When discussing or reading about cancer, it’s common to hear it referred to as a 'battle,' and the patients’s journey, a 'fight.' But one charity wants to let that language go.
stated that the “battle” metaphor can actually have a negative impact on cancer patients. After commissioning surveys of people living with cancer across the U.K., the organization found that almost two-thirds of patients never talk to anyone about their fears of dying because of the pressure they feel to stay positive and be “fighters.” And more than one in four patients said they actually feel guilty if they can’t stay positive about their disease.
“It is a commonly held belief that describing people with cancer as ‘fighters’ or thinking of cancer as a ‘battle’ keeps people’s spirits high and instills in them a sense that they are working hard to combat the disease,” the report stated. “However, our discussions reveaed that the longer these fighting conversations go on, the harder it is for both the person and the professional to shift discussions towards ACP [Advance Care Planning].
And this has negative impacts that go beyond the frustration and exhaustion: Macmillan says the “gulf of communication” about end-of-life care and plans means that many cancer patients die unnecessarily in hospitals rather than dying in their own homes, according toIn fact, according to Macmillan’s report, 64% of people with cancer prefer to die at home, but only 30% actually do.
“We need to let people define their own experiences without using language that might create a barrier to vital conversations about dying,” Adrienne Betteley, end-of-life care advisor at Macmillan said, as reported by“For health and social care professionals, there is often a fear that the person is not ready to talk about dying. We know, however, that making plans while receiving treatment allows people with cancer to retain a sense of control during an emotionally turbulent time.
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