Does anyone ever not fight cancer ‘bravely’?
By Fleur
@Fleura (30392)
United Kingdom
January 31, 2016 4:53am CST
Today the sad death was announced of another well-known public figure from cancer. I’m not going to comment on that here, but I just wondered: whenever someone dies of cancer they are always described as having put up a brave fight. Are they really brave, when they are simply facing the inevitable? If bravery is defined as ‘ready to endure danger or pain’ then I don’t think a person with a cancer diagnosis has much of a choice on that front. Does anyone ever not put up a brave fight? I have yet to hear that ‘S/he was a coward in the face of cancer’ although I’m sure that most people feel fear when they get that diagnosis and would happily run away from it if they could!
All rights reserved. © Text and image copyright Fleur 2016.
11 people like this
10 responses
@Mike197602 (15505)
• United Kingdom
31 Jan 16
well really nobody fights cancer as such.
They just endure the disease and the treatment.
I do know some people with cancer who I would say are brave...they carry on with normal life whereas I'd probably go to pieces because I can...don't have to work and have no kids to look after.
1 person likes this
@alchemistrx (2547)
• Philippines
31 Jan 16
In the verge of sickness, we all fight bravely. Cancer is like all other sickness. We have to endure the pain, the sweat , blood and tears.
1 person likes this
@xFiacre (13018)
• Ireland
31 Jan 16
@fleura It is indeed a curious way of describing the experience of having cancer. The fighting analogy may not be the best one for talking about illnesses, and I suspect that most of us will die of something in the end, but I don't want to be seen as someone who fought and lost - losing is inevitable.
1 person likes this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
31 Jan 16
I wrote a few weeks back about how much people with cancer and their family and friends hate the term 'lost the battle with cancer'. In answer to your question, a lot of people don't fight bravely - a lot give in bravely to their lot and don't accept treatment. And a lot turn into pathetic quivering scared blobs of dying people who just can't deal with it at all. All are equally valid responses to an unbeatable foe. Bravery is a stupid term when dealing with cancer just as losing the battle is a stupid, overworked phrase.
1 person likes this
@jillybean1222 (6407)
•
1 Feb 16
yes, that's a good albeit very sad and depressing point. i'm not sure which public figure you are talking of. i'll have to toggle over to the news page.
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@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
31 Jan 16
At least they are brave in front of strangers.
They have to endure the painful treatment, and possibly having all their hair dropped, and yet many of them cannot bring themselves to cry in front of strangers.
At least this is the part of bravery.
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