesome, he's an angel!

DannyBoy said...

Promoting health in America can be very difficult, especially for a country where every street corner isnt without a fast food place. Where people would rather drive to the end of the street than walk. Where a man could become famous for promoting health by how many subway meals he has eaten.Every one wants to be thin the quick and easy way.Some pill or powder that will make them thin in a day.The only way to promote health is to tell the people that it takes the little things to make someone healthy.For example,taking the stairs instead of the elevator or taking daily jogs.As far as cancer goes there is not much we can do to prevent it.However there are some cancers we can,like lung cancer.Also some we can catch early so we can prevent serious damage or even death.Cancer is a very sad thing that many people are effected by.All we can do is support the people affected by it and do all we can for them.

pcenluv08 said...

I think that the best way that we could promote better health in Americans is to stop building fast food restaurants on every corner; or atleast create more healthy options in those chains. For example i think it would be ideal if you get a happy meal at Mcdonalds/Bk and you only have a choice of milk or juice, because though that jr burger and fries is by no means nutritious atleast the child wont have a rush of caffeine, and start a young addiction to soda. I think that the difference in the amount of fast food would have such an effect because one of the main reasons they are so succecful is conveniece,because we Americans are always in a rush. So if one had to go out of there way and drive those extra miles, it will become much more convenient to stop at the grocery store. I strongly think that what we eat and drink is the base for what sickness/disease/cancer one develops- of course with the exception to cancers that no matter what one does are uncontrollable.

jb23 said...

I personally think that we do promote a healthy lifestyle in America. Although many people don't choose to live a healthy lifestyle, I believe as kids we were all taught to act healthy. In elementary school you are taught on what to eat and to exercise by playing a sport or evenn just walking. In society today most people are just plain lazy. Some may say that they work too much and when they are done they just want to eat and go to sleep. Well those people just need that extra push to care about their body and health enough to go to the gym and run or lift weights. I think America does everything it can to promote being healthy it's just up to the people if they actually want to follow through with it.

Caduceus01 said...

Cancer has probably touched everone of us in some way; a friend, relative, or even one's own self. My mother died of pancreatic cancer some years ago. When she was finally diagnosed with pancreatic cancer after months of seeing doctors, the diagnoses of pancreatic cancer was a death sentence; only very rarely does one survive. I'm happy that Amanda was able to beat cancer, so many do not. I hope that her decision not to continue treatment works out for her. In my mother's case they had offered a treatment that might have helped but she declined. At the time. it made me very sad. A relative of mine who is a doctor set me straight saying there are worse things than dying. I was very hurt by those comments but I could see my selfessness. I wanted my mother to live, but I was not the one going through the treatment. Death consumes life as life consumes death. I am grateful, I have not had the responsibility of those decisions with a child involved. How hard that must be. I hope that in time medicine will improve and children will not have to endure the pain that cancer causes.

Athena Smith said...

Caduceus01

I am very sorry for your loss.

Athena Smith said...

irishqt7 and Darren
Keep staying strong!

To all
We do have the best medical care in the world but at the same time the most expensive...

And yes, daily health courses in middle school and high school would do miracles

Tobacco-Free Florida? The greatest idea ever!

How would you react to Alcohol-Free Florida?

Disneyfreak said...

First I would like to say wow! Amanda as gone through a lot. I would like to say that it probably took a lot to stop the treatment and I respect her for doing what she thought was right for her.

Next to Da Chris, this article has to do a lot with promoting better health in America.

According to http://windowsxp-privacy.net/?id=198760105 , near the bottom of the page under prevention, it states "a lot of cancers can be avoided by not smoking, avoiding heavy drinking, and protecting yourself from UV rays." as a kid I am sure that all of us were probably drilled on how to prevent cancer, and that is promoting better health in America. Also specialist can go into schools and speak on cancer prevention. However with just as many cancers that are preventable by staying healthy, there are just as many that are not preventable and by making those known we can work to study those cancers and find ways to first treat it next we find ways to prevent it.

Finally to all who have been affected by cancer in personal ways, I truly think you are some of the strongest people in the world.

Also for any one interested on information of cancer, like how to prevent it, or the types of cancer, or risk factors please visit the site above. It has all types of information.

PunknDrublic said...

I have to agree to a point with da chris. Although there are numerous types of cancer that can be avoided there is no guarantee of a cancer free life. For example, my father was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma about 5 years ago. He is not your average patient. Most who know him consider him healthier then most men half his age. He is very active, doesn't smoke or use drugs, and eats a healthy and diverse variety of food and still faced off with cancer. Fortunatly, my father easily, or as easily as one could expect, brushed cancer aside. For my family, it wasn't so easy. I feel a great deal of sorrow for anyone who has dealt with this disease, either directly or otherwise. I feel it is important for parents, schools, and our political system to promote healthy lifestyles. However I also understand that some things are just completely unavoidable. I'll finish with something my father told me after I inquired about his mentality after chemotherapy. He said "if you focus to long on what might kill you, you won't be able to enjoy living."

keekee said...

I want to start by saying that , what I am about to say is not what I intended to write after reading this blog. My initial reaction was to write about the power of mind over matter, but after doing a little surfing on the net, I have found that its all about education! Education is the key. Most of the illness that I looked up including cancer, were preventable. Now, I understand that not everyone has access to health care and that is a big part. Educating the people about how important it is to vote and be part of the decision making in the U.S. will help. But, according to the ACS (American Cancer Society) Half of all men and one-third of all woman in the U.S. WILL develop cancer during their lifetimes. Today, millions of people are living with cancer or have had cancer. The risk of developing most types of cancer can be reduced by changes in a persons lifestyle, for example, by quitting smoking, limiting time in the sun, being physically active, and eating a better diet. Positive attitudes are great to have once you have contracted or discovered a disease. But what we need to have is a more positive outlook on our health and health education. Education is power! We teach our children about sex education, but most children that have taken the class could not tell you that HPV or cervical cancer can be attributed to multiple sex partners, sex at a young age, or the fact that some of us are born with precancerous cells, and our lifestyle can contribute to advancing the growth of these cells. Unfortunately, it’s not just limited to our children. Parents play a big part in the education process. Lead by example! I am proud to say that my youngest child is going to college to become an Oncologist to help children like Amanda Hingson

Vicki1973 said...

I think the healthcare system in America is pitiful. While eating healthy and exercising is very important, there’s more to keeping Americans healthy. As a full time student, I can't even afford health insurance. The costs are so high that even if I could afford the monthly premiums, I still wouldn't be able to afford the deductibles. There are health issues that will occur even if you maintain a healthy lifestyle. Without insurance, I can’t monitor health problems I have, which means that I can’t do anything about these problems until they become so severe that I have no other choice than seek emergency treatment. Our government has to something, and very soon, to make healthcare more affordable and more available to all Americans. Preventative healthcare is the only way to promote a healthier America.

London Skies said...

