Friend or Foe? (A Rhetoric of Cancer Reaction Paper)

                In almost every occasion, cancer has always been depicted as an enemy. It has always been some kind of monster, a bane to man’s existence which we only hope to fight, not knowing who will come out victorious. It’s not only one fight but a war; we have declared a war on cancer. Organizations across the world have broadcast the message of our battle against cancer where they encourage those afflicted by it to fight until the last breath. But is it truly a foe?

                A Rhetoric of Cancer is a podcast that deals with how we think of cancer. It speaks of how we view it, how we take it, and how we cope with it. What makes it different though is how the speaker views cancer. Andrew Graystone, the speaker and creator of the podcast, views cancer somewhat differently. Instead of looking at cancer as an enemy that should be fought, he thinks of cancer as a part of him that should be accepted and lived with side by side. He doesn't try to fight the cancer and deny the fact that he is a cancer patient but instead he thinks of cancer as something that should be accepted and as something that you should live with throughout your lifetime.

                As I was first listening to it, it made me think that the guy was insane. I have seen my fair share of loved ones who passed away due to the cancer that the sole idea of “befriending” cancer sounded so naïve and outrageous of an idea to me. However, as I continued to listen to his reasoning and as I further thought about it, I began to understand why he thought that way. Looking back at all the people I have met who were afflicted with cancer, they all tried to fight it but to no avail. They still fell to the illness no matter how hard they fought. So maybe fighting it isn't the solution after all? After listening to Andrew, I believe so.

 I think what the speaker wanted to say was that we shouldn't solely focus on getting rid of cancer from our lives but instead accept it as a part of our life. This acceptance will help us move on with our lives and help us get most out of life. We can make new friends, meet old ones, have fun with our families, enjoy new experiences, and create more memories with those we love instead of just lying down in a hospital room, playing on the chances of curing the disease. He tells us to pay more attention to the quality of the life we live and not to the quantity of which we live. Getting cancer does not mean that it’s the end of your life and you should throw it away, contrary in fact. Having cancer should mean that you should cherish life more, to make the most of it, and to live as if you may die any moment so that when the final bell tolls, you won’t have any regrets.

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