A pic of Jade Goody, bald - the 27-year-old former British Big Brother star who has now been given just months to live after her cervical cancer was found to have spread to the bowel, liver and groin - was flashed across Sky News tonight.
Then found this online posting by a journalist from the Observer UK who asks in connection with Goody:
"I'd like to ask how people feel about the media using the words "brave" and "battling" in connection with cancer sufferers."
http://www.whatnow.org.uk/cancer-forums/jade-goody-and-talking-about-cancer-observer-newspaper
Interesting idea. What do you think? Please leave a comment.
One reader, KateG, wrote of Goody's high profile fight against cancer: "Battling" and being "Brave" - What choice is there? One undergoes whatever treatment is offered in order to stay alive or at least prolong one's life. I suppose one could say a "Brave" patient is one who undergoes lots of horrible treatment without complaint. (And we all have our 'off' days when we fall apart and are not the least bit brave!)."
I see the point.
People have told me I am being brave. Some because I have been so open about having cancer. But what choice do I have? From when I lose my hair it will all become so public. A lot of my telling people has been selfish, to make it easier for me. Am dreading people looking at me in shock and horror as I walk around so obviously as someone having chemo.
By the way, Jade Goody looked fab in the pic on TV - bald and defiant.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7869090.stm
I live in Johannesburg, South Africa, where I was diagnosed with breast cancer on Thursday January 15 2009. This is my journey with cancer and other musings as surveyed - initially temporarily hairless - from under my hats.
No comments:
Post a Comment