The Cancer Stigma

I was moved to write about today's topic after reading the experience of a reader HC who made a comment in the previous post "The Precious Human Life." I hope to create some awareness here. .

Despite treatment advances and extended survival rates, cancer remains a stigmatised disease and people with cancer  have to contend with societal attitudes, prejudices and discrimination solely based on their cancer history. People respond differently to them and may negatively stereotype them as a "cancer victim' or believe that cancer is an automatic death sentence. Because of this, many people with cancer prefer not to disclose their disease publicly. This only leaves them feeling alienated when they should be receiving support.

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The following is an excerpt from an article published in PBS NewsHour:-
"The last thing a person needs after receiving a cancer diagnosis is to feel ostracized by friends or fear being left by a loved one. But in many countries, the stigma attached to cancer and the perception that cancer equals death creates great social costs for patients.

Patients often voice fears of being blamed for the diagnosis, and that some survivors have shared stories about husbands who left when they learned of the disease. A survey of nine countries,   highlighted at the International Conference on Global Health found that 25 percent of respondents believe cancer patients brought the disease on themselves.

Jesmin Shafiq, a doctor from Bangladesh but who works in Australia had a sister-in-law who died of breast cancer because she refused to go to a doctor. “She thought it was a shame on her, so she kept it to herself, that led to her advanced condition and that led to her death,” Shafiq said. Feelings of guilt, that the patient did something wrong and will be a financial burden to their families also contribute to people not wanting to seek medical help.

It's only in the last decade that people have really become open about talking about cancer diagnoses. Survivors sharing their stories, showing that they continue to thrive after treatment, is part of the key to dispelling stigma. Dispelling the idea that cancer can only mean death is also vital to encourage people to take preventative measures and seek care. If they believe there is nothing to be done for the disease, they won't take steps to save themselves".

If you are a close family member or friend of the one diagnosed, you too will be grieving, even if the prognosis is very good. You may be consumed with an urgency to fix the problem, but then be overwhelmed with feelings of helplessness or blame. All this is a normal part of being traumatized by the news of the diagnosis.

• Just try to stay present and listen without judgment. You may be uncomfortable to hear your loved one talk about death, but that may be what they need to do.
• Avoid exaggerating the gravity of the situation.
• Avoid minimizing the situation with “Everything is going to be alright,” or “The surgery will be a piece of cake.”
• Stay calm and let them talk about whatever they want to. Just be present with them as they go through the inevitable shock and emotional turmoil. If you don’t know what to say, just listen and say nothing.
• And be there for the practical stuff: telephone calls, organizing visits, transportation etc The last thing they need right is to be fretting about practical arrangement 

It is understandable that though people may have good intentions, they do not know what to say. Some fear erroneously, that the disease is contagious. It helps to ponder on how we would like to be treated if we were in their shoes. Everyone wants to be counted and accepted as a useful member of the human race, even when they are weak or sick. None of us like being "written off" or treated as any lesser than a "normal" human being. We fear abandonment and so do people with cancer. At this crucial time, they need to be treated normally, with dignity, respect and love. So, for the sake of our loved ones and friends, let us educate ourselves about the disease and equip ourselves to be the support that they need.

Chang had a very admirable attitude. He often said that there is no shame in getting cancer. In fact, that was one of the first things he disclosed to people about himself. He had no qualms sharing on public forums. And he always encouraged patients to talk about it openly because the burden of shame is not conducive to  the healing process.

Have you encountered similar experiences? It would be helpful to  share so that we can all learn from your experiences to be more sensitive towards the sick.