@raincoaster : tell me where she lives, I'll go slap her for you. h*ll, we'll all go - it'll be very slightly like 'strangers on a train'

azoth

Lazy Susan

I lost my mother recently to ovarian cancer, and she was a wonderful woman and a real positive person and a fighter. So, shortly after, ads start coming on the radio from cancer survivors talking about how if they can beat cancer anyone can....I cried when I heard them. It upsets all those people who lost loved ones to cancer as it implies it could have been beaten if only they had done more. The ads weren't on for long here, and I assume it's because it upset others like it did me.

phoenixs

SheWalkedWithAZombie

The best thing I've read about the "tyranny of positive thinking" in cancer culture is this article by Barbara Ehrenreich:

"To the extent that current methods of detection and treatment fail or fall short, America's breast-cancer cult can be judged as an outbreak of mass delusion, celebrating survivorhood by downplaying mortality and promoting obedience to medical protocols known to have limited efficacy. And although we may imagine ourselves to be well past the era of patriarchal medicine, obedience is the message behind the infantilizing theme in breast-cancer culture, as represented by the teddy bears, the crayons, and the prevailing pinkness. You are encouraged to regress to a little-girl state, to suspend critical judgment, and to accept whatever measures the doctors, as parent surrogates, choose to impose.

Worse, by ignoring or underemphasizing the vexing issue of environmental causes, the breast cancer cult turns women into dupes of what could be called the Cancer Industrial Complex: the multinational corporate enterprise that with the one hand doles out carcinogens and disease and, with the other, offers expensive, semi-toxic pharmaceutical treatments." Full article: [bcaction.org]

SheWalkedWithAZombie

Reggie Cameron

NeverEnough

One of the best pieces I've ever read about the "tyranny of positive thinking" is Barbara Ehrenreich's article about the the infantilizing trope in breast cancer. She argues that "effect of this relentless brightsiding is to transform breast cancer into a rite of passage-not an injustice or a tragedy to rail against, but a normal marker in the life cycle, like menopause or graying hair."

"To the extent that current methods of detection and treatment fail or fall short, America's breast-cancer cult can be judged as an outbreak of mass delusion, celebrating survivorhood by downplaying mortality and promoting obedience to medical protocols known to have limited efficacy. And although we may imagine ourselves to be well past the era of patriarchal medicine, obedience is the message behind the infantilizing theme in breast-cancer culture, as represented by the teddy bears, the crayons, and the prevailing pinkness. You are encouraged to regress to a little-girl state, to suspend critical judgment, and to accept whatever measures the doctors, as parent surrogates, choose to impose.

Worse, by ignoring or underemphasizing the vexing issue of environmental causes, the breast cancer cult turns women into dupes of what could be called the Cancer Industrial Complex: the multinational corporate enterprise that with the one hand doles out carcinogens and disease and, with the other, offers expensive, semi-toxic pharmaceutical treatments."

Full article: [bcaction.org]

SheWalkedWithAZombie

"Oh, he's toast!"

"Ick, his breath always stank of cigarettes and Alvin Ailey."

"Put a fork in him, he's done."

"Eh, now he's like the wind."

" I was just discussing his case at the oncology roundtable in Davos..."

"At least he hasn't flashed the paps his mangina!"

McCheeburger

@AuntieFreeze: Well done on coping so well with such a disempowering experience. My partner has been clear for a year now and took himself off overseas on a motorbike trip to celebrate. Current location: S. America hospitalised with broken bones. fughead.

A positive attitude helps physiologically by being calmer (lower pulse rate, lower blood pressure), more motivation to be compliant with medical treatments and manage side effects (some which are potentially fatal if ignored/neglected) and more prepared to embrace complementary therapies which have psychological benefit.

It is also important that support networks give the person with cancer permission to feel like shit, and be open and honest. It's awful to see someone struggling to live up to everyone's expectations and feel like they will let the side down. Communication.

UnstableMabel

Frankly Swayze's cancer is one of the worst ones (like there's a good one). That being said, platitudes are about all celebs can muster, it's all many of us can offer. We are either proven right or wrong.

jasonelias

raincoaster

Ewps!

McCheeburger

Trixie from Toronto

In her (mircoscopic) defense, it could have been meant sarcasticly...but that's something that would have been obvious by tonal intonation.

valarmorghulis

I said, "I hang out with unsupportive people." She did not get it.

raincoaster

foolinthepool

ljnd2

I believe that projecting a positive attitude is also important even when you know that your prognosis isn't favorable. My Dad, who died of cancer several years ago, knew his fate, but even to the end, when asked "How are you?" always answered, "I'm wonderful!"
He refused to be negative, and wanted everyone around him to do the same for the remaining time he had left. Little did I know how inspirational this would be to me during my own experience.

AuntieFreeze

What is worse than dying of cancer is being told that you "wanted" cancer or "needed" to get cancer on some spiritual level.

Said of course with a smug, superior attitude by someone who has never faced a life-threatening illness.

NotReadyForPrimeTime

Still, I don't know what else Kelly Lynch could have said.

KateNonymous

stew

Cookie Guggleman

DorothyMantooth

valarmorghulis

BalknChain

GregorMendel

DorothyMantooth

Nick Denton

I think they do this because telling you this makes them feel superior to you AND it allays their own fears about the unpredicability of serious illness. I.E. They're not sick now nor will they ever be because they "think" better. These people are also usually sort of insensitive assholes so it's funny that they infer that they're so bright and positive.

Hortense de Beauharnais

BadUncle

CodePink

Some folks out there actually believe that good thoughts are all it takes to cure an illness. Take the case of the 11 year old girl who died because her parent's believed that positive thinking (i believe tehy called it 'prayer') would cure her of her Type 1 (managable, but incurable) Diabeties.

That could also be stated as...

Positive thinking: 0
Type 1 Diabeties: 1

valarmorghulis

Cacafuego

Cacafuego

dado

DorothyMantooth

Chaim Gnadelstein

@DorothyMantooth: That he let a Scientology joke go by? Hmmm...

PimpMyCouch

AirforceAmy

DorothyMantooth

Why would anyone expect celebrities to dispense sound medical advice anyway?

McCheeburger

Lynch also told reporters, "I'll bet Patrick could still kick Ben Gazzara's ass, even if that old buzzard's not dead!"

KarenUhOh

Fuzzy_duffel_bag

PandoraSpocks

If anyone had told my mother she should face cancer by worrying more and ultimately giving up, she probably wouldn't be here.

BettyCrocker

One of the examples from "The Secret" is about a woman who really wants to buy a necklace so she puts the wish "out into the universe" and soon, she 'magically' finds money to get the necklace. No kidding. It's good to know "the universe" can't be bothered to prevent childhood leukemia or AIDS pandemic but is all over your accessories fetish.

roodles

Cheap Shot

PimpMyCouch

fiveinchtaint

KarenUhOh

Cheap Shot

Fuzzy_duffel_bag

DorothyMantooth

hhpeterson13

Mike_Jahn