I’ve been following the debate on whether The War Against Cancer is an unwinnable war in which the enemy is not engaged and where the collateral damage is people affected by cancer.
I’ve been mulling over where I stand on this. I can see that the fighting, battling, war-like metaphors are not always helpful. That they can leave those who “lose” the battle somehow feeling like it is their fault and put an enormous pressure on everyone to keep fighting even when the personal battle has, essentially, been lost.
On the other hand, I can see how it is a useful metaphor for those raising money to research treatments for cancer. Cancer Research UK has been particularly aggressive in its use of the metaphor, inviting us to Kick Cancer’s Butt. It’s all about getting people to join a cause around a rallying cry. In marketing terms it has been a jolly good campaign.
As someone affected by cancer, I am coming to the conclusion that it is a useful metaphor for me personally because, to be completely honest, cancer feels like a war. Some of the battles I win; some I lose.
The first battle for many is with the GP – months and months of delays and being fobbed off as our vague symptoms fail to ring alarm bells. The result is delayed diagnosis and poor treatment outcomes.
The second battle is with the treatment. Which of us who has been through surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy has not felt as though we were under siege?
If you accept the premise that the doctors look after the medicine but I look after myself, this can be a tough fight. It might be the daily struggle to get up and get out of the house, if only to walk to the end of the road and back when each step feels like a marathon. I won’t labour the point – if you have been through this you will know what I mean.
The third battle is recovery. Getting back to work when you look well but you are operating on one cylinder and have no reserves. Or to get back on to an even keel financially after months of treatment or fighting with depression and anxiety post treatment.
In wars, there are casualties. And I think I know what mine have been. It’s the loss of confidence in my body, the loss of my sense of self, the loss of the future I once thought I had.
And there are heroes too. My kids deserve a medal, for a start.
In my career I have worked and lived in actual war zones and there is another analogy that I think is useful. A lot of war is waiting. For civilians, nothing happens except a mounting threat. Life goes on but as a shadow of its former self. Then bang! Followed by more waiting, more uncertainty. Even when the active phase of war is over, there is always a long running, low level campaign of hostility that follows. I think cancer treatment feels the same.
So I am going to stick with the war against cancer, both as a societal campaign and my own personal cri de coeur. I know it is not a metaphor that works for everyone, but then I always did like a fight.
