Let's say you had the ability to cure one disease and one disease only. Which do you cure?

[Deja Q]

My choice: Autism.

[Shell Beau]

1. That is too hard of a question.

There are a lot of horrific ones out there.

[ohiosmith]

2. terminal republicanism

[Book Lover]

3. Alzheimer's

Since you have autism covered...

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. HIV

:shrug:

[La Lioness Priyanka]

5. hiv. without a doubt.

[Rabrrrrrr]

6. Malaria.

Oh, wait, we do have that ability - but the "Christian" repigs won't finance it, even though it would only cost us about a day's worth of killing in Iraq.

[fluffernutter]

7. cancer

[youthere]

90. I'm with you. Cancer. You cover a lot of ground with that one.

[Kutjara]

8. Well, Restless Leg Syndrome is taken care of...

...and so is Rosacea, Acid Reflux Disease and Erectile Dysfunction. With the biggies all cured, I guess dandruff is the only thing left.

[Broken_Hero]

9. .............

:rofl:








for me, cancer, all/any forms of it...

[KamaAina]

10. Not as much of a slam dunk as you might think.

Dr. Temple Grandin, perhaps the best-known person with autism, has stated, for the record, that if science came up with a pill that would turn her into what we call a "neurotypical", she would not take it. She worries that such a pill would take away the abilities that have made her a world-renowned designer of livestock handling facilities.

Meanwhile, Jim Sinclair, founder of Autism Network International, has penned this classic, "Don't Mourn For Us":

http://web.syr.edu/~jisincla/dontmourn.htm

This is important, so take a moment to consider it: Autism is a way of being. It is not possible to separate the person from the autism.

Therefore, when parents say,
"I wish my child did not have autism,"
what they're really saying is,
"I wish the autistic child I have did not exist, and I had a different (non-autistic) child instead."

Read that again. This is what we hear when you mourn over our existence. This is what we hear when you pray for a cure. This is what we know, when you tell us of your fondest hopes and dreams for us: that your greatest wish is that one day we will cease to be, and strangers you can love will move in behind our faces.

And as for me? It might be useful to have an "NT pill" that would wear off after, say, 24 hours, for those special occasions like job interviews, or perhaps a driver license exam. But I sure wouldn't want to have to take one daily!

[Kutjara]

13. Your point is very important.

Before we start 'curing' 'diseases' or 'disorders', we should be absolutely sure that what we're curing is really a disease or a disorder. Perhaps what we're really trying to do is eliminate uncomfortable diversity.

[liontamer]

16. but not everyone with autism is that high functioning

"Therefore, when parents say,
"I wish my child did not have autism,"
what they're really saying is,
"I wish the autistic child I have did not exist, and I had a different (non-autistic) child instead.""

Some parents are saying, I wish the child that I had could appreciate and be appreciated by the world

[av8rdave]

11. I'm prejudiced....diabetes

My daughter is a type 1. However, obviously curing hiv/aids would save a lot more lives

[Briarius]

19. Me too

LynzM is type 1 too.

[av8rdave]

23. Hope all is well with the management of it

I know how tricky it can be at times

[Deja Q]

27. I'm prejudiced too.

Heart disease and diabetes (types 1 and 2) run rampant in my family.

I'd rather have diabetes than autism. Diabetes can be controlled with medications. Autism cannot.

[av8rdave]

54. You have a good point

Diabetes, of course, is a life shortening disease. I'm afraid I'm pretty ignorant about autism, other than some of the sypmtoms. Would autism be a condition that stem cell research would hold any promise for?

[Deja Q]

78. I do not know.

Some say that mercury levels are tied into the autistic spectrum disorder.

However, autism (and Asperger's syndrome) affect a child's social and mental skills. This is congenital and life-long, and is often misdiagnosed because the child has to live with unique forms of bullying that 'normal' children do not get.

Diabetes is more often due to non-hereditary factors.

What I do not know is how many have an autistic disorder and who is diabetic. Personally, every child should be on equal ground. Autism, et al, add handicaps to a person's development and functional capability and I'm damn grateful for being able to do what I can do.

