Don't call us heroes or victims, cancer patients say

Don't call us heroes or victims, cancer patients say Cancer patients don't want to be called heroes or victims, research has shown. Many also object to being told they are 'battling' or 'fighting' the illness as they feel under pressure. A survey by Macmillan has found that most patients would prefer to talk in clear, factual language and avoid cliches. Of the 2,040 cancer patients who responded, 42 per cent said terms such as 'hero' were disempowering. Another 30 per cent said they felt the words put them under pressure to be positive and 24 per cent found them isolating. Mail Online

See Also:

• Cancer cliches to avoid: I'm not 'brave' BBC News