Rhetoric of Cancer

In the “Rhetoric of Cancer”, Andrew Graystone, who had his own experience of cancer, finds a problem with the language used to talk about cancer. He observed that the language of cancer is usually militaristic and masculine. He complains that even though people often tell him “You’re brave.” and “You’ll be able to fight this.”, he wasn’t exactly strong or the type who fights. He wants to hear about how other people see cancer and what language they use. He talks with different people who had knowledge or experience with cancer. 

According to a doctor, the battling metaphor is due to recognition by the people around the cancer patient that cancer is a struggle. They use this language out of respect of what the patient is going through. She also adds that the media makes it seem like cancer is a boogeyman or a monster. Because of this image, people become so fearful of cancer. According to a scientist, he and his colleagues stay objective on their view of cancer since they try to figure out ways to analyse cancer. They focus on the molecules, proteins and genes involved in cancer. For a priest, cancer can be seen as a dark angel and messenger telling a person that he’s dying. For a Christian theologian, cancer, being an illness, can be “evil”.

Because of this podcast, I learned that the usual militaristic and masculine language of cancer does not fit everybody’s case. To some people, it may come off as too strong and violent, since it implies cancer as a war within the body. Others, like Andrew Graystone, do not want to think of cancer as a battle since it means fighting something that is already a part of their body.

I realized that there can never be a universal language for cancer. People all have unique experiences of cancer. No two persons will ever have the exact experience of cancer.  People have different views on cancer which also influence their different ways of approaching it.  Every single person, who has had an encounter or an experience of cancer, will use his/her own language of cancer, which fits his/her personality and environment. 

This makes me think that cancer is not simply an illness that has caused the death of so many people. It is actually something more complex so it definitely needs more understanding. We need to be more careful in talking about this sickness. Also, since I was so used to the negativity and fear that comes with the word “cancer”, this podcast became a very effective eye-opener. I learned that cancer can’t always be negative. Just like how some of the speakers in the podcast thought of cancer as a “gift” and something wonderful, it can possibly be thought of as good or positive. 

Bacayo, Jay Anne R.

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