I wouldn't mind seeing a proper cure or treatment for diabetes; though many treatments already exist. With autistic people, the best that can be done is to dole out drugs and see how the child (or adult) reacts. They don't always work normally; it's even more a guessing game. (never mind those who get misdiagnosed, and that's happened to me too.)

[av8rdave]

79. Forgive my ignorance, but

Is autism only treatable with medication, or are there non-pharmaceutical therapies available as well?

[Deja Q]

81. Not really treatable at all.

The emotional issues can be controlled or reduced via medications. But not eliminated.

The social aspects can be learned over a LONG period of time (I've learned a lot, even in the last 9 years, but it would be an irrational dream to think I will be on par with any of my peers so you won't see me studying to become a lawyer anytime soon!), but in that respect we will never be on equal ground with our 'normal' peers.

Ditto for intellect, lack of it, or the unusual mix of the bright and the dim inbetween. It's part of the brain chemistry. If there was a pill that would raise one's IQ or EQ, everybody would want it and the inventor would be richer than Pfizer, Glaxo, and Smith Kline Beecham combined.

[PVnRT]

72. Uhhhh

Yeah, medication. You get to shoot insulin with every meal, then again when you go to bed. You get to count out the carbs and servings of every single meal and make sure everything is balanced juuuuuuuuuuuust right. You do all that, and yet you are still going to probably die before 60. If you're lucky, you'll still have all your limbs when they toss you in the coffin.

And we haven't even mentioned allllllllll the other medications you'll get to take in the meantime for alllllll the affiliated disorders with the disease.

Simply because you can "control" a disease with medication doesn't suddenly make it pleasant. Autism isn't a death sentence. If you have Type I diabetes, the fact is, you will die younger than those without it.

[Deja Q]

80. I am aware of the medications and frequency of their applications.

And I know it's not pleasant. And I know I am a big risk factor for getting it, if I haven't gotten it already (I do qualify as being 'prediabetic' as I meet the criteria for it, but I also know that unlike other diabetics, I've got other problems that have a different dimension. And I'd rather have lived without those. And how many people WOULD?)

I could easily turn the tables around as to why you would not want to live with an autistic disorder. Trust me on this. Just trust me on this. I can get very graphic in response, and I don't mean an emotional outburst attacking you. I know cruelty and despicable acts the likes you wouldn't wish on even your enemy and there's no drug on this planet that'll make me feel fully better, never mind resolve the core issues that helped persuade those 'people' from doing what they did. Again, I'd trade all that hell FOR diabetes. (now do you see my perspective? How much must I say, in public, to get you to think differently? )

And, not to get political, but not all diseases get the same coverage because some diseases are more popular than others. And some of the more 'popular' diseases can be avoided completely! (just like how awards are given to popular movies despite the movies being trash compared to the competition that's better but is ignored because it didn't rake in as many viewers because it was 'too cerebral' or whatever...) AIDS is not exactly the world's biggest calamity because, unlike diabetes et al, AIDS is spread solely by directly mixing body fluids within a short period of time and the controlled methods (e.g. blood transfusions) are screened plenty of times over because who wants a lawsuit? The remaining factor is drugs or unsafe sex (another reason to justify monogamy and truthful communication between two people!)

[smalll]

12. Well certainly not lung cancer or emphysema -

those evil smokers DESERVE to die!
:sarcasm::sarcasm::sarcasm:
Seriously? HIV/AIDS.

[QMPMom]

14. Alzheimers. n/t

[LynzM]

15. Hard choice between cancer and AIDS

Both are terrible and cause unmeasured suffering.

[bertha katzenengel]

17. CANCER. I just lost my Grandma to Alzheimer's, which is horrible, and

my best friend is HIV+.

But IMO cancer is the worst disease among us. We must find a cure.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

87. I'm so sorry - I didn't know

When did it happen? You are in my prayers.

[mzteris]

18. mental illness

in all it's forms.

