When a person is diagnosed with cancer, one of the first things friends and family members often do is launch into the words of war. Terms such as “fight” and “battle” start being used, and the cancer patient starts being called a “warrior” or “fighter.” In a time of great uncertainty, stress and personal pain, the patient is asked to muster up their courage and always, always be a “good soldier” in their “fight”.
This terminology is now seen by many as out of date and not in the best interests of cancer patients. The “war on cancer” phrase comes from the National Cancer Act signed into law by President Richard Nixon in 1971. It was a federal law that amended the Public Health Service Act to strengthen the National Cancer Institute and put more national resources into efforts to fund research and find a cure for cancer.
Those responsible for declaring the “war” came of age in a time when most people who had cancer didn’t live very long. Now, 40 years later, there have been significant accomplishments in cancer treatments, especially for children. New forms of treatment, such as targeted drug therapies, are enabling some to live with cancer as a manageable chronic illness. Public education programs advocating early detection and screening for formerly taboo topics such as breast and prostate cancer are saving lives. Today there are an estimated 11 million cancer survivors living in the U.S. Some are cancer free, others are living with the disease.
One of the country’s leading cancer centers has launched a pioneering campaign to change the dialogue around cancer support. Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia named the initiative “Love Versus Cancer.” The goal is to honor and promote the strength and hope that love brings to the challenge of confronting cancer.
“Love Versus Cancer” offers individuals who have been affected by cancer a way to easily connect with others who have been touched by the disease, in both public and private ways.It's anchored by an interactive website http://www.loveversuscancer.org/
The site states that Fox Chase staff developed the concept after asking the question, " What unifies everyone confronting cancer?" Their answer? “A caring attitude and willingness to give of oneself, often well beyond demands of work or family duty. The unifying concept is fundamental: It is love.”
The site also acknowledges that their campaign is a deliberate effort to change the language of cancer support and states, "Love Versus Cancer does not promise that love will defeat cancer -- not every ‘fight’ will be won. It is a conscious departure from the language of President Nixon’s ‘War on Cancer.’ Love bolsters the spirit and help us rise above the disease. Wherever cancer may take us, love abides and offers strength and hope to confront the disease.”
Even if you don’t live in Philadelphia you can benefit from visiting the website, which is uplifting for patients as well as those who care for them. Instead of focusing on the latest equipment and technology, the site is aimed at the human side of a cancer diagnosis. Hospital volunteers, friends who want to show support, patients themselves and even the therapy dogs who warm the hearts of everyone they encounter are part of the “love” shown taking on cancer. http://www.youtube.com/user/FoxChaseCancerCenter#p/u
The website offers several ways for people show “love” for a cancer patient including sending free e-cards, posting videos or posting thank you notes.
“We are very excited about the launch of ‘Love Versus Cancer’ and believe that it will be a powerful and inspirational vehicle in which to connect individuals who have been touched by cancer,” says Anne Jadwin, RN, MSN, AOCN, NE-BC, Assistant Vice President of Nursing Services at Fox Chase.
What do YOU think? Do you like this approach? It is time to stop using "war" and "warrior" language when describing cancer? Or is cancer so tough that battle words are the only appropriate ones? Let us know your thoughts.
Resources:
Love versus Cancer: www.loveversuscancer.org
Fox Chase Cancer Center: http://www.fccc.edu/