A War on The Self: Reaction Paper to "The Rhetoric of Cancer"

Many proclaim cancer to be a battle. Although it is analogous to it, the term “battle” in this case does not only refer to a war-like scheme in which we have weapons to face the ultimate enemy, cancer, in order to get better. It is a battle also in terms of staying motivated to carry on with daily activities, to provide the needed provisions for treatment, and to assure oneself that there is still hope in the eventual dissipation of the illness. To “fight cancer” seems to be a ubiquitous term when relating to patients. Upon reflection it seems proper to ask ourselves: if cancer is within us, does it really make sense wage war on our own body? Aren’t there better terms we can use than “to fight?” Along with the perspectives of several cancer patients and expert scientists, the podcast “The Rhetoric of Cancer” by BBC World Service analyzes this linguistic problem, among other things such as the technologies being utilized today in treating patients, and different ways to look at cancer as a whole.

Andrew Graystone, the narrator of the podcast, was diagnosed with cancer over three years ago (as the podcast was made recently, in November of 2013) and decided that he wanted to look for a more appropriate term in dealing with his cancer, aside from militarized terms such as “to fight” and “to battle.” In the realm of medical sciences, these terms probably seemed more most fitting as the drugs that were are being invented and studied often aim to find, isolate, and kill the cells responsible for the spread of the cancer. However, as Andrew was the one who introduced the cancer into his system, and as he was aware that the cancer was part of him, he decided that terms of hostility would not be best to use when referring to his own body. A devout Christian, he eventually turned to a good friend and theologian, Paula Gooder, asking for her views on the matter. Her side is what struck me most. She remarks that with cancer, perhaps it is better not to look at it as a war of good and evil, but rather, as a reminder of the reality of imminent death in our lives. We are all bound to die eventually – some sooner than others. This is why we live with concepts of morality and justice, and we aim to live life to the fullest.

In the end, Andrew remarks that although he wants his cancer gone, he is not hostile towards it – he simply wants to “kiss his cancer goodbye.” If there’s anything to be taken away from this 25-minute podcast, I believe it is that we should treat cancer patients not as people going through wars and struggles, but as people going through a process of rediscovering themselves and coming to terms with what’s going on in their own bodies. Cancer is not to be fought, it is simply to be removed.

Redd Claudio

2013-59776