Fighting Cancer: My Online Diary On C 4

[pastafreak]

Video diaries made by 3 extraordinary young people. Brave, inspiring, heart breaking.
If you didn't see it...watch it!

[237SJ]

Too close to home so I don't think I will.

[anneasquith]

Interesting and some endings predicable pasta :-(

[Mamyalynne]

I will follow it up when I get home, inspirational I'm sure.

[andy-hughes]

I have mentioned this before, but it bears repeating -

why with cancer, and it seems no other condition, are patients 'brave' and 'fighting long battles' and other such terminology.

As far as I can see, you suffer from cancer, or you have cancer, but you are not 'fighting' cancer - science and doctors are doing that bit.

When I had a prostate scare, I told my wife that if I was diagnosed with cancer, I would not be 'brave' I would be seriously peed off, and I would not be 'fighting', I would be seriously hoping that medical science could save me, and if it didn't, I wanted no mention of 'losing a battle' with cancer, or having 'bravely fought' or any similar phrases which, as I say, only seem to occur with cancer.

Interesting why we adopt this approach.

Any thoughts?

[Mamyalynne]

Every illness or disability is a battle - I don't differentiate.

[andy-hughes]

Mamya, I take your point, but no-one is ever referred to as 'fighting' or 'being brave' or 'losing a battle' about any other condition except cancer, and I find that curious.

[Mamyalynne]

Are they not? Ever? I hadn't noticed.

My Husband went through every conceivable emotion, from rage to stoical acceptance and all in between - was it a battle?

Yes of sorts.

[237SJ]

You can choose to fight cancer by accepting the sometimes gruelling treatments that are offered or refuse all treatment and give up the fight. But it's definitely a battle.