Message from tac

But I think - whatever the gravity of pain, and fear, which should never be belittled - you can to some extent decide to put up a fight, and try to combat it, e.g. with relative cheerfulness and/or a health regime, ... or else give up, perhaps too soon.


A lot of "official" language around health, illness, life and death is euphemistic, however - sometimes hypocritical ,and it can be quite alienating.


Someone "lost their life" may be said with the intention of lessening the blow, or to deny responsibility (or even the true reality).

"Collateral damage" is a classic of sanitising hypocrisy in wars.


But even "fall pregnant" is an odd phrase, which (wrongly) smacks of illness or original sin.


I don't think zat was beign at all belittling, or distracting from the truth of suffering.

Demelza wrote:
It really pisses me off when I hear it said that so and so, "lost their battle with cancer......."
It's not something you can choose to fight or battle.

Why not?

Guys its not time for this argument lets just wish Jack best of luck and hope that he recovers soon.

Yup. Agreed. I was just surprised that Dem objected to what was said. ...

PeterCS wrote:I don't think zat was beign at all belittling, or distracting from the truth of suffering.

No, I don't think he was either. I just think that the general wording needs to be changed a little, when referring to someone's struggle with cancer.

PlanetPakistan wrote:Guys its not time for this argument lets just wish Jack best of luck and hope that he recovers soon.

Couldn't agree more.

Basil wrote:Oh yes, and what about Jane Tomlinson - how would you describe her struggle if not a "battle"?

I understand what your saying but the way they say battle just makes it sound that you're some kind of failure if it 'wins,' which it invariably does.

Dem, might be worth backing right off that line in this thread...

Death comes for us all in the end. Good luck postponing it for as long as you bloody well can, Tac.

Demelza wrote:

Zat wrote:taccy, get well mate, don't let that bastard disease beat you.

Don't let it?

It really pisses me off when I hear it said that so and so, "lost their battle with cancer......."
It's not something you can choose to fight or battle.

Well your body fights the cancer but your mental attitude can make a huge difference to how you deal with what it throws at you. Let's face it for most people fighting back against something that wants to take your life away is a kind of a battle.

hope you make a full recovery mate...forums not the same without you

eowyn wrote:Well your body fights the cancer

No it doesn't.

Demelza wrote:

eowyn wrote:Well your body fights the cancer

No it doesn't.

Don't hijack this thread with a slanging match. Although I'm sure tac would love the homage, I find it a bit distasteful.

Take it somewhere else, please.

Didn't intend to

I believe tac.

tac wrote:Hello everyone.

I've been asked by Jack to thank you all for hours of fun.

Unfortunately, his latest check up has shown a recurrence of his stomach cancer and he is on his way back to Australia for treatment. Things don't look good.

I am covering for him at his office and will occassionally pass on messages from him.

The one thing he wants to say at this moment is how mch he enjoyed shooting the shit with you all, and how much he appreciates your interest in the great game (I prefer tennis myself).

So cheers from Jack and let's hope he will get through.

Holy schizenheimers.

Man, that is sh!te news, taccy. Good luck man. On the upside, personal experience says that a good oncologist will fight tooth and nail for you. I can recommend a beauty.

Hang in there, dude.

Demelza wrote:

eowyn wrote:Well your body fights the cancer

No it doesn't.

Dem is right. It's quite the opposite - the tumours fight your body. You have to poison both tumours and body and hope the body recovers first.

I can understand how a positive mindset can help you deal with the treatment that follows diagnosis, but I actually think it does more for the people around you, ie it appears to them that you aren't giving up.

Nobody could be more positive than my wife. She simply does not believe that her cancer can take her, and yet it has now recurred three times. Unfortunately, the human spirit cannot match modern medicine in fighting this cursed blight.

God bless her skully, and you.
Good night

Happy zzzzzzzs, Dem.

THis thread has gone several ways - partly, I am sure, because it is more personal and more intense than most we usually discuss, and partly because it is difficult to know how to take the opening post - but to return to sancta simpicitas ... all the best to your girl and yourself, scully.

Even on a thread where it's announced that tac has cancer, airhead Demelza still manages to veer it of course with an irrelevant 'argument'.

Stay mentally strong Jack. That is more than half the battle when fighting such nasties. You will be back soon.

Best wishes tac.