How do you feel about celebrities using cancer as a tool for profit?

Question

I have recently noticed that some semi-famous persons who gets cancer use it for personal gain. either by writing books or doing interviews with anyone who will listen. This is also catching on among everyday people like you and me, I was reading an article the other week about a mother whos' child is going through chemo right now and they are in the process of writing a book about it. some even go as far as saying that cancer was the best thing to happen to them (lance armstrong).

So how do you feel about it? Are they writing the books for others or for profit?
Can anyone really say that cancer was the best thing to happen to them?


(I have been living with cancer for 19 years, not a "survivor" yet)

Answer 1

I don't have strong feelings about people writing books about their cancer experiences; in fact one or two such books I've read have been excellent, such as Kate Carr's It's Not Like That Actually, and John Diamonds two books, Snake Oil and C - Because Cowards Get Cancer Too. Those books were very helpful to me, though I know there's a lot of dross written too and no doubt some people are making a profit from it.

Far worse are the people who write books about and make a profit from bogus alternative 'treatments' and 'cures' - now they are really making money from others' misery and desperation.

I have very strong feelings though about people who say cancer is the best thing that ever happened to them, a gift etc. Some gift. I don't believe them for a start, and I don' t think they do the rest of us any favours - some people who've never had cancer actually believe this nonsense and expect us all to be seeing a bluer sky and greener grass and hearing sweeter birdsong. It all helps people to perceive cancer as being less devastating and life threatening than it is. We can expect to see a lot more of this rubbish in the near future as Pink October (aka Breast Cancer Awareness Month) approaches.

For me cancer was the worst thing that ever happened to me; it was devastating to hear, its treatments were grueling, I will never be free of the fear that it might return and it has very probably robbed me of the long life and old age I always assumed I would have.

If I sound angry it's because I am. I'm actually fit and well (as far as I know - we never know what's going on inside) at the moment, and I'm very glad I'm NED (no evidence of disease) right now, but I wish - oh how I wish - it had never happened.

You'll NEVER hear me say it was the best thing that ever happened to me.

Answer 2

There is an assumption in your question that I do not understand. Why is profit bad? If a person writes a book or does interviews about cancer and other people read the book or listen to the interviews (which means those people must receive some benefit from doing so, otherwise they would do something else with their time and money), why is it bad that the person earns a profit?

p.s. do you earn any profits in life or are you on welfare? Note: a salary or job earnings equal "profit".

Answer 3

I have mixed feeling about the "profit from cancer" question.

I see your point, but only know from personal experience writing down your feelings on paper is kind of a way to deal with the diease. I have written down a lot in the last 2 years, but I don't know if I would go so far as to say publish it. It's kind of personal you know.

As far as cancer being the best thing, no. But.... I believe that everything happens for a reason. I believe in my case, I have gotten closer to my daughter since finding out I had Bone Marrow cancer. I had been working 60-70 hours a week and barely know her, now she is a real close buddy.

Answer 4

if everyday people like you and me write a book about cancer, it is likely to help offset the cost of the treatment as well as educate.