I think Amanda's story was extremely touching. And unfortunately I am sure cancer has effected everybody's lives at one point in time or another, through themselves, their families, or their friends. I think it is very sad that a large majority of Americans cannot afford health insurance. I think the cost of health insurance should be based on how much a person makes that way it would be easier for everyone to afford health insurance. As for promoting better health in America, I feel we could "promote" it all we want but in order for people to actually be healthier they need to want it for themselves. I believe a lot of Americans are obese just because fast food is "easier" or they don't want to make time to work out. Unfortunately I think a large part of the problem in America is laziness.

TooSweet08 said...

This article really hits home for me because I’m also a cancer survivor. At the time that I was diagnosed research and treatments were no where near as advanced as they are now. America has some huge flaws in its healthcare system, not so much as promoting awareness is concerned but following through with care and treatment. I just recently watched a film called Sicko and may I say my eyes were opened widely when it comes to the dealings of insurance providers. If we are to start making changes in our healthcare system it needs to begin with them. There is no reason for anyone to be walking around slowly dying just because of lack of insurance or their claim was denied for some bogus reason. These companies are making big money and their employees receiving bonuses for our misery.

Anonymous said...

I think the health issues in America are horrible. However most we can not change, I wish we would change the health policies. In 2005 47 million Americans, or 16 percent of the population, were without health insurance, and the number is still rising. Most businesses do not offer health insurance to their workers, no matter how devoted they might be to the company. I am covered by my mother’s health insurance until I am out of school, but I have to take at least 12 credit hours per semester. How is it that so many Americans are uninsured? I believe the best way to support better health for us is to not only make the entire country covered, but also make the prescriptions cheaper. In Canada the prescriptions are a significant amount less. How can we promote better health for the Americans? My input is to cover all the citizens, and make the medications more affordable.

Athena Smith said...

Alexis
So glad you are doing great!

Tpetguru
I order most of my medicatons from Greece. The co-pay for my daughter's medication is $30, the total cost in Greece for the same stuff just $3.


Punkndrublic
I am happy to hear your dada is ok!

Athena Smith said...

Disneyfreak
Thanks for the site!

Keekee
You bet education is power!

Athena Smith said...

Many of you complained about our coverage system that leaves 47 million uninsured. Totally uninsured. They are not covered by Medicaid as they are not poor. So to get an idea what other industrialized countries are doing please read this site by PBS

Caduceus01 said...

Dr Smith:

I think you may be on to something regarding banning tobacco and alcohol in the state of Florida. Probably best to start with alcohol verses tobacco. I think we may have already milked that one pretty well given they have been sued for about one trillion dollars thus far. So if we could create a tax or just sue the alcohol companies out right. Let see the state of Florida won a law suit against tobacco companies for about 300 billion and thats been ten years ago so considering inflation we could go after big alcohol for say half a trillion or make ir a trillon. So where's the logic behind my thoughts. Innocent people die everyday due to alcohol related car accidents,and that just the tip of the iceberg and I mean the tip. Domestic violence etc,etc, I could go on forever regarding how alcohol has changed peoples lives. The manufacturers of these products know that use of their products kill innocent people and change peoples lives evry day. So, sounds like a good idea to me. We could balance the state budget without putting the burden on the general public. So really the only one's that would be penalize would be those who drink. Isn't funny how people tend to go after things that our unimportant to them "NIMBY". All kidding aside I would like to see the alcohol companies be taken to task regarding their products. Unfortunately to many people drink and therefore it would be much more difficult to demonize the product as was done to tobacco. Typically, there needs to be a minority using the products so as to allow those of us who do not utilize the product to come from a postion of superiorority. I am surprised that we have not gone after these companies given the harm and havock they have created in so many innocent peoples lives (i,e, the lives of people involved in car accidents that hadn't even been drinking they were just driving down the road and in the wrong place at the wrong time and these accidents are generally life changing).I don't know that I would be able to come from a position of sarcasm and wit had I lost a child or loved one to a drunk driver. I would like to remind people that we were up in arms regarding second hand smoke and its effects on innocent bystanders and its effects on their health. Mean while secondary smoke does not kill instantly. Alcohol does! Yet little or no admonishment is given, like was given to tobacco. Odd don't you think. Guess its hard to throw stones from a glass house. A bit of sarcasm and a bit of truth. Thoughts?

Enigma Breeze said...

Health issues in America are a big deal that needs to be dealt with immediately. In my opinion, Americans are some of these most unhealthiest people. Of course it is very easy to be unhealthy what with all the fast food restaurants America offers. It's cheaper and more convenient than cooking a healthy meal, so why not? Even with all the efforts to Go Green and eat raw foods and etc. it's still a big mass of people not doing so increasing the obesity count. Another issue than that is the way the media portrays how people are supposed to look. Not everyone is a size 2 but when you look at celebrities that's all you really see. It's sad and ridiculous that so many young girls are having eating disorders because they think anything above a 4 is overweight. People are made differently and that's okay. If television and magazines are going to show how people look then they should show all of types of them. The worst health issue that America needs to solve is healthcare and insurance. It is so expensive to have insurance and even more expensive to pay for treatment when your insurance isn't good enough. Gas itself is like a new utility bill and extra money for small accidents is often not had by many people. The economy today makes buying gas, food, or going to the doctor seem like serious life decisions. "Do I want to eat today or take care of this broken leg? Oh I can't do either b/c I need gas to get to work." Okay that may be a little exaggerated but health insurance is something the government needs to make more affordable or free.

dragonfly said...

My view on health care is that people who live in America has the advantage to some type of health care.I believe that everyone has access to affordable care either through their job, purchased individually or provided by government programs. In my research it is estimated that the U.S. spent a projected $2.26 trillion on health care or $7,439 per person in 2007. It is Federal law that ensures public access to emergency services regardless of the ability to pay. Now the qestion is how to promote better health for all Americans.One answer would be regulate the amount of food commericals being aired at prime time. Most of the food commericals are marketed as healthy foods which in fact, they are very unhealthy. Foods with preservatives, a chemical substance used to preserve foods or other organic materials from decomposition or fermentation,is likely to cause some kind health problem if eaten daily for long periods of time. I feel the government needs to implement a curricium in schools to educate all school age children through the entire twelve years of school (especially early years)on food value and nutrition. This would increase the longevity and improve the quality of life of many Americans.

Sparker said...

One of the main reasons health is such a big problem to fix in America is all rooted to the way we promote or run things. Here, we are so quick promote the expansion of the fast food franchise and less on encourage better health for people. And rather than just going with the flow like many would do, it would be best to create a desire to become healthy. And this is where things get 'complicated,' as in some people don't have the time to exercise, they don't think it will help, and the list of excuses just keep piling from here. One way to promote better health would to increase the awareness of it through the way other popular things are advertised. It sounds weird, but that is one way people will begin to at least alowly begin to build a desire to become healthy.

