Got to add a new one: glaucoma drops. My mom died (at 93) of some kind of digestive cancer, probably pancreatic. I just saw the symptoms and she would not see a specialist. I was diagnosed at age 82--excellent health except I did drink alcohol, less in later years but daily wine. I had no genetic markers. No other negatives: I was the right weight, ate healthy meals, didn't smoke, detested artificial sugars, etc. But lots of eyedrops for glaucoma, the same ones my mom took. It's far fetched, and my ophthalmologist doesn't agree at all. The night of my Whipple surgery, the intensive care nurse administered one of my drops and my stomach felt like it jumped out of my body. Not good timing. I refused my drops during the rest of my hospital stay. I'm back to taking the drops (about 8 a day) but only with food in my stomach.
But I know we all wonder--why us? Many of us have no genetic markers; some, with no bad habits. I consider daily alcohol consumption a possible factor for me, but my mom rarely had a drink. Wouldn't it be good if the money spent for all the pharmaceutical drug advertising went for research instead? I know scientists are doing research, but more towards finding drugs perhaps than finding causes. I guess that's because research is funded by those very drug companies. Hmmm...Oh for the old days of TV ads for laundry soap and cereal, Carrie