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Fighting talk: How language can make us better

What impact does the language we use around cancer have on those living with the disease?

When we talk about cancer it鈥檚 often hard to find the right words. As we search for the perfect thing to say, we find ourselves reaching for familiar metaphors; the inspiring people fighting or battling their cancer.

Cara Hoofe is currently in remission from Stage 3 bowel cancer, she says it would be easy for her to say she鈥檚 beaten cancer. Yet she鈥檚 still uncomfortable with the terminology. If she鈥檚 won her fight, does that mean others have lost?

In this programme Cara asks experts what impact these militaristic metaphors actually have on those living with cancer, and asks current and former patients what we should talk about when we talk about cancer.

(Photo: Cancer patient laughing as she talks with a nurse. Credit: Science Photo Library)

Available now

27 minutes

Last on

Sun 16 Aug 2020 18:32GMT

Broadcasts

  • Wed 12 Aug 2020 10:32GMT
  • Wed 12 Aug 2020 15:32GMT
  • Wed 12 Aug 2020 21:32GMT
  • Wed 12 Aug 2020 22:32GMT
  • Sun 16 Aug 2020 18:32GMT