Bluefieldstana said...

First of all I want to say to Amanda that I am proud of her and that I understand the pain that she had to go trough. I lost my little brother when he was six year old. It was painful to see him cry and without knowing what it was for several years. The doctors did everything for him but it was too late because the tumor grew larger after the surgery. I am from Central America where we do not have the same technology that we have here in the United State, but still a lot of children suffer because of this decease. It is hard for me to talk about this but I realized that we all need to pay attention on what our body is telling us. A classmate in one of my classes said that her child was suffering from headache and nauseas for several months. The doctor told her that it was nothing serious. After two years they found a tumor in her little boy head, and unfortunately it was too late because he died after the surgery. Whit this example I learned that doctors are not always right; it’s doesn’t mater if they have the best technology in the entire world. We are human and we often make mistake and doctors are not the exceptions. I do respect all the work that doctors and scientist are doing.

bellabelle66 said...

I believe that our society lacks the want to better their own health and focus on the unimportant, which is worrying about being thin and modeling ourselves after celebrity's. I think that is the biggest concern on many people's minds and they don't stop to think that your health and well-being should come first.

I think that the media has turned around some and helped raise awareness on some health issues like the truth ads, the Cheerio's commercial promoting better cholesterol. I read an article a few weeks ago that the state of, I think but I'm not sure, Ohio was going to pass a law that stated if you were overweight you had to begin paying a fee yearly until you dropped under a normal BMI number. They are giving all those a year in advance to lose the weight before they are being made to pay. This state also already passed the law that if you are a smoker you must pay a yearly fee as well. While I do believe those are extreme measures to take, if it works then I applaud their efforts in taking such concern about their community.

blogger59 said...

I commend Amanda, and all the cancer survivors that are willing to create greater opportunities for themselves and continue to help others. This is one of many ways we can promote better health for all Americans.

Secondly if one person out of each household volunteered in any fashion, for any health event that is directed to educate and support the community, then we would be able to reach more people with less cost. I have attended various infomercials conducted by many local health organizer, that offer great resource for people how are willing to just show up. Moffit is a great resource for offering public educational seminars

I would like to add that the people who are VOTING, and even those who can not, collectively we should be able to help the Legislators create some type of Health Benefits. If again, one person in each household wrote a letter or petition stating we want affordable health Insurance, then our Governor would be willing to fight for our needs.
Recently, Governor Charlie Crist said, “Florida's 3.8 million uninsured residents could have the option to purchase low-cost, low-coverage and state-approved health plans from private insurance companies. But the plan needs approval from the Legislature.”
See;
http://www.charliecrist.com/news.php?id=87

In Closing I would like to mention the short documentary on Fast Food. Titled:” Supper Size Me”, It was mentioned that the reason we do not get bombarded with Fruit & Vegetable commercials all day long, is because the Health Organizations have less Corporate $$ to spend, then the conglomerates.

If we are what we eat, and we are what we think, and we keep doing the same thing, what could possibly happen?

How about a Date on Nov. 8 @ HCC, Lets walk & talk while we still can for those who cannot. PEACE

Anonymous said...

Wow! Thats so great that she is healthy now. It takes a very strong person to get through something of that sort! She is very admirable for all shes been through and for wanting to help and be with children who are going through the same things she went through.

As far as my opinions on health issues, i think that it is horrible when you have to hear about someone who is fighting cancer and other serious diseases. It breaks my heart to hear about these children in the hospitals who are sick, and adults as well.

Although I know some diseases are preventable, some arent. So, what can we really do to prevent the ones that are unpreventable? As far as cancer goes, all we can really do is raise awareness, raise money to try to find the cures for all the different types.

As far as other diesases go, raising the idea of eating and excerising to the public is a great idea! Very much like the "Go Green" promotion that has been extrememly popular this year we should focus on the issue of getting america healthy. We should promote it all over the tvs and advertize america becoming healthy and cut back on all the advertizing of the fast food resturants and unhealthy things of that sort.

The way i see it is if it is something that can be prevented we should do everything in our power to prevent all the diesases and suffering. On the other hand, if it cant be prevented we should do everything we can to raise and provide money for the research to find the cure.

pachrique said...

There are a lot of things people can do to promote better health in America. The first I would like to point out is diet. Americans have a horrible problem with being over-weight. I believe we rely on comfort and take advantage of our fast food resturants far too much.

Another thing is that we are too lazy. Most Americans do not regularly visit a densit or doctor. When it comes to gender, both males and females forget to get to check their beast and testicles for cancer once a month as suggested.

As professor Smith said, there is the heart walk on November 8th, but there is also the breast cancer walk on november 1st. (save the tatas.) Also, there is the Relay for Life in April/March. Which is for the American Cancer Society.

If you want more info on any of these events you can come to the honors lounge which is located in the science building, or the PTK lounge which is located in the front of the BACA building facing the court yard. Sorry i dont have the room numbers but they both have signs on the door/in the window.

Anonymous said...

This topic hits me hard today. My grandma just passed away this morning at 8 am from battling cancer. She was a trooper through chemo.
Health care in a America is a lot better here than other parts of the world. You have to remember that we are very fortunate to live here and have what we have. We are sometimes ignorant with what we call bad health care. Yes sometimes there is a problem but the healthiest people who didn't smoke, drink, and were in great shape still were diagnosed with a disease.

I believe starting better health for all would start in schools. I schools are starting to get better at educating about proper foods to eat, exercising daily, and health classes. I believe America is already on the right track by how fast foods are selling salads and substituting the greasy fries for a baked potato or something that is healthier.
So stay active and eat properly.

R.I.P. Grandma

Jason Raimondo said...

