The Rhetoric of Cancer

In BBC’s 24^th of November podcast documentary entitled The Rhetoric of Cancer, Andrew Graystone, through quick narrations and comprehensive interviews, narrates on a conquest to find a new language that could be used to describe his journey with cancer. This language is what he hopes to share to those who have gone to the same experience as he did.

I believe that sensationalizing cancer will not do any good to the patients (but neither will it harm them), just as the disabled prefer being treated like any ordinary person. Helping them acquire a sense of belonging is through imposing that cancer does not build a barrier between normalcy and strangeness. There are alternative methods in committing recognition of their victory in the struggle.

In general, I agree with the statement that the immensity of looking at cancer as something that should be fought off is more worthwhile than as an inevitable part of the body. The speaker justifies his belief that patients should learn to live alongside cancer by linking the act of repelling it to declaring civil war with the body. However, as stated, not all types of cancer can be skilfully managed; there are victims whose lives depended on whether the repulsion of the disease becomes a success. There is no point in creating campaigns about combating the disease if the mindset advocated is “learn to live alongside cancer.” What I presume to be wrong here is that people look at it as if it is a war when in fact, you can drive off this disease of the genes without instituting the concept of warfare. Think of the cells not as a team working to conquer the body; the person owns them, he is in control, he has the upper hand, he has the weapon. In reality cancer may seem or really is an enemy that cannot be overcome, but I believe that that psychology will strengthen their will. Battling cancer is battling death for many so it simply frightens me that it should be compared merely to a body part that someone hates.

In fairness to the totality of the podcast though, the talk about the cells having virtual switches was beautifully delivered. Cancer is definitely abstract thus it is something we can never fully understand, but placing it in a context such as it becomes part of a system a person can have control over, it is like shining an unprecedented light on familiar things.

Apple Czarline C. Cruel

2013-59992