🛑STOP F*CKING SAYING THIS🛑

As a person who recently completed Breast cancer treatment, and whose husband died from Brain Cancer, I want to ask that we all STOP using the “battle” language when talking about someone who died from cancer. They DIED. Say the word. When you use “lost battle with”, you make it sound like they just didn’t fight hard enough.

It is infuriating! We don’t say that about any other disease. Folks, we are all mortal. Something will take us all out someday. No exceptions. So let’s call it what it is - they died. Then spend your words talking about how they lived.

If my cancer returns, and I die as a result, NOBODY better say that I “lost my battle with cancer.” NOT ONE PERSON. If you do, I will haunt you. Instead, spend your energy talking about how I lived fully - and perhaps my love of poetry, metaphor, humor, and of course, expletives!

Thank you for your attention to this matter,

❤️Lisa

P.S. I also hate talking about people as “fighters” and even though I’m cancer-free, “survivor” doesn’t sit well with me either. Perhaps a post for another post.

‼️EDIT‼️ because of the overwhelming response to this post here on Substack, on Instagram and on LinkedIn, I wrote a more in-depth essay about the topic and included some of your feedback. You can find it at AFGO with Lisa Keefauver on Substack.