The key to promoting greater overall health in all Americans begins with information and ends with access. From the earliest age American children should be bombarded with information about eating healthy. When I was in elementry school, I recall learning all about the food pyramid, and exercise. As a child I would do the same thing that many kids do. I would go home, nag my parents about the food pyramid, and inquire as to why we weren't covering all of our food group bases. As a result my irritated parents would prepare a more rounded meal in order to avoid their child going to school and claiming that he was malnurished. This used to be common practice in schools, and hopefully still is.
Educating children is always a good idea, but informing parents is more difficult. While the media is filled with tips for healthy eating and the hard facts about the food we eat, I have to wonder how many adults take these warnings seriously.
You tell adults that smoking will most likely kill them, and yet many (including myself) still smoke. You can tell Americans that fried foods, trans fats, and sugar will lead them down an expressway to obesity and diabetis, but they still want to eat buffalo wings and drink a pile of beer while enjoying a football game.
Because unhealthy behavior is so prevalent in a culture that is saturated with information, I truely feel that America has an old mental addiction to an unhealthy lifestyle. Cheeseburgers, pizza, apple pie, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, bigger, better, tastier, even the Wendy's Baconator, we are subconsciously pounded with unhealthy choices, and an overlying idea that these choices are both fun and satisfying. Why does a 27 year old, experienced health care worker smoke heavily? Because long ago, an ignorant 15 year old child viewed smoking as something worth doing. Addictions are difficult to overcome even with information and medication. Therefore, it only makes sense to me that this trend of inactivity, poor diet, and eventual obesity in Americans must be rooted in a mental addiction.
If your child is being mentally stimulated by videogames, while it's body is being destroyed by inactivity, then it may be a good idea to shut the games off and encourage your child to play sports. It is also important to exercise yourself. Leading by example is usually the best policy.
Also I feel that access to good healthcare for ALL Americans is absolutely necessary if we as a people are going to become more physically fit. TV, and computers are frequently the sources of misinformation, and may not be viewed by many as reliable sources of information. However, a Doctor is viewed as a trusted, and respected source of information. If your doctor says that you are developing asthma from smoking, then most people will feel as though quitting has just become crucial.
Also, when your doctor says that you are becoming overweight, and unhealthy, he or she has the resources to send you to a dietician to help you work out a plan for eating properly. The doctor can also recommend some exercises that will be easy on your back, knees or other problematic areas that are frequently used as an excuse for inactivity.
We live in a nation that has the most advanced medical research in the world. Time and again the United States is at the forefront of medical breakthroughs, but we are also the only modern post industrial nation on earth with such limited access to health care. In my mind, being healthy begins with knowing what healthy is, and how to get there, and ends with the access to healthcare for everyone.

Jessica said...

I think personal health is on a case by case basis. There are ideal weights to prevent diseases but one has to remember that what is good for some of the population is not good for others. or example, I am overweight... but my health has no faltered in the least. I am never sick, have no medical issues, and I have never been limited in movement, healthcare and other such things. Promoting health has all to do with appealing to people's wants rather than just their needs. After all, free will is what guides the world.

On the topic of that is the fact of how expensive healthy food is. Over the summer I went on a liquid diet and ate only healthy soups like miso and tofu. However, when I was at Ringling college people would opt for ramen or those soup cups over a pack of miso (which has three packets inside for the servings) which is not that much more expensive. Health has often become a vehicle for the wealthy as unhealthy food is cheaper to produce and therefore cheaper to buy.

Another problem I believe our country faces is the lack of healthcare. Only recently was I put back onto my father's insurance and for such, when I had an abscess in my drawing hand a year ago, I had to go to the emergency room. Being I am always strapped for money, I still have that bill haunting me as I struggle to pay the meager five hundred dollars along with my spring semester tuition. Worse for other people is the complete inability to get insurance and waiting with their health issues until it becomes far too late. What could be a small problem becomes a much larger problem when someone shrugs off a condition because they don't feel they have the money to deal with it.

goodriddens said...

Of all the bad things in the world there are I hate cancer the most of them all. I don't know why americans pay more attention to it than we do. I know we have various groups out there that are dedicated to helping to find a cure to it but why only a few? I know in the current economic crisis we are in it would be hard to do, but we need to put gov't money into various research programs to find a cure to cancer. Even if it is just one form of it. Imagine the lives and pain it would save. My mom died when I was five because of cancer, and that hurt I was little and after her death I grew up with no mother, can you imagine it? Yes she fought and had various treatments liek chemo and surgery, but no available treatment saved her. We need to put money to find a cure for it like we did yellow fever and small pox and save lives. It would be hard but we can do it.

And in order to do this we need to increase awareness on the various things that help promte cancer, like tobacco. I know we have commercials that are anti-smoking and the general surgens warnign on tabacco product. But we should discourage the consumers from buying it by increasing the sin tax we already have on these products.... I don't know what we should do for sure but we need to find a cure for it BAD.

skeletor said...

I believe Amanda's story helps to promote better awareness. i think that more can be done to help increase the awareness of cancer. There are groups in today who trys hard to get the message out but they lack support. Because cancer is unavoidable so all we can do is become more active in the way we treat take health. moreover, if people believe that decision petaining to there health should be base on what they think is best for them. finally, i admire Amanda bravery in declining the aditional treatment even when the doctors believe it was wrong. In her effocts to take her health responsiblity in control she became a very stong and and inspirational person, this will help a lot of people who has cancer cope with making life treating decision a little easier.

sally soltau said...

I thought Amanda's story was really touching, and i couldn't be any happier for her succumbing her challenge. Cancer is not a rare and i am sure many people know about it. Sometimes no matter what you do, how healthy you are, you end up being diagnosed with a type of cancer. Yes, i have to agree that some cancers are preventable, but that is due to their carelessness. I haven't experienced cancer, but i have family members who have, and i agree it is one of the scariest things to go through. when my mother went for a check up and had a lump in her chest, there was no joking about it, i really thought i was going to loose her forever. However, it was benign. After i thought all the drama was over, my aunt had the same problem, however, hers was cancerous! She went through chemo and radiation, and is cancer free, or at least for the time being. My uncles fiance, also battled cancer, she had a double mastectomy and after three years, there are signs of cancer again! I have been very traumatized by these events that i started to watch out, and keep notice for unusual sign on my body. It is true that once you are aware of it and it scares you to death, you tend to want to be careful. Students need to have a better health education in school. I know for sure that my health class was a joke. No one takes it serious. This goes for many different illnesses not only cancer. Parents should also inform their children of illnesses. Sex education! The only person who knows their body well is the you. Don't wait to the last minute to talk about problems after it gets worse.

Athena Smith said...

Caduceus01

Our policy towards narcotics is bordering on lunacy.
The most addictive narcotics, by far, are nicotine and alcohol. Both legal.
The least addictive is marijuana. You go to jail for that.

The latest craze is about meth and ecstasy. Both can be manufactured in one's kitchen.

But the big numbers as we speak are not coming from neither alcohol, nor meth, nor cigarettes but straight from your medicine cabinet. Even for teenagers as they "borrow" from their parents' medicine cabinet on a daily basis.

Watch this video and then watch this drug dealer's testimonial

I do not know what the solution is. After all, we are supposed to believe in free will and take responsibility for our actions

.

Athena Smith said...

It is very hard to see how many of you experienced a personal loss. Bluefieldstana and baseballer 8132, I am very sorry.


Pachrique
Why don’t you make an announcement in class? Let’s see if we can walk as a group!

vertuxa said...

Without a doubt America has the best medical system in the world. However, it also has a growing population that is destined to contract a major decease or medical condition that is and should be avoided. The explanation for this is simple, and it boils down to one word – money. Let’s take a look at the television, the main method of the communication to the millions of Americans. The standard commercial sequence is junk food, drugs, more junk food. One type of multi-billion dollar corporations are bombarding us with advertisements on products that will make us sick, and the other type of the corporation will sell us medicine to make it all better. If this is not a commerce driven and well coordinated propaganda then I don’t know what is.

