It is unfortunate that our society shuns the thought of dying and turns away from the large segment of the population marked with the stigma of a chronic potentially fatal illness like cancer. We deny the self-worth of millions of capable and active people.
We have to learn to recognize that medical technology has greatly extended life by offering effective treatments to people who are seriously ill. Such people are living full lives and deserve full acceptance by society. When a chronic and potentially fatal illness is not dealt with effectively by patients, family or friends, emotional problems will inevitably mount and social fears will continue to fester.
But if the threat to life by disease is accepted, understood and dealt with, life, not death, will be the winner.
