to have such a strong reaction to this advert for cancer?

[FarleyD]

I'm talking about the advert where people throw insults around, eg there's a little girl saying "you make me sick", someone else saying "cancer you twat", someone saying "we're going to get you" etc.

I don't watch much tv, and adverts barely register on my radar. I'm suprised at the strength of my reaction to this ad. I don't know what it is about it but it almost makes me feel queasy. Maybe it's the fact that the ad suggests the power is in our hands to "fight" this pernicious disease. It just doesn't sit right with me.

Does anyone else feel this way? Can anyone explain why I feel like this?! And aibu?

[EchoBitch]

I did mean goodness.

[Shelly32]

whereyouleftit Thank you. X I've spoken to my GP. She told me I'm perfectly healthy and need to get over the death of my Nan. I don't think that was particularly helpful. I'd never let my girls know I was scared of dying (from something I don't have as far as I know) but my poor husband has to put up with me waking at 1am on occasions and worrying. I just need to get my head around the fact that I need to 100% enjoy life while I am healthy.

[firesidechat]

Been thinking some more about this ad and can maybe see why some of us have a problem with it.

There is a bit of a culture within some areas of cancer care that, if you battle hard enough, you can defeat it through sheer willpower. It's a terrible idea that puts alot of pressure on sick people.

It might not be what the makers of the ad intended but it is instinctive to feel uneasy.

[WhereYouLeftIt]

Agreed expat. In my mind's eye I guess I always see cancer as my cells that just won't die when they're supposed to, clogging up the works like piles of useless junk in the home of a hoarder. But; so many different places to damage, so many different things that can set the ball rolling, so many different symptoms, so many different prognoses. I just can't see the word 'cancer' and think of it as one thing. Maybe helps that my mother's on her third variation ...

My sympathies for the loss of your daughter.

[expatinscotland]

Shelly, you need to see another GP and get a referral to CAMHS. Your fears are unhealthy and affecting your quality of life and family.

[WhereYouLeftIt]

"It might not be what the makers of the ad intended"
I'm sure they didn't intend it. But shouldn't they have picked up on how it would play to the general public, where it would be interpreted in this way by a sizable number of people? Aren't the ad-makers professionals?

[Punkatheart]

I am a cancer patient. I hate hate hate the language of 'battle' and 'fight' that is used.

Cancer is bad luck. It can be helped with medicine, good luck and treatment.

For people who 'lose' - how do you think it makes them feel? Some people simply cannot fight when they are suffering/dying of illness. They are weak, sad, want to privately mourn and enjoy their lives as best they can. Some refuse treatment - a deeply personal statement. Then some idiot says 'You should fight it - not give in.'

There should be more empathy and a realisation that many of us, who are having a shitty time, hate this kind of language.

[ColinFirthsGirth]

I really disliked this advert from the first time I saw it. I feel that we should be encouraging hope which is a far more positive emotion than anger. I also dislike the angry wording in it and I don't think it ultimatley helps anyone.

[expatinscotland]

'In my mind's eye I guess I always see cancer as my cells that just won't die when they're supposed to, clogging up the works like piles of useless junk in the home of a hoarder. '

That's essentially what they are. They don't grow the way they are supposed to. They grow all wrong, with all sorts of genetic mutations within the cells, and sabotage the organ or function to your detriment. With DD1, the form of cancer she had caused the bone marrow to produce immature granulocytes, all fucked up, to the point where her bone marrow was not working properly.

[EggyFucker]

Oh my goodness, so glad to see this thread

DH and I hate this advert

I think it trivialises cancer as something to "kick ass" against

I hate the empty and meaningless aggression of the comments

I hate the way it presumes throwing money at cancer will chase it away

If it really were just a matter of kicking cancer's ass, wouldn't it be so simple ?

[HolyMackerel]

I also really dislike this advert, and am in remission from cancer myself at the moment after 18 months of treatment. It just reminds me that cancer is big business these days, that the disease I was unlucky enough to get, and which has destroyed aspects of my life, pays many salaries/media budgets.