Cancer is a horrible decease, unfortunate and unpredictable. With billions of dollars sunk into cancer related research it is hard to believe the cure has not been found. Or has it? My personal opinion is that while there is money to be made then it will be so. And Amanda Hingsons of the world will just have to wait…

mp88 said...

First of all I would like to say how strong and courageous Amanda was while battling to fight cancer. My grandfather had passed away from Lung Cancer, and he never smoked anything in his life. The doctors didn't find out until he was in his last stage of cancer. The hardest thing for me to hear was that they couldn't do anything about it. I saw how strong people can be when they have cancer because they don't want to show how much pain they are in.

Amanda's story was very inspiring. She has gone through so much at a very young age, and now she is following her own dreams. I think that stories like these can make people see how important health is and just because it hasn't happened to you, doesn't mean that it can't. One way to help to promote better health is to stop having every other advertisement on TV to be a fast food restaurant commercial. I think that there is always more that we can do to help promote health, but we just don’t have the time to do it.

TACK Ministry said...

Poor health is an issue that affects all of us at some point and time. Whether it is our own personal health challenge, or that of a loved one, we all cringe at the day it comes to our door! As far as what I think about health in America and what can be done to promote better health, I believe that the first place to start would be in our diets. There seems to be no shortage of food, healthy and otherwise that is available to us in this country. The portion sizes grow larger at every establishment as businesses seek to increase their patronage which in turn increases their profatibility. However, between outrageous portion sizes, processed foods, and outrageously expensive healthy alternative items, it seems most have no choice than to become obese. Obesity increases the risk in all of us to become susceptible to a variety of health risks, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart complications, some cancers, and the list goes on and on. So in closing if I had were to suggest ways to promote better health it would begin with modifying the messages that we send in advertisments and commericials. Slowly changing people mindsets about the way they think of food, lowering the prices of fresh foods and vegetables, not charging more to leave the chemicals out than add them in (?? that has never made sense to me)! Changing our diets could be the first step to a happier, lighter, and healthier America.

Rose said...

Well to start, I must say that we live in a microwavable society. Everthing is instant back down to the coffee. Nothing has to cooked anymore, just pull up to a drive through and order, or put in the microwave and heat up. We all are well aware of what to eat or what not to eat, but in the end the choice is up to that individual, and as sad as it may seem, the majority of the time we choose not to eat healthy.
Its so sad that everytime you look at the television you see commercials advertising unhealthy foods and even alchohol. The thing that gets me most is that commercials say drink responsibly. In my opinion this country makes people sick on purpose just to make money. I might be wrong, but let me explain. Without sick people doctors and hospitals would be out of business. They advertise cigarettes and you get lung cancer, throat cancer and whatever other cancers that smoking can give you. In the mean while they have all these facilities with treatments.
I believe that commercials should instead of advertising fast foods every commercial break, they should advertise more fruits and vegetables and water. People have a way of wanting to buy what they see on television.... The sad thing is that fast food restaurants spend the most money on commercials.
If we care enough about our bodies and what we put in it the better we would feel. Not to say that we can't still be diagnose with cancer, but at least you know you did right concerning your body, because you only have one life to live.

clalexa said...

My personal opinion is that as wellness, health promotion, and disease prevention awareness increases in the United States a strong emergence of holistic movement is changing the perception of health from absence of disease to a broader definition of wellness. Wellness is based on a belief that each person has an optimal level of function, and that even in chronic illness and dying some level of well-being is attainable. Wellness involves achieving a balance between an individual’s emotional, spiritual, social, cultural, and physical state.
As a health care professional I considered that health promotion focuses on a positive approach to health, which emphasizes a person’s strengths, resources, and abilities. Primary prevention stresses exercise for a prevention of cardiovascular disease, falls and depression. Adults that quit smoking can reduce the risk of heart disease, as well as improve lung function and circulation. A well-balance diet without excess sugar, fat, or alcohol is another important aspect of primary prevention.
Secondary prevention is another important aspect of the overall picture for wellness which includes early detection and treatment of disease such as screening for heart disease and hypertension, cancer, infectious disease, polypharmacy (misuse of multiple medications), nutrition, oral health, osteoporosis, falls and social isolation.
The traits we have to follow to achieve a highest level of wellness possible are the following: self-responsibility, nutritional awareness, physical fitness, stress management and environmental sensitivity. These and more information are listed under the Healthy People 2010 www.healthypeople.gov

truth08 said...

To promote better health care we have to get rid of a lot of the advertising for all the fast food restaurants. Yeah its easy to go to McDonalds or burger king when you don’t feel like cooking anything. But after awhile it becomes unhealthy and a bad habit. I mean I have to admit I find myself eating fast food at least 4-5times a week. And I have realized that I need to stop because its so unhealthy but yet so convenient.

But I would also like to acknowledge the girl in the article Amanda on how brave she was to go through all of that. I cant even imagine how hard that was for her to make those decisions. And I just find it great how she was able to get through it and now wants to help others that are going through what she went through.

ehendry89 said...

Honestly i dont think America or Americans them selves are putting forth enough effort to solve health issues. or even to recognize them! now you turn on the news and all you hear is about childhood obesity, or how a person had to be forklifted out of their house. now i can admit that some issues you really cant help, for instance, cancer. i know doctors are researching methods to find cures for it, as well as other diseases that occur. which im sure millions of people are thankful for, but what about health issues that can be controlled? for instance, smoking, and obesity. there arent cures for those except to not smoke or over eat. and for some reason whenever i hear anything on the news about obesity, all i can think is that its their fault! noone forced you to go to mc donalds and eat a greasy hamburger. noone forced you to feed your children chocolate milk before bed, or candy, or greasy foods! its stupid on americans to ruin the one body that they are ever going to have. it sounds like im getting a little off subject so ill get back on it. my personal opinion on health issues is that America is too busy to realize what is actually going on. we are too busy to realize how much damage we are causing to ourselves and others or even to our environment. i think that maybe if everyone slowed down and realized what was actually going on around us or to us, we wouldnt have such a big issue with health, we just need to open our eyes.

J3NNii3 BABii3 said...

In my opinion i cant see us bettering our health situations because first off you will always have those people who run our fast food chains.We will also always have those people who have that menatality " i know its bad for me but i rather die or go out happy or doing what i love." Its pretty sad that when it comes down to it, it takes a life threating experience for any american to shape up. I cant sit here and fully agree that we have a problem promoting better health because i see the signs and ads every where.I mean come on they make us sit through a health class basically all year in high school. It just matters if your that person who can surpass the bad stuff. (fast food, smoking, etc ). I think when it comes down to it, its basically in the hands of the beholder whether we preach about it or not. I also want to add that when it comes to our health care with cancer i think we are doing great. We are trying to find cures with the money and resources we have now. And i honestly think the day we do find the cure will be sooner than we expect it...

johnsonb said...

