to feel really upset about Caroline ahern and lung cancer

[sarahhammer]

I'm horrified to hear people on the radio showing no sympathy for her, just because she smokes it does not make lung cancer self inflicted!

Those who can show no sympathy for someone in such an appalling situation are not people, they are animals, to lack empathy to that extent differentiates them from the rest of us.

Nasty thread . To discuss such personal terms when they are ill . What business is it of anyone's ?
I don't get people's fascination with total strangers .

Walton not sure why you are posting on a thread about a total stranger, then. In fact most of MN is about total strangers. Do you only talk to people on here that you already know IRL?

It baffles me why people still smoke when they know the risks, somebody I know lost her husband to lung cancer yet she still smokes.

I agree Avon.

You have to be a real cunt not to have sympathy for someone suffering lung cancer.

FFS

As someone with a loved one dying of lung cancer I find the attitudes disgusting. So because she smokes she deserves cancer? My Aunt also smokes but dear god she doesn't deserve cancer. Non smokers can get lung cancer too

I love Caroline Aherne, she is a genius. I am very sad to hear she has lung cancer.

I don't think it's on to discuss the whys and wherefores of her personal health on the internet though.

Sorry to hear that Everlong

Nothing in life is that black and white and simplistic

How sad, and how awful that people can judge.
It is made clear in the bbc article that there is a genetic link to her cancers

Further, there is a lifestyle link to most cancers, but only smokers seem to incur this wrath. I am not a smoker, but I can see that amongst those I know that smoke there are complex factors affecting their ability to stop.

I have a friend who drinks to excess and I worry that the behaviour is killing him, it won't make it any less tragic when it does, in fact in some ways it makes it more so, that he is so unhappy in life he can't even stop a behaviour he knows is so destructive

She's written some wonderfully funny comedy and I wish her all the best

This is very sad. There are loads of pictures of her smoking all over the press today.

My father died of lung cancer aged 63, I still have not forgiven him for putting my mother through all the pain and misery of his illness and having to cope without him when he caused all that by his obstinate attitude to smoking.

FiL died from liver cancer and we've been asked before if he was a big drinker

What do you say to them avon?

What Avon said. You see it a lot on here and in real life, I don't do X,Y or Z. I am therefore morally superior to those who do, all of whom will probably die earlier than I of horrid disease.

Denial isn't just a river in Egypt.

Doesn't press coverage like that just make you despair of the media believing that they constantly need to pander to the lowest common denominator? Depressing.

The woman has been diagnosed with a life threatening, frightening disease. However she did or didn't contract the disease, the impact on her life and on her family and friends will be devastating.

The reaction from some posters reminds me of the advent of AIDS and the initial judgemental views that it was a self-inflicted illness and therefore the sufferers were not worthy of the same level of support and basic human kindness as those dealing with other terminal (as it was then) conditions.

I don't smoke and I don't like smoking but do have empathy for a fellow human being going through a terrible ordeal.

Unfortunately people are very judgmental, rightly or wrongly. Whether it is cancer, mental health issues, parenting or whatever else there is always somebody who will judge you. Sometimes it is understandable, though regrettable. We've all done it, unfortunately.

Totally agree with Marigold

What do you say to them avon?

Usually I drone on and on about how, no he wasn't, he had other health complications as well, he was lovely, and we would have been equally upset if he been a heavy drinker. I've got a good line in boring people into submission, I find

Ah, poor love.
can anybody remember "Scorchio" her weather forecast?
My friend met her a few times at the BBC when she was a nobody
I'm sure she worked in wages or some such dept.
I heard she was an alcoholic and at one time it was touch and go.
A true comic genius as a writer, producer/director and of course actress.
Of course, she is a Manc.

My grandad died from liver cancer, never drank in his life.

My first thought on Caroline ahern this morning was "poor woman" and nothing else.

she has secondary cancer in her lungs.

I hope none of you people who asaying she brought it on herslef, ever have to go through something like she is.

shame on you.

I've got a good line in boring people into submission, I find

avon you probably have to work at it because that made me laugh.
Good name btw