That would eradicate a whole host of problems and free up a lot of great minds to do things like find cures for the rest of the ills.....

[mainegreen]

20. Death!

Broad, I know, but hey, that's what I want cured!

[Deja Q]

21. I intend to live forever...

or die trying.

:hide:

[Liberalynn]

22. Diabetes

A lady I worked with had three daughters all with type 1, my cousin's husband died of complications from it, my sister's ex boyfriend has a daughter with it, a friend's first husband died of complications from it as well, my mother's best friend has it, and my mother is border line.

It has just so deeply affected so many people I know, that I'd cure it if I could.

If I was allowed a second choice it would be leukemia! My mother has the chronic old age kind, and her father died of another type.

I also if allowed to say one more, I personally wouldn't mind a cure for mental illness as a chronic suffer of depression and anxiety. It be nice not to be scared and sad so much.

[Pithlet]

24. Probably cancer.

It would be hard to choose, though.

[ganeshji]

25. Heart disease

It's common and it sucks.

[LynneSin]

26. Republicanism

I figured if we cure them then we'll have people in DC committed to finding cures for other diseases

[conscious evolution]

28. Stupidity

Then we could cure a lot of stuff.

[Elidor]

42. I'll second that

[Dangerously Amused]

29. The Gay.

:hide:

[Bouncy Ball]

36. The Bi ALWAYS get ignored.

Whatever.

[liontamer]

38. but the bi aren't sick,

they're just sluts ;)

[Bouncy Ball]

39. NO THEY AREN'T!!!

(they aren't confused either)

[liontamer]

45. I know

proud B here, I just think it's funny that so many people really believe that

[Deja Q]

82. Some bi's can make and stick to a decision.

Most people view bi's as otherwise. Once again, trust me on that. I've had to answer some ridiculous questions by folks on dating sites.

So I made a decision... one way or the other I'm going to get flamed, so I took the course that provided the least amount of flames. I at least want the delusion of being normal, and being bi makes things easier - being attracted to both genders, I won't feel bad if I have to live without one. LOL. Given my adult life, I've often enough lived without both so it's no big deal - even if I have and recognize the desires. It doesn't mean I must indulge them!

And I also do understand the concept of "love", even if I do understand other things that I understand why it makes it impossible for another person to try to be in a relationship with me.

[lizziegrace]

30. AIDS n/t

[KatyaR]

31. I think Alzheimer's.

My mom died of complications from Alzheimer's disease. She was a teacher, and it was so hard to watch her mind just "go away." People just couldn't understand how a bright, intelligent person could have that happen to them. What can you say to that?

Others would be melanoma--deadly, deadly, deadly disease; lupus, MS, and diabetes.

But others are right--there are just so very many diseases that we need to cure.

[Jamastiene]

32. Paranoid schizophrenia.

People can hate Nancy Spungen and other with that condition all they want to. My personal opinion is that no one can know what they go through and what kind of hell that must be. I was diagnosed as merely paranoid at one time. Being paranoind and being paranoid schizophrenic are not the same thing, but I can say from personal experience, that whatever it is that I suffer from is hell enough. I'd hate to have to walk in their shoes. I'd like to see a cure for all mental illnesses, because we get picked on so much and people do not understand nor do they intend to try most of the time. Just more and more ridicule and jokes about us without stopping to think what we go through. It's horrendous to feel this way.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

43. That would be my choice, as well...

I'd rather live a quality of life free from anguish than live a long life in misery.

[Jamastiene]

61. I have always said I didn't care if I died young, as long as my

quality of life was good while I was alive. Who wants to be 90 years old and living in some cold, dank, depressing institution, or in the streets? People with mental illness are still treated like shit in this cold, cruel world. It's a shame really.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

69. It's true...

They're treated as if they suffer character flaws, not a real illness.

