Military metaphors and the consequences of the language of cancer
2016; Elsevier BV; Volume: 7; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1016/j.prro.2016.06.002
ISSN1879-8519
Autores Tópico(s)Empathy and Medical Education
ResumoI came upon several obituaries recently in the newspaper. The famous actor Alan Rickman “died on Thursday morning aged 69…after a short battle with cancer." [1] Furness H. Boyle D. Clarke-Billings L. Alan Rickman dies: Actor was unaware of severity of cancer until just weeks ago. Telegraph. January 16, 2016; (Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/12099543/alan-rickman-dead-at-69-latest.html. Accessed June 28, 2016.) Google Scholar The rock and roll star David Bowie died “at 69 after battle with cancer." [2] AOL David Bowie dies at 69 after battle with cancer. Obituary. 2016; (Available at: http://www.aol.com/article/2016/01/11/david-bowie-dies-at-69-after-battle-with-cancer/21295155/. Accessed June 28, 2016.) Google Scholar In contrast, the noted American cancer advocate Ellen Stovall, a 3-time cancer survivor and president of the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, died of cardiac disease associated with her cancer treatment. Her obituary does not have the word “battle" in it. During Stovall's cancer treatment in the 1980s, she chanced on a pamphlet in a doctor's waiting room that described cancer patients as “survivors" and not “victims." Stovall developed a new way of thinking about cancer and devoted her life to addressing the problems that cancer patients faced in living with their disease and beyond, and to lobby for high-quality cancer care. [3] Grimes W. Ellen Stovall, three-time cancer survivor and advocate, dies at 69. N Y Times. January 10, 2016; : A20 Google Scholar
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