Amanda's story hit home with me because I had just dealt with the exact same issue in my family this past year. I was raised primarily by my grandmother, and in the middle of last semester, she was in the middle of her treatment for multiple myeloma, a cancer of the bone marrow. Her experiences were a lot like amanda's only a little worse. My grandmother was in a coma for 10 days, her kidneys shut down, as well as her lungs. It has been quite some time, and she has recovered. she is in full remission even though the journey was gruesome. She was so determined. She told me once day: "I don't understand why people say why me? why me?...I say why not me?" She was so happy, and smiling all through out the procedures because she "knew she was in good hands" Bottom line: healthcare in the united states is far better than a lot of other coutries. I believe that we are on the right track as far as improving the healthcare system, and I understand that such improvements will take time. Rome was not built in a day. Just be happy that you have what you got!

Brian H said...

first off, i would like to say although cancer isnt exactly cureable at this point in time, it has been rendered a "livable disease" i think we should create more aweareness in society to prevent the spread of this epidemic, and to furthermore promote healthy lifestyles in people.

how do we promote healthy lives and awarness? by showing people what their dealing with. we could show the death rates in correlation with smoking and other carnogens, and even how the pulloted air radiates dangerous "free radicals", which cause cell damage and cancer. we could also explain how eating healthy can prevent illness and disease. i belive we should have better awarness programs for people so that they can live thier healthy lives, hopefully cancer or disease free.

Athena Smith said...

I received the following story from Gator Gal who has problems posting it. Another very brave student!

"When I was 17 I was diagnosed with Pituitary Macroadenoma! It's a tumor bigger then 10mm. Mine was 18mm which was big for this type of tumor. I was also the youngest patient to be diagnosed with this type of tumor. It's commonly found in people ages 30 and older! I also had rare symptoms; I had headaches way worse then you could possibly imagine for three weeks straight , that didn't go away with anytype of medication. My parents didn't believe I was sick because when I was younger i faked it alot like most kids to get out of school. I would go to school and sleep through all my classes and cry when I wasn't sleeping. the story goes on.
If it weren't for my teachers and the nurses at my school I probably would have just waited to see if there was any change. Instead they told me that if there was something abnormal with my daily functions that I should get it checked out because I know my body better then anyone else. That's when my parents started to believe me because I told them it was bad enough I'd pay for the doctor's visit; plus I stopped eating for awhile because it was hard to eat! If I wouldn't have gone to the doctor's then I could be blind right now and have brain trama.
I was suppose to have surgery January 2007. I went in that morning got completely ready for surgery then 5 minutes before I was suppose to go under my doctor came in and explained to me that my tumor shrank to 10mm. He then explained alot more! I was brave through this whole thing. I wasn't scared that I had a tumor or that I was having surgery! I still have to go back every 3 months for the next 3 years for MRIs and MRAs to check on it. other then that I'm doing way better then alot of patients with this type of tumor have done.
I believe that if it weren't for schools teaching students to check on themselves and to be able to tell if something is wrong, alot of students would be off worse. Schools teach of health issues and what to be aware of! This has helped many people that I know of over the past several years!"

Aboylan said...

Americans look to the fast food and sweets for convenience and nothing more.I have cut out the fast food and soda and I can actually feel the difference in my energy levels and in general i just feel better about myself. I work in a grocery store and I see different parents come in with their young children who are obviously over weight,and they are buying Little Debbies and soda. I don't think some parents understand the idea of what they feed their children now is going to effect the in the long run. I know the government has different programs in place to try and give the education needed but some people just don't take advantage of it. No one can really help anyone else with their health until they want to help themselves. People can give you all the advice on how to eat healthier, excursive, and take a multi vitamin but no one is going to stand over you and make you do those things. Its up to the person.

cale87 said...

My thoughts about the health issues in America is that we do not take care of ourselves because we all know that eating too much fast food will affect our health but we really don’t care, and still eat a lot. We only go to the clinic if there is something wrong with us not because we what to check our health like it supposed to be. We also have to exercise every day at least thirty minutes and we are too lazy to do it, we even go to the supermarket or any other place even though is really near your house and it won’t take you to long to get there. I believe that by making all Americans go to the doctor at least two times a year to check how your health is doing and teaching every American how to take care of their selves, also teaching every American to exercise or at least walk a lot during the day instead of leaving the care right in front of the store leave it a little bit farther. We also have eat healthy and the United States have to do something about all the fast food restaurant by making them to create a healthier and balance menu, and also make them use good oil and don’t used it more than once because that’s what make it worse.

Alaine said...

Promoting better health for all Americans have been an issue itself for a numerous amount of years. A lot of strategies have been implemented to help make Americans healthier people, such as physical education and physical activities, etc. Yet still most of the population remains unfit and increasingly overweight.
Is there anything new under the sun that can help with these health issues? Probably. But I believe that the main problem here is the people. We as a people need to realize that we cannot keep on living this type of lifestyle (eating fast food everyday) and hope that we do not suffer from its consequences. No matter how much promotion, no matter how educated we become about our health issues, if we are not determined and have that willingness to be a healthier America. We will never be. Therefore I think that the best strategy right now is to get people determined about their health and to help encourage one another to better themselves

crguy73 said...

This issue is emotional for me. My girlfriend Sarah went through almost the same issue when she was 10 years old. Unfortunately her cancer was caught in an advanced stage. She had bone cancer in her upper right femur. The cancer was wrapped around her femoral artery and had spread to her lungs. She had a 10% chance of living. Desperate to improve her chances of survival, she went to a hypnotherapist who miraculously unwrapped the cancer from her artery. After 21 different surgeries which included a total right knee replacement and rounds of chemotherapy she finally beat her cancer. I do not know how she managed to beat this disease. She is the strongest willed person I have ever known.

This goes to show how modern medicine has helped people survive through unpredictable events. Childhood cancer affects many children and the only thing that can give these children a better chance of survival is cancer screening and cancer awareness. If you catch cancer early on it is much easier to defeat.

Consumers these days are bombarded by the media when it comes to food. When I see a fast food commercial on TV it makes me want to eat there instead of making food at my house. What we need to do as a society is to educate our youth that it is okay to indulge in these fast food excursions occasionally but we must emphasize proper nutrition. There is a reason for the food pyramid and it is not hard to understand. Unfortunately, some people say that they do not have the time to cook. Maybe if those people spent less time watching TV or surfing the internet then they could set aside 30mins to 1 hour to cook a healthy meal. It is a matter of personal choice; to be lazy or not.

beren1hand3 said...

my number one thought on the health issues this country faces is the insanity of the health "industry". the very thought that there are seriously ill Americans not receiving proper health care because they can't afford it sickens me. poor, ill Americans must be given health care, in fact all Americans must be given health care. i don't care if your a smoking, drinking, fast food junkie couch potato, your life is still a valuable resource to this country and you deserve to be as healthy as you can be given your life style. if a person is sick and a cure exists that person should be offered the cure free of charge. Yes, i'm saying free health care provided by the government is long over due in this country. Many people say the government doesn't have the money to make this happen, but i say this; whats more important a persons life or a highway? the well being of sick Americans or democracy for Iraq? the existence of fellow humans or the existence of the CIA. it won't be easy, it will require great minds to find revolutionary solutions, it will require billions of dollars, and it will require time, but as long as people are growing more ill and dieing because their poor we as a society cannot rest. people need our help, it's time they got it.

sylvia said...