[Jamastiene]

70. They seem to conveniently forget that if most of the

problems, i.e. the "chemical imbalance," are the cause. They really like to forget often that therapy won't always work in a one size fits all method for something that has a biological basis. That's why I love the therapists and psychologists who just try to teach us how to function in the world instead of telling us to just think this way and all will be healed. I have had some who tried that. You don't just snap out of mental illness. It's not like someone with clinical depression is just going to snap out of it. There are some, even in the mental health field, who just don't get that. :eyes:

[MikeDuffy]

33. Nonsustainabilititus

in all its many forms.

[ScreamingMeemie]

34. Terminal illness...

Not a disease but any of the many diseases that take so many from us... some losing their minds, others their bodily functions...and most their dignity.

[Ellen Forradalom]

35. Stupidity.

[ThomCat]

48. Seconded!

There ain't no cure for stupid!

If we could cure that, we'd find cures for many of the others much more quickly.

[judaspriestess]

37. SARS and chicken flu

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

40. Terminal idiocy.

It's fucking up the world.

[Seabiscuit]

41. Fauxnewsitus

[Lethe]

44. alcoholism

nuff said

[BreweryYardRat]

46. Heart disease.

[davsand]

60. Amen to that!

The cancer stuff is bad, and lord knows I hope I never face AIDS, Strokes, Alzheimer's or MS or any of the other diseases out there. I have to say, however, that if we cured heart disease literally the average life span would increase by about 10-15 years.



Laura

[anarch]

47. is "general human propensity to murder one another" a disease?

If so, that one. If not, cancer I guess.

[RedStateShame]

49. Depression

[BarenakedLady]

51. Me too

and add all forms of anxiety. It is hard to live and function this way.

[LaraMN]

50. Bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.

Wretched conditions, the both of them.
If you can't even trust your own mind to tell you what is real and what isn't, I'm not sure what you're left with.

[Jamastiene]

71. We think alike on this one, big time.

I wish you were a psychologist and lived close by. It would be a real treat to encounter your understanding and compassion. :hug:

[LaraMN]

75. They are horrible conditions to watch anyone go through,

I can only imagine what they're like to live with. We lost a young friend of the family (20 years old) a few months back, to bipolar. The year before he died was a living nightmare for him. My Mom lost two of her brothers to schizophrenia and depression, respectively. Mental illness is horrid, and especially sad when treatment is insufficient.

[Jamastiene]

88. I wish they could at least come up with some better

treatments for people. It's very hard to get on antidepressants that work and even if they work at first, they end up losing potency or effectiveness after a short while. And some of the drugs they give people with mental illness can sometimes make the problems worse by adding suicidal thoughts that were not there to begin with. Mental illness is a truly horrible condition to have to live with considering there is no real push to help people like there should be. It's beyond sad.

It runs in my family too, but the problems manifest themselves as drug addiction and no one really talks about it much. There is this stigma attached that is so bad that it makes families sometimes ignore family members' problems, so help is sometimes something we don't get. Even in families where the family is desperately trying, the help offered by professionals sometimes is so inadequate it hurts more than it helps.

The bad thing about mental illness is not only is it bad for the patient, but for families that are at the end of their rope and at a loss for answers or decent help from the professionals.

[Spider Jerusalem]

52. Cancer.

Speaking as someone on the autistic spectrum, I don't want to be cured. I'm perfectly happy with the way my brain works. I have no desire whatever to be neurotypical. And considering that autism is a neurological condition that involves differences in many areas of the brain, differences that have their origin very early in gestation, to "cure" it, you'd need a new brain. Which means that the autustic and non-autistic would be two completely different people. The only "cure" is genetic testing for early detection of affected embryos and selective abortion. You'll have to forgive me for not being enthused by the idea of a eugenic program aimed at ensuring that no people like me are born. (Not to mention that there's evidence that people like Newton and Einstein were on the autistic spectrum, and the ways of thinking that enabled their insights may have some connection to having autistic brain wiring; I'm not sure that eliminating that would be necessarily a good thing, either.)

[The2ndWheel]

53. Death

Logical conclusion to progress.

But seriously, civilization. It doesn't kill everything, just what it needs to. Then it sucks the life out of every living organism within its reach, but leaves the body for consumption.

