Fighting Cancer

I read a very interesting article over the weekend on cancer that was written by Dr. Tedd Mitchell. I thought it would be neat to share here. It is rather long, though so grab your coffee or drink and relax a minute!

We've turned the Corner On Fighting Cancer
No longer called the "Big C", we no address it forthrightly.


"When I was a child, cancer was a scary, taboo topic that folks never discussed. Even John Wayne didn't use the term after his lung cancer surgery, instead calling it "the Big C". Perhaps he did that because our ability to diagnose and treat cancer a generation ago was more limited, so the diagnosis carried with it a more ominous outlook.

Well, things have changed. Advances in medical science have dramatically improved our ability to diagnose a number of cancers at earlier stages, when treatment is more effective. And because early diagnosis is still the best way to successfully intervene, numerous organizations have embarked upon campaigns to increase public awareness.

Today, survival rates for those with cancer have improved enough that the pendulum has swung. Folks who once were expected to suffer in silence now find strength in facing their illness in a full frontal assault. Family members and friends have joined the fight, as well, volunteering in events such as walks, fun runs, telethons and all sorts of fundraisers.

The shift in how far we've come with public awareness about cancer has even moved to the funny pages. A patient of mine, Tom Batiuk, author and "Funky Winkerbean" cartoonist, has written a book called Lisa's Story: The Other Shoe, which chronicles the heroic struggle of a woman with breast cancer. He uses the comic strip to illustrate the triumph and struggles that cancer brings to individuals and their families and friends.

Speaking about what inspired him to write the book, Batiuk said: 'The first part of Lisa's Story was based on the experiences of friends and relatives who had been touched by cancer. When I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2003, I realized what a huge gulf exists between empathy and personal experience and that I had only skimmed the surface of a cancer story in the first telling. This led to the second half of Lisa's Story, which I hope will be a cautionary tale about the importance of early diagnosis.'

As a cancer survivor, the author has a keen sense of its implications for a family. His book is also a remarkable illustration of how much we've changed our approach to the problem.

We have turned the corner in our discourse about cancer. Addressing it in a forthright manner helps people understand that having "the Big C" no longer means giving up. John Wayne certainly would be proud."