The Rhetoric of Cancer

Cancer begins in your cells, which are the building blocks of your body. Normally, your body forms new cells as you need them, replacing old cells that die. Sometimes this process goes wrong. New cells grow even when you don't need them, and old cells don't die when they should. These extra cells can form a mass called a tumor. 

Cancer is not just one disease but many diseases. There are more than 100 different types of cancer.

Symptoms and treatment depend on the cancer type and how advanced it is. Most treatment plans may include surgery, radiation and/or chemotherapy. Some may involve hormone therapy, biologic therapy, or stem cell transplantation.

The documentary on the rhetoric of cancer is about Andrew Graystone who was diagnosed with cancer years ago. He soon realized that the language commonly employed to approach this disease revolves around military and war metaphors. He argues whether or not people chose to fight, they are conscripted into something often described as a battle but against who? Their bodies are turned into war zones, he argues, with cancer as the enemy.

People have different views about cancer; people battling with the sickness, relatives and family of the patient, and the normal healthy people.  For patients struggling with the sickness, it is a fight for life-- treating the cancer cells as the enemy and their body as the battlefield.  It is a great ordeal for the people fighting the sickness and people begin to realize that health is really wealth.  No matter how you take care of yourself, sickness is unpredictable.  On the other hand, people encountering the trial is able to reflect about life-- the gift of God and His grace throughout the situation.

Dela Cruz, Jeff Denver F.

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