That, and it's the vehicle for many of the diseases we have.

[Lyric]

55. Cerebral Palsy

My sister has been in a wheelchair from the day she was born due to CP. She suffers greatly. I've seen the uncontrollable muscle spasms and cramps.

[ContraBass Black]

56. HIV

[Divameow77]

57. Hard choice

today I would have to say Alpers Disease. Watched a family I know lose 2 of their babies to this recently and it absolutely broke my heart.

Check out their webpage, this mother has courage like I have not seen.

http://www.caringbridge.org/mn/drewolson/

[grizmaster]

58. I'd say stupidity but I can just imagine how high the relapse

rate would be.

On the serious end, Alzheimers. My mother had early onset and I watched it take ten years to destroy her. Wouldn't wish that disease on my worst enemy.

[Quantess]

59. If I were able to cure ANY disease, at all,

I would be satisfied.
I don't care which disease it is, finding a cure for any disease would be great.

[Burma Jones]

62. Cancer

I have mixed feelings about Autism....I'm not sure that it should always be "cured" My Son was diagnosed as Autistic, mildly so and high functioning, and while there have been some difficulties and hard work to make sure he can communicate well, it has been more than worth it and I honestly have a kid who, while (or because he's) wired differently, is just brilliant......

Severe Autism is a different matter though and can indeed be awful, like a prison and so difficult for parents....

[dpbrown]

63. Asthma

Can't do anything else when you can't breathe.

[leftofthedial]

64. restless leg syndrome

athlete's foot


okay, how about cancer

[BlueIris]

65. Had to go with the cancer there, bud.

Sorry to those that offends. HIV is a close second, autism third.

[Phillycat]

66. HIV, of course.

We're talking about millions and millions of lives saved.

[undeterred]

67. Depression

[Coventina]

68. Cancer

runner-up would be HIV.

[hippywife]

73. Hatred.

I figure, after that is cured, everything else will follow.

[Fleshdancer]

74. Depends. Which disease is considered the most painful?

What a tough question HypnoToad. I would go with whatever was the most physically painful I guess. :shrug:

[Deja Q]

83. I have that effect on people...

For me, anything congenital has a higher priority than what is acquired. Unless the danger threatens the entire planet (but then, dumping mercury is as much environmental as it is a health issue).

Everybody should have an equal chance at having a decent life, partly because we all have the equal gift of dying. PDDs give their victims an unfair and hurtful handicap, which in turn creates others if the ambient environment is sufficiently 'hostile'. Most people can't fathom and never will even if they were told in great detail how one with a PDD has to live their entire life, from womb to the tomb.

[China_cat]

76. Breast cancer

which killed both my mother and surrogate mother.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

77. HIV

[jmowreader]

84. Kidney disease.

My aunt had this. It is probably the worst disease on the market.

You have not lived until you've sat there and watched someone connect herself to a dialysis machine. (Normally someone else does it for you, but my aunt was trained to do it.) Then she got a kidney transplant. That's always fun, because now you're stuck with taking these immune-system-killing drugs so your body doesn't throw the replacement kidney out on its ass. When you live in the Northwest and you take these drugs, you do not walk out the door of your house between the first of October and the first of April because the common cold is a fatal disease.

Every once in a while the drugs will stop working and your body will reject the kidney, which puts you right back on dialysis. Which happened to her. (For her it was a good thing she kept the machine.)

She died at the age of 52.

Cancers can be put into remission if detected in time. Diabetes can be lived with. Even HIV can be lived with, if you live right after diagnosis. Kidney disease can kill you dead in 10 days even if you do everything exactly right.

I'll cure kidney disease, thank you very much.

[Evoman]

85. I'm torn between small pox and polio.

When, oh when, will we get rid of those terrible diseases.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

86. Colon cancer. It murdered my mother.

[RetroLounge]

89. Alcoholism

Then I could have celebrated this election with many shots of tequila! :sarcasm:

Seriously, I would go with cancer, as I've lost too many people to it...

RL