Emotional Decision Making
Sometimes we make decisions based on fear. Sometimes well founded fears and sometimes it's an emotional reaction to an unlikely event.
You know the anectdotes, someone has a family member killed in an airplane crash and then never fly until one day they have to and that plane crashes. In fact, many people fear flying because of the wide coverage air crashes get. But driving is a far greater threat to our lives.
Cause of Death.................Lifetime Odds
Heart Disease.........................1-in-5
Cancer................................1-in-7
Stroke................................1-in-23
Accidental Injury.....................1-in-36
Motor Vehicle Accident*...............1-in-100
Intentional Self-harm (suicide).......1-in-121
Falling Down..........................1-in-246
Assault by Firearm....................1-in-325
Fire or Smoke.........................1-in-1,116
Natural Forces........................1-in-3,357
(heat, cold, storms, quakes, etc.)
Electrocution*........................1-in-5,000
Drowning..............................1-in-8,942
Air Travel Accident*..................1-in-20,000
Legal Execution.......................1-in-58,618
Snake, Bee or other Venomous Bite or
Sting*................................1-in-100,000
Dog Attack............................1-in-147,717
Asteroid Impact*......................1-in-200,000**
Tsunami*..............................1-in-500,000
Fireworks Discharge...................1-in-615,488
this list was copied from here
It's easy to look at this list and think that cancer is the thing to worry about. But it's also important to look at all the different kinds of cancer there are. Nearly thirty percent of all cancer deaths are from lung cancer, which is highly preventable.
This long preamble is because the results of another study were announced today that show a definite increase in mortality for women who have their ovaries removed without a clear cancer risk.
Please go read this article if you are considering oophorectomy with a hysterectomy.
It's hard to think of keeping ovaries when people refer to them as "ticking time bombs" when they're not. They're little life vests protecting us from the ravages of time. They keep us young and supple, with keen minds and sassy dispositions. They're heart boosters and bone keepers. I love my ovaries and I wouldn't give them up unless I absolutely had to. They've treated me well, and I hope that I never have to make that decision. For me, there was no decision about keeping them. They're my best buddies.
Posted by Elizabeth M. on August 1, 2005 7:55 PM
