On Thu, 29 Apr 2010 05:42:21 -0700, sf > wrote:

>On Wed, 28 Apr 2010 10:28:05 -0400, "Zeppo" > wrote:
>
>>Perhaps, but I recall from my youth that no one talked about cancer out
>>loud. I never did understand that. Someone got colon cancer and the news was
>>spread in whispers and never discussed out lout. It made it sound as if
>>either the sick person was at fault or it was the work of the devil. No one
>>could ever explain the reason for this nonsense.
>>
>>Even my parents, who were pretty open about most things with us kids, were
>>very superstitious on this subject.
>>
>In the "old days", even the '60's, the hope to survive was slim to
>none for cancer. It was what it was. I don't remember whispers or
>superstitions. People did what they could afford to do, but even Mayo
>Clinic was in its infancy of fighting cancer successfully.

Back then parents/adults weren't eager to discuss serious health
issues with young children, they had far more respect for childhood...
back then the Tooth Fairy was the big childhood health issue. Of
course back then it was difficult not to discuss polio, it was hard to
hide leg braces and iron lungs. Today most mothers and fathers aren't
parents... it's not possible to parent and hold a full time job
-utside the home. Today's moms and dads treat their kids as
contemporaries even from before they can walk. A soccer mom is NOT a
parent.