Fighting talk: How language can make us better
What impact does the language we use around cancer have on those living with the disease?
When we talk about cancer it’s often hard to find the right words. As we search for the perfect thing to say, we find ourselves reaching for familiar metaphors; the inspiring people fighting or battling their cancer.
Cara Hoofe is currently in remission from Stage 3 bowel cancer, she says it would be easy for her to say she’s beaten cancer. Yet she’s still uncomfortable with the terminology. If she’s won her fight, does that mean others have lost?
In this programme Cara asks experts what impact these militaristic metaphors actually have on those living with cancer, and asks current and former patients what we should talk about when we talk about cancer.
(Photo: Cancer patient laughing as she talks with a nurse. Credit: Science Photo Library)
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- Wed 12 Aug 2020 10:32GMTΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service
- Wed 12 Aug 2020 15:32GMTΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
- Wed 12 Aug 2020 21:32GMTΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service except Europe and the Middle East
- Wed 12 Aug 2020 22:32GMTΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service Europe and the Middle East
- Sun 16 Aug 2020 18:32GMTΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service except East and Southern Africa, Europe and the Middle East & West and Central Africa