The latest buzz right now is the nearing death of Joe Paterno, the former Penn State coach. I have been shocked at some people's opinions of his recent health condition, which are cheering on his battle with cancer as a sign of punishment. However, Joe Paterno's involvement with the continuing Jerry Sandusky sex abuse case has absolutely nothing to do with his health condition. Yes, it appears very difficult for some people to understand that these are two separate issues here that have no common denominator.

Do people feel a need to seek revenge? If so, this will most certainly not suffice those who have been victims of this ongoing sex abuse case. Why? Again, Paterno's health condition has nothing to do with his legal woes. Although (possibly) it may temporary give some satisfaction to the media hungry public, it will never resolve the real issue that people are seeking.

Nobody deserves lung cancer, not even Joe Paterno.

I recall one of the first times I heard about Paterno's diagnosis of lung cancer, it was described on the local news as a "curable" form. I assumed that this phrase may have referred to an early detection, and interventions that can be preformed with a strong probability of ridding the cancer. But I was shocked today when I saw headlines stating that Paterno's lung cancer had taken a "serious" turn.

Joe Paterno was diagnosed during the beginning of November, lung cancer awareness month. Although many details of his diagnosis have not been released, and it is now apparent that it was instead caught at a very late stage. Think about it, diagnosed in November and dead in January. That is mind blowing. However, virtually every article I have read about Joe Paterno and his diagnosis say nothing statistical of the disease. Why is this? It appears to me that Paterno's diagnosis has been lost in the arm pit of Jerry Sandusky. Whatever the reason, it further places a bad label on lung cancer.

The five year survival rate of lung cancer is currently 16%
Lung cancer is typically discovered by accident and during the latest stages.
More people die from lung cancer every year than breast, colorectal, prostate, and pancreatic cancers combined.

Lung cancer - the unmentioned, the unknown, and the disease nobody ever wants to talk about.