War on Cancer – This Expression Does More Harm Than Good

When it comes to cancer, war and similar military expressions may make people more fearful and even lead to worse disease outcomes, according to new research.

The widespread use of expressions such as "war", "battle" and "fight" in cancer may, according to psychological research into people's views of the disease, do more harm than good .

Researchers say that describing cancer in military terms makes it harder to treat and makes people feel that their disease is more deadly. In addition, viewing cancer as something to fightalso undermines efforts to prevent cancer and reduce cancer risks.

"War on Cancer" is language commonly used to motivate people and encourage early diagnosis, but the new study found no evidence that it does so.

Psychologist David Hauser of Queen's University in Canada "Our study suggests that battle metaphors may negatively affect how people think about cancer and that these thoughts may undermine people's intentions to engage in healthy behaviors" said.

Having Cancer Is Not a Fight or a War

Hauser and Norbert Schwarz, a professor of psychology at the University of Southern California, examined the effects of war metaphors on cancer treatment after noticing how widespread "war on cancer" language had become. For example, rather than simply having cancer, patients may be told that their bodies have been invaded by enemy cells and that many brave hero cells have been lost.

Hauser, "People use these war metaphors in cancer thinking that they have a beneficial effect, or at least no negative effect" said.

In four separate studies involving approximately 1000 healthy volunteers, researchers looked at how people's views changed after reading passages about cancer patients containing war metaphors, journey metaphors or no metaphors. War metaphors included words such as "fight", "attack" and "invasion".

The study concluded that, although military metaphors are used with good intentions, their consequences may not be benign. Cancer patients who read war metaphors were found to view cancer as more difficult than those who read journey metaphors or no metaphors.

Using War Metaphors in Cancer Led Cancer to Be Perceived as More Deadly

War metaphors are deeply entrenched in the language of cancer, and today it is almost impossible to think about cancer without the phrase "war on cancer". However, cancer organizations, the media and others should be aware that this language may not help cancer patients.

For a cancer patient, using war metaphors such as "brave", "warrior", "survivor" places the patient under unnecessary pressure . Even more troubling: is a patient who dies during this process a failure, and a patient who remains alive a success?!

Stop Fighting Cancer and Start Treating It Like Any Other Disease

If you cannot maintain a positive attitude or are having an emotionally difficult day, you feel as though you are letting people down. During cancer diagnosis and treatment, when the focus is on maintaining daily life, war metaphors are not constructive or helpful. Clear and truthful language should be preferred. Some patients describe themselves as "living with" an incurable cancer and feel more comfortable psychologically. They do not have to be brave or inspiring; they are simply trying to live the life they have left.

Did People Who Died from Cancer Die Because They Did Not Fight Hard Enough?

This is not true! This research gives organizations that continue to use war terminology an opportunity to reflect. The language we choose has profound consequences. For people talking about their own personal experiences, there are no right or wrong words, and some people view their cancer experience as a war or battle. However, we know that for many patients "fighting talk" may be unhelpful, and that patients whose cancer returns despite treatment may feel they have failed to "fight", or this may make them feel guilty or inadequate.

This study offers further evidence emphasizing the importance of sensitivity when communicating about cancer.