Why Are We So Weird About Cancer?
Hello! Thank you to everyone who has listened and shared Bernie’s story. If you haven’t listened yet, all six episodes are available now. It’s perfect binge listening for a weekend drive or upcoming holiday travel. Let me know what you think!
Bernie’s story (and this newsletter!) explore where our beliefs about cancer came from, who influences them, and, when necessary, what we can do to change them. What I’ve learned from listening to all of you is that what we think we know about cancer is much different than what it really is. The space between, that’s what I call cancer culture. This space is why I’m here and why I hope you are too.
Last week, I was so excited to talk about all of this with
. Anne’s deeply reported and scrumptious pieces cover everything culture related - from the impact of private equity on childcare to examining the origin stories of our own families. I’ve been a big fan for a long time and had such a great time talking to her about all things cancer-related.Anne said in her intro to our conversation:
If you’ve ever had to had to manage other people’s weird reactions to your cancer diagnosis, if you hate the “cancer warrior”/”fight with cancer” rhetoric, if you wish there were broader and nuanced ways of talking about cancer and its aftermath…wow is this episode for you!
Anne graciously allowed me to share the show with you. As always, I look forward to reading your comments.
Wow, I loved listening to your dialogue with Anne in “Why are we so weird about cancer?”!
Something to that stood out for me was the conversation about explaining ones history with cancer when one doesn’t have any physical/adverse affects.
My story is with childhood leukemia in a small town when everyone “knew” my story more than I understood it. I am 27 years in survivorship, have three biological children(after told I could be sterile before my wedding day), ultramarathoner, and no post-medication. I dump all of that because my cancer history comes as a shock for most people, and honestly, there have been times when I think my cancer more as a dream than a reality. Sometimes it’s easier for people not to know.
But my port scar reminds me daily and that alone centers me of the journey my body took at a young age.
We are weird about cancer, but I think we are ready as a society to go more than awareness and create action behind how we socially interact with cancer and people being treated with it.
Thank you for sharing your expertise and experience!
Your story is so interesting. I too think we are ready to move past this binary between survive or not. How do you think we best open this conversation?