Why do people guote statistics and use terms like terminal?

I agree, terminal is bone pointing, as in witch doctor (and ain't that the truth!) and it give me the pip when someone says to me "Oh, you're still in remission!" after over 10 years of my being healed without chemo or drugs.

You have my permission to ban " in remission!!! " Bah!!

Totally agree! Statistics are used and are beneficial for the physicians, scientists and researchers. They provide little or no benefit to the patient, other than creating additional worry or concern, same goes with statements that use words such as terminal, remission, journey, etc... If I went on a journey it would be to some interesting places around the world and not visiting doctors, hospital and chemo wards! When I was diagnosed with cancer I started to find out as much as I could about my particular cancer. The statistics weren't that great and that didn't help my state of mind one bit.

Then I focused on the fact that everyone is different and unique, so the only statistic that meant anything at all was that;

"I've never died from cancer before, therefore it would be unlikely that I would die from cancer now."

Well, of course these things are nothing more than a guesstimate at best. However, when your health is at a point when it is that serious, people deserve to know. Sometimes there are things that the patient needs to get taken care of or in order. They need to make sure wills are written and bills are taken care of or anything else that they may need to do is taken care of. Hopefully, they will get better and out live the diagnosis, but that doesnt change that they may not, and need to know that.

As far as statistics, statistics are important to some people when choosing a treatment path. For example, the statistics of my treatment were VERY important in helping me decide which treatment to do, because I had a couple of choices. If I relapse again, statistics will be very important then on helping me decide if I want to persue treatment or not.

I think patients deserve to know their chances and the risks they are taking. Specific diagnosis like how much time they have left is, of course, a guesstimate. However, that as well as the statistics are based on other patients in the same positition. I have and always will make those decisions based on statistics unless I feel moved by something to choose something else.

because as in my wife's situation we need to plan for the future

the average is two years if the average was 10 we would order things differently

when you walk in our shoes you can Judge

a very silly question