Weekly Round-Up: Is Cancer A Journey?
Time for this week’s round-up of the best of the blog posts which I’ve read over the past week. These are the posts that have moved me, taught me something, inspired me, and which I’ve wanted to share with you. Don’t forget if you have written a post which you would like readers to see, just leave a comment below.
The debates about language in the cancer sphere have been ongoing since I started this blog almost a decade ago. This week Wendi weighs in on the debate with her displeasure for the “journey” metaphor. With journey in the title of my own blog, I’ve had to think long and hard about how this term effects others and I’ve come to the conclusion that while I am sensitive to offending others, I also believe we need to respect the language that works for each of us. When I started my blog all those years ago, I chose to use the word journey in the title because the metaphor of a journey resonated with me deeply. I felt I was very much in unchartered terrain as I tried to find a new direction for my life. Words like “direction” and “crossroads” all correspond to the journey metaphor for me and it helped me visualize the “road” ahead. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic in the comments below.
Nancy tackles another sensitive topic this week – that of feeling somehow marginalized in your cancer experience; and Barbara takes on the cancer-guilt on her blog.
Eileen shares some quote-worthy gems from Paul Kalanithi’s posthumous Renoir, “When Breath Becomes Air”.
Margaret blogs about over-testing this week.
What can you do for a friend who has been diagnosed with cancer? Ann Marie Otis offers some advice.
A lovely reminder from Connie on how the simplest gestures of kindness can produce manna in our lives.
A very interesting discussion on Becky’s blog about body awareness and health literacy – see also Stephanie’s latest post on reconnecting with our bodies.
Tori shares some tips on travelling with MBC.
Liza reflects this week on how much has changed, and how much has stayed the same for her over the past six years.
Happy blogoversary to the lovely Catherine this week.
Elaine looks at the research behind recent headlines on cardio-toxicity and cancer treatment.
Finally this week, I leave you with a quote from a beautiful reflection by Terri Wingham on letting go.
When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be. ~Lau Tzu
Yours with much love always,
Marie xxx
Thanks for including me, Marie. Blessings to you and everyone in this community for today and the week ahead.
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I seem to have offended where I meant no offense. This post is less about my displeasure at the word, but at the fact that those NOT in CancerLand are sick of certain words, and how this might impact any advocacy we attempt in the future. I responded to your comment on my post and I will paste it here below. It seems I need to write a follow up post explaining my current state of mind and lack of passion for the issues that many others in this community are still passionate about. :
I DID think of you when I heard this podcast (a month ago, argh!) and the way they were deriding journey. I remember not liking it, feeling very strongly about it, early in my blogging days, and watching you discuss in comments section how you were OK with the journey. These days, with time and my current political activities creating a huge distance from cancer “experience” for me, I am rather detached about so many issues in CancerLand that once roused anger or passion in me. I kind of…don’t care–if that makes sense. This post is more of a rumination on how it all plays out, rather than advocating for anyone to use one term or another. Perhaps I am not making that clear these days.
You are absolutely correct–I can loathe that society forces the label or warrior on me, can even try hard to explain why this should not be automatic–but I can’t fuss about those who willing embrace the term. I’ve seen much intolerance on ALL sides in CancerLand, over every little thing, and I’m done with it.
As for keep journey out of narrative graphic–it is meant only to point the finger at the overuse of each phrase. To point out that to many, both words no longer mean…anything. I can decry the use of journey, but I use narrative, so what does that make me? Just as BORING.
I can love these end of year “words we are sick of” podcasts, but here is the problem: if we keep making these year end lists, we will soon run out of words for everything.
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Thanks Wendi for adding your comments – I’m not offended and I certainly respect your point of view – I just wanted to give some space for this discussion. I know you are not alone in not liking this term and you did make me smile with your comment about running out of words 🙂
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I think of my life as a path, one that turned left from wellness to the cancer path. Now I’m turning again to a path of remission.
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The discussion on journey is interesting – I choose to use it because I have had other journeys in my life, so it aligns with other, none health metaphors – or sometimes not even metaphors, but rather my reality … http://goingeast.ca/blog was a literal journey and the journey that got me started as a serious blogger – so it made sense to me that my cancer blog is a representation of my illness journey … but I appreciate that the metaphor doesn’t work for others … I think the metaphors make more sense when they are internalized rather then externally projected upon people.
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What a fantastic way to look at it Becky!
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Re metaphors: if it works for you, I don’t care if it doesn’t work for me. As for “journey” in particular, I love that word. Like you, Marie, it resonates with me. That’s because I see each on our individual paths, and each path is a journey through life. It’s easy to feel life is on hold or, worse, having jumped the track, but whatever our experience is, including illness, is part of our personal journey through the wilderness of life. I experience that in all its horrific glories and meaninglessness and whatever else. It’s where I am and it’s my path to navigate the best I know how.
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Thank you so much Eileen for such an insightful comment.
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Hi Marie,
Thank you for putting another roundup together for us and thank you for including my post about marginalizing experiences of others. Personally, I’m not a fan of the word journey when talking about cancer, but if it works for others, I’m fine with that. I think those who push back on some of the over-used terminology just want to be heard too. Don’t we all? Thanks for your comment on my post, too, Marie. I remember your wonderful post on marginalizing.
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Thanks for your thoughtful comment Nancy – I love what you say about wanting to be heard – Amen to that!
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