I wrote this for the blog I mentioned in my last post, but I want to post it here too so people realize just what a stain of a human being this woman is:
Making news this morning was alleged comedian Jennifer Saunders star of TV comedy Absolutely Fabulous making the extraordinary claim that cancer survivors wear their suffering as a badge and revel in the attention they receive.
Now as a general rule I try to keep what I write here mostly free from coarse language. While I may swear like a sailor for the most part in real life, I do what I can to be more professional in what I write. Fair warning though; a great deal of this may not be PG rated.
Now this story strikes a particularly personal chord with me as my own mother has fought (and beaten) breast cancer, as well as seeing other family members and friends battle other forms of cancer also. It absolutely disgusts me to see anyone, anywhere use other peoples suffering to further their own agenda.
Supporters of Saunders have taken to comments sections online to defend her, saying that what she said has been taken out of context. So, in the interest of fairness, lets take a quick look at what exactly she has said:
It is the job you dont have to work for
You suddenly get so much attention, and if youre not used to that, I bet it can sway you a little bit.
They must be so pissed off when their hair grows back
First of all, its the job you dont have to work for. Beyond being patronising in the extreme, its complete fucking nonsense. Does cancer pay well? Are there penalty rates? Other perks? Most cancer sufferers HAVE a job, a job that is impacted by their disease and their treatment, losing income among other things, some as simple as the contact they enjoy with friends and colleagues.
And claiming they can be swayed by the attention they receive? Are you fucking kidding me? Are you referring to the concern of friends and family worried that their loved one MAY NOT FUCKING SURVIVE!?
Last but not least that the sufferers must be pissed off when their hair grows back. Sure. Ive seen my own mother go through chemotherapy and radiotherapy for her breast cancer. Beyond the trauma and other associated side effects of the treatment itself, its heart-breaking just to see the effect it has on their self esteem and their outlook. It may seem such a trivial thing in the grand scheme of their battle with the disease but the effects cannot be overlooked nevertheless.
Oh except were not supposed to refer to it as a battle either, because Its not a great three-part TV drama full of moments. Its a long grind, like a slow car crash that will last five years and then, hopefully, well get out. (Thats a direct quote once again, by the way).
Now while Im aware shes obviously using it simply as a (poor) analogy, Ive been involved in a car crash. It was both terrifying and painful. The prospect of enduring that for 5 years is horrifying and absolutely something worth celebrating if youre lucky enough to come out the other side. Theres many who dont.
Im not naive, I have no doubt there may be the odd one or two people out there that would use it to big themselves up. I get that. But to generalise that behaviour so as to imply that it is anyway common is beyond irresponsible, its reprehensible.
And none of this is even mentioning the potential knock-on effect of the impact it may have on people who have yet to have themselves tested. Men in particular who are at risk for forms of cancer such as prostate or colon cancer are already reluctant in the extreme to have themselves checked for fear of the impact on their manliness. Now they need to worry about whether people will paint them as attention seekers also? We need people, especially people in the public eye, to be encouraging people to have themselves checked, not giving them more reasons not to.
Yes, a lot of cancer sufferers and survivors make a big deal out of having cancer. BECAUSE HAVING CANCER IS A BIG FUCKING DEAL! Everyone has a responsibility to raise awareness and try to lift the stigma that this potentially life threatening condition still has, not contribute to it.
http://totalbullshitblog.wordpress.com/2013/09/30/absolutely-full-of-it/
Making news this morning was alleged comedian Jennifer Saunders star of TV comedy Absolutely Fabulous making the extraordinary claim that cancer survivors wear their suffering as a badge and revel in the attention they receive.
Now as a general rule I try to keep what I write here mostly free from coarse language. While I may swear like a sailor for the most part in real life, I do what I can to be more professional in what I write. Fair warning though; a great deal of this may not be PG rated.
Now this story strikes a particularly personal chord with me as my own mother has fought (and beaten) breast cancer, as well as seeing other family members and friends battle other forms of cancer also. It absolutely disgusts me to see anyone, anywhere use other peoples suffering to further their own agenda.
Supporters of Saunders have taken to comments sections online to defend her, saying that what she said has been taken out of context. So, in the interest of fairness, lets take a quick look at what exactly she has said:
It is the job you dont have to work for
You suddenly get so much attention, and if youre not used to that, I bet it can sway you a little bit.
They must be so pissed off when their hair grows back
First of all, its the job you dont have to work for. Beyond being patronising in the extreme, its complete fucking nonsense. Does cancer pay well? Are there penalty rates? Other perks? Most cancer sufferers HAVE a job, a job that is impacted by their disease and their treatment, losing income among other things, some as simple as the contact they enjoy with friends and colleagues.
And claiming they can be swayed by the attention they receive? Are you fucking kidding me? Are you referring to the concern of friends and family worried that their loved one MAY NOT FUCKING SURVIVE!?
Last but not least that the sufferers must be pissed off when their hair grows back. Sure. Ive seen my own mother go through chemotherapy and radiotherapy for her breast cancer. Beyond the trauma and other associated side effects of the treatment itself, its heart-breaking just to see the effect it has on their self esteem and their outlook. It may seem such a trivial thing in the grand scheme of their battle with the disease but the effects cannot be overlooked nevertheless.
Oh except were not supposed to refer to it as a battle either, because Its not a great three-part TV drama full of moments. Its a long grind, like a slow car crash that will last five years and then, hopefully, well get out. (Thats a direct quote once again, by the way).
Now while Im aware shes obviously using it simply as a (poor) analogy, Ive been involved in a car crash. It was both terrifying and painful. The prospect of enduring that for 5 years is horrifying and absolutely something worth celebrating if youre lucky enough to come out the other side. Theres many who dont.
Im not naive, I have no doubt there may be the odd one or two people out there that would use it to big themselves up. I get that. But to generalise that behaviour so as to imply that it is anyway common is beyond irresponsible, its reprehensible.
And none of this is even mentioning the potential knock-on effect of the impact it may have on people who have yet to have themselves tested. Men in particular who are at risk for forms of cancer such as prostate or colon cancer are already reluctant in the extreme to have themselves checked for fear of the impact on their manliness. Now they need to worry about whether people will paint them as attention seekers also? We need people, especially people in the public eye, to be encouraging people to have themselves checked, not giving them more reasons not to.
Yes, a lot of cancer sufferers and survivors make a big deal out of having cancer. BECAUSE HAVING CANCER IS A BIG FUCKING DEAL! Everyone has a responsibility to raise awareness and try to lift the stigma that this potentially life threatening condition still has, not contribute to it.
http://totalbullshitblog.wordpress.com/2013/09/30/absolutely-full-of-it/