I believe that the best way to promote better health in America is to increase awareness of health issues and encourage early detection of diseases.
Stories like this serve as eye-openers for people to understand that health problems can affect anyone at any time and point in their life. Too many people go through their lives acting as if they are invincible, thinking that they could not be facing an illness or disease since they’re young, active, or simply because it doesn’t seem to be in their genetics. People need to be aware that cancer, diabetes, and heart problems, as with any other disease, can happen to anyone.
Another thing that leads to poor health among Americans is people not going to the doctor, either because of a negative stigma attached to doctors, or because they do not have the insurance coverage and money to see a doctor, except for in life-threatening situations. This lets problems go undetected for possibly years, and experts agree that early detection and treatment of diseases is crucial to a full and speedy recovery.
Being exposed to people’s personal stories; people from all walks of life, ages, and backgrounds, who have battled various diseases can help raise awareness, and tax breaks for people with health insurance could encourage people to stay insured so that they can afford to go to the doctor.

sylvia said...

I believe that the best way to promote better health in America is to increase awareness of health issues and encourage early detection of diseases.
Stories like this serve as eye-openers for people to understand that health problems can affect anyone at any time and point in their life. Too many people go through their lives acting as if they are invincible, thinking that they could not be facing an illness or disease since they’re young, active, or simply because it doesn’t seem to be in their genetics. People need to be aware that cancer, diabetes, and heart problems, as with any other disease, can happen to anyone.
Another thing that leads to poor health among Americans is people not going to the doctor, either because of a negative stigma attached to doctors, or because they do not have the insurance coverage and money to see a doctor, except for in life-threatening situations. This lets problems go undetected for possibly years, and experts agree that early detection and treatment of diseases is crucial to a full and speedy recovery.
Being exposed to people’s personal stories; people from all walks of life, ages, and backgrounds, who have battled various diseases can help raise awareness, and tax breaks for people with health insurance could encourage people to stay insured so that they can afford to go to the doctor.

Bobby Allen said...

I think that the health issue in America is very important and should be stressed to a max. There are many forms of cancer out there, some that can't be cured but also many that can be slowed and even avoided. Smoking can be stopped without doing it. Skin cancer by protecting yourself can be prevented. Other forms of health problems can avoided through teaching. We should use it in the way of almost using the scary forms of how these health problems can hurt us. If we nip these problems in the bud, we can stop many problems before they take more people then they should have. We can do this through teaching and other forms of education I believe.

Anonymous said...

Americans are extremely unhealthy and uneducated about health. Too much of our healthcare is guided by rich pharmaceutical companies and a government that enables them. There are so many things we can do to prevent life threatening diseases.
Take for instance, heart disease. If I’m not mistaken, it is one one of the leading killers of Americans today. A lot of these cases are preventable. I work in a doctor’s office and the majority of heart patients are overweight, and still not doing anything. These people are given drugs and sent on their way.
The side effects of these drugs can also be life threatening. Years ago my grandfather had high blood pressure. He was given the choice to either die of a heart attack or take a blood thinner and die from that. What kind of choice is this? Why aren’t we making real treatments? Why are we concentrating on suppressing symptoms instead of treating the cause?
There are so many ways to make ourselves better that we just do not have access to. Have any of you heard of chelation? Most likely no, as my spell check though it was a spelling error. It is officially an IV treatment for lead poisoning. This IV treatment has been under research for years because so many doctors have seen it decrease impossible amounts of plaque blockages off of ateries without one knife cut. The government has yet to recognize this effect and will not cover the costs of treatment. The treatment runs about $120 a week. It seems recently that the government has found a problem with the release forms in the 5th year of the study and has decided to sue the study. That, sounds very fishy.
In summary, my perfect world we would have access to real treatments. We would learn about prevention and healthy diet early on in life, not when we are suffering the diseases caused by terrible our habits. Healthy food would be affordable and not looked down upon or seen as gross. Ingredients like MSG would be banned. Sweeteners would be revealed for what they truly are and not mass produced for that low calorie diet you’re trying to achieve. If we could do all that, we would be a much healthier country.

jojo47 said...

i think that what they need to do in america is to increase peoples knowledge of all the illnesses and diseases that are out there and that are so easy to prevent.If people were more aware of how to prevent illnesses then maybe less people would become ill. Also a big part of why people are getting ill is because people here in america are very very lazy! If people worked out more, prepared they're own meals at home instead of fast food, werent too lazy to actually put on sunscreen,and so many other small things they could do to improve,then this would definitely be a much healthier country.
So i think that to improve health and promote better health here in america, we ned to find a way to make americans excited about getting healthy and taking care of themselves better.

HarlequinMask said...

I don't think that America is "promoting better health" in any way. Take a drive around town and you'll see what I mean. What's with all the fast food restaraunts any more? That's all I see, anywhere I go anymore. Supply and demand? Bullcrap. America has the highest percentage of obesity in the whole world. Why? We spoil ourselves. We say, "oh just one more won't hurt", when in actuality it will. We don't encourage our kids to go play out side anymore. Instead we give them videogames. Not even books! What kid even reads anymore?! But that's a whole different story. Come on. Get real. A video game is NOT excercise. No matter how much it makes you get up and move.

America relies too much on technology and quickness to promote healthy lifestyles, or even just health.

Athena Smith said...

crguy73

Your girlfriend's story was indeed inspirational!

ARamadhan said...

What are your thoughts on health issues? How can we promote better health for all Americans?

In modern age history health has become number one priority on all agendas. Human beings have become exposed to more types of diseases and sicknesses due to technological advancements. As mankind progresses scientifically, new substances are introduced; some of these substances cause direct harm to mankind, while others affect human beings’ health indirectly. Some chemical substances that are intended to make life easier, convenient, and more efficient, pose serious health risks. Human bodies seem to have become more fragile and weak towards illnesses. That is perhaps due to the fact that the body does not develop its immunity naturally.
The health system in the USA is one of the best health systems in the world. Despite of the flaws in it and the inequality, where the rich gets better health care than the poor, it still remains a good example of how health care should be constructed. Although healthcare systems in other countries are managed and supervised by governments, that does not translate into a better functioning system. The fact that healthcare in the US is an open court for private companies to compete in makes it stand out as one of the best. This policy allows competitive services and higher standards of care. This also allows the opportunity of increased research.
Promoting better health starts in schools. There would be no other place to teach health habits and facts about the human body but in classrooms. As people grow older they tend to ignore medical advice for one reason or another. However, teaching people at a young age about beneficial health advice would most likely be wise on the long run.