I used to work for CRUK years back and saw where a lot of their money went, and as a result would never donate to them.

I hate all the battling/fighting talk too, it's bullshit. And I agree that too little goes to 'rare' cancers.

Macmillan on the other hand have been a tower of strength and have really helped me through some dark times, I have time for them as they actually help and advise those with cancer, and their families/carers.

[EchoBitch]

You just don't get to kick cancers ass.

As if cancer were an entity.

It is just bad luck.

You get treatment and hope for the best.

I hate that ad and so does DP.

[Panzee]

I can see why they have done it.
But then it's "Cancer, I'm coming to get you".

You want to get cancer? Eh?
And then that's all I can think about. It's a bit facetious but that's what I think.

[expatinscotland]

'Then some idiot says 'You should fight it - not give in.'

Exactly! A friends of mine was shocked when her dear friend, in her late 50s, elected not to treat. But she has a form of cancer that is not curable, it has mets, and the treatment will severely affect the quality of the time she has left. After frank discussions with her consultant and other doctors (she is single), she made the decision for herself.

There's nothing to 'fight'.

[Shelly32]

Expat I'm sure you're just trying to be kind, but CAHMS?? Let's not go there. My children are happy, smart, well- adjusted and loved more than anything. It's just me probably that needs to do exactly what the first GP said. It's just easier said than done. I don't think I'm ever going to let my feelings out on MN again! Over the top totally!

[EchoBitch]

It is shitty to die from anything when you are young.


But all that 'battle' talk and 'fighting' talk....

Not for me/us.

[Greydog]

It's a hateful advert, and I agree it made me feel queasy when I saw it. But, I do wonder how much is really spent on research. AIDs research seems to have made huge strides in a relatively short time. I saw a quote on something that said Pharmacetical companies do not create cures, they create customers, and that makes me wonder.

[expatinscotland]

Shelly, you're waking in the middle of the night with worry over a disease you do not have and may never get and you're saying it's OTT to get mental health assistance with that? Okay.

[whiteandyellowiris]

all this i beat cancer stuff is so so insensitive.

it is not a battle, you dont have the power

it takes you or you get very very fucking lucky

people liek to convince themselves this sort of theing wont happen to them, in a well if i got cancer i'll beat it
deluding themselves they have control

well they dont

so stop it now, and think of others lost to cancer

[EchoBitch]

Fear of dying of cancer isn't irrational.

Cancer can and does kill many people.

Most elderly people only get diagnosed with cancer in A&E after an accident when it's too late to do anything.

But many also get cured,that is what we have to remember.

[Shelly32]

Doesn't pretty much everyone who's lost someone to cancer worry about getting it? I think I also have guilt about having smoked for 10 yrs (7 years smoke free now). I can't be the only one.

[Shelly32]

And i don't think it's something that needs a mental health therapist, esp if I've been to my doc and she wasn't particularly bothered!

[expatinscotland]

No, it isn't irrational, Echo, but if you're waking in the night from it and it's not even a reality for you yet, it's affecting your life and there's help for that.

[expatinscotland]

'Doesn't pretty much everyone who's lost someone to cancer worry about getting it?'

No. I'm sure some do, but some don't.

[Spero]

I agree with all those so are just bemused that cancer, alone of all the things that can kill us, is given this personality and treated like a creature that we can beat and make scared.

It doesn't make any sense to me. I explained my diagnosis to my daughter as my cells were growing where they shouldn't as something had gone wrong with them. That's all it is - not some monster rampaging through my body that I have to 'fight'. I don't see that as either a helpful or relevant image for my 8 year old.

I will endure the chemo and radiotherapy to come and hope that all the malignant cells have died. But please don't slap me on the back and tell me I am 'kicking cancer's arse' because it just makes no sense at all. And a nice message for my daughter if I do die - o mummy didn't fight hard enough! She didn't make the nasty cancer sufficiently scared!