Cancer as a journey, rather than a battle: How we perceive the illness might affect outcomes

Cancer can seem daunting and arbitrary — it’s no surprise that many individuals describe it as a battle. However, with cancer patients experiencing longer lifespans due to an influx of new treatments and research breakthroughs, a new metaphor might be timely.

Norbert Schwarz, a Provost Professor of psychology at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, regards cancer — alongside cancer prevention — as more akin to a journey. Schwarz, a co-director of the USC Dornsife Mind & Society Center, and his former postdoctoral fellow David Hauser (currently an associate professor of Psychology at Queen’s University, Ontario, Canada) have investigated how the warrior mentality may unintentionally hinder healthy behaviors.

In this dialogue, Schwarz elaborates on various perspectives to interpret a cancer diagnosis.

You’ve discussed the issue of framing cancer with combat metaphors. Can you elaborate?

Schwarz: In a series of research studies, we discovered that combat metaphors and war analogies diminish healthy individuals’ propensity to adopt prevention actions that lower the risk of cancer, like health-promoting activities and lifestyle adjustments. Such “soft” approaches feel incompatible with the context of combat rhetoric. Individuals tend to think, “That’s not how you engage in a war. To fight a war, you deploy substantial weapons.”

But doesn’t portraying it as a battle encourage people to be more alert?

Schwarz: We found no supporting evidence among healthy individuals. Battle metaphors did not enhance their screening intentions nor the perceived urgency of possible warning signals. Instead, such metaphors tended to instill a slightly more fatalistic view of cancer among healthy individuals and make them less inclined to partake in preventative health behaviors. Despite this, numerous cancer fundraising organizations use combat metaphors, which appear to drive donations.

What alternatives exist to the battle metaphor?

Schwarz: Metaphors geared towards prevention that emphasize healthy lifestyles aimed at keeping cancer at bay would be more beneficial. Lifestyle modifications in pursuit of optimal health can be depicted as a “healthy journey.” Journeys necessitate active participation, tend to be enjoyable, and lead toward a favorable destination. However, they also involve challenges and deviations along the path, which require management. This kind of framing fosters engagement and prevents fatalism while recognizing potential hardships. Thankfully, journey metaphors are gaining traction in this domain.