Nathan Howard said...

I think America, being a fast paced country sometimes has to settle for convenience. Granted that their are healthy options out there that are just as quick many choose the wrong diet. I would say majority of americans dont treat health issues as important as we should. I think the attitude alot of us have toward health is that you can eat healthy, exercise, get checkups but in reality all this just helps "PREVENT" diseaes, it's no guarantee, and I think thats what most of us our looking for before we spend our precious time at the gym when we could be spending quality time with our family and friends. Cancer does not discriminate it can occur in somebody who is so health concious of somebody who has never exercised a day in their life. My heart goes out to everybody who has battled or is battling with cancer right now.

Blah said...

I think that the healthcare in America is not helpful to those who need it the most. Most people have to get a sort of "back upplan" to their healthcare insurance. For instance I have every type of coverage even with hospital indemnity ( if you have to be admitted to the hospital), but I still have extra coverage through an insurance company for who I work for just in case. As far as people preventing diseases, I thing there is only so much you can do. You can eat right and exercise and do everything the right way, but even the healthiest person still dies from some sort of disease. I think Americans should realize that doing certain things such as smoking, drinking or whatever thy do for leisure can affect your body, so do what's right for yourself or having some type of disease is inevitable.

TheSexyTeddyBear said...

yeah i agree with the first blog, about what does "My experience with cancer" have to do with "Promoting better health in America?". but to answer the question, my views on the health of americans is that i think we are probably one of the healthier countries on the planet, and all of the fuss and arguements about our health care should shut up and look at all the people dying and suffering in other countries... im not saying we should weaken our countries health care system but to maintain where we are at is a good place to be at because it can almost surely be worse than what it is.

Lady HCC said...
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Lady HCC said...

I think that Americans are abusing fast food and it's affecting the health of many people. I understand that we live in a country where time is money, and vise versa. Many of us battle the clock everyday and believe that we don't have the time to prepare snacks or meals at home. Health is very important. I believe that we should all find the time to exercise as much as we can, and try to chose healthier foods than what we have available at our fingertips. Eating healthier and exercising has so many benefits and can help prevent many cancers. I see so many people that are overweight and unhappy with their health and overall being, yet they order fast food everyday. I don't understand it. "Only you can better yourself." I truly believe that, and I know it can be hard, but if we have the determination we can live a healthy life and prevent many cancers and diseases.
Advertisements on TV and society are making fast food seem so acceptable these days, not realizing the health hazards that stand behind it all. They don't show all of the fat and sodium, and toxins that come in the "juicy, mouth-watering burgers and fries." It's a danger to our health and just as well as anything else, fast food should be eaten in moderation. I'm not perfect by any means, but I do care about my body and my health and I want to live a long life. When I’m 60 years old, I don't want to be on tons of medications, and in and out of the hospital for heart and liver problems. I hope that people will start to recognize just how important our health really is.

Brandon Vergara said...

I think we can better health in America by learning to eat better. Too many people are overweight or obese and death is not far. My mother is a Rn at Brandon hospitol and she takes care of the open heart sergry patients. She says that more and more people come in that are so big in weight and have had such large heart attacks. Weight should be lost and we should be awear of how others may be healthy.

alfi24 said...

Well I am not very knowledgeable on the cancer subject, as I have been fortunate enough to not have a personal experience with the disease. However I have been reading through the posts and noticed that obesity is a popular subject, which I do have quite a few opinions on. Pt4life mentioned how the media tells society that they have to look a certain way to be considered attractive. While I have heard this argument before and can understand the cons mentioned, I do not totally agree. No not everyone has to have 6-pack abs or large breasts to be attractive but, being thin is not just about being attractive, it is about being healthy. I am not saying that heavier people are unattractive but we all know that being overweight means having health risks.
I think there are many contributing factors to the increasing obesity in this country. The fact that eating out whether it be fast food or restaurants has become the norm for many young and old. There is a whole generation being raised without the knowledge of cooking or meal preparation, who will then pass this on to their children. Many young people today only associate a home cooked family meal with a special occasion or holliday. Also the portion sizes in America are absolutely outrageous. You go to a restaurant and your one person dish is brought out on a serving plate. At a fast food establishment it is all about super-sizing your meal. The "small" size beverage or fry of today is the "large" size from the past. Even the sub shops which are thought to be the healthy alternatives are now offering a large size for cheaper than a medium. Encouraging people to eat more.
Another factor is technology. Technology is contributing to obesity in many different ways. We can go all the way back to the remote control for television. Eliminating the need for getting out of your seat. Online shopping for example- you can do all of your shopping from the comfort of your own home without exerting anymore effort than necessary to click a mouse. I believe that video games play a major role. If children were raised playing outdoor games or encouraged to engage in sports rather than sitting in front of the tv or computer playing video games maybe they would develop a healthier metabolism and exercise habbits.
I also believe that the school system could be doing a lot more to help with this problem. Not just the obvious exercise programs that need to be revamped but more so the lunch menus. At my highschool many kids ate a slice of little caesars pizza, a bag of chips, a cookie and a soda EVERY day for lunch..and no one said a word to them. Their parents gave them money for lunch and they were allowed to spend it how they pleased. I think that these choices should be eliminated completely and replaced with healthier options. I also think that the snack machines and cola vending machines should be removed.
Obesity is not the only health problem in America. I also have a strong feelings regarding the legalization of Alcohol and Tobacco. Test after test after test has proved that both of these disgusting habbits pose serious health risks. So why are these things still legal? Still advertised? Why do we constantly look the other way as if they pose no risks? Alcoholism causes many more risks than just liver issues. And we all know how many different cancers are caused by tobacco products. I don't understand why these things are still around after all of the obvious threats they pose have been proven.

lacrossechic8 said...

I believe that people now dont know enough about health and children are not educated on it. We should have mandatory classes students go to, to learn about their health. I see people everywhere smoking cigarettes and going to tanning beds all the time or the beach. These things might make you think you look "cool" but in all reality it could end up killing you.

On a second note, some people cannot prevent cancer. It is hereditary and there is nothing you can do except get treatment have high faith and hope for the best. I am sorry for all of these people who have or are going through this and i am praying for you.

eney352 said...

Health issues is a very serious problem. I was watching tv the other day and a man was celebrating his 112th birthday. And i was wondering how he lived that ling. He told the news reporters that he nevers stop moving and he exercises every day. Its very important to stay healthy. Watch what you eat and exercise daily. We aren't getting any younger so it's a wise choice to stay in shape and keep on moving.
To improve healthcare i think the government should grant every citizen with some kind of health insurance account. Some of these hospital are WAY too expensive and most patients can't afford it. We don't ask for illnesses to happen to us it's just something we gotta deal with. So therefore i believe that every citizen should have a health insurance account so they can afford medical bills.

skeletor said...
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