Sabine Faress

Stop Sweeping Cancer Under the Rug

Several conversations can’t be brought up at the dinner table and certainly not at family gatherings in the Middle East. Taboo topics that are discussed worldwide whether that be mental health or sexual harassment have yet to be openly disclosed among Arabs, and unfortunately, cancer makes it on the list.

It’s very unlikely for cancer to be brought up in a conversation longer than two seconds before the topic is dismissed. And it’s even more unlikely to hear the word “cancer” in the region, but rather the typical phrase “that malignant disease”. This disease caused by uncontrollable cell-division is one the fastest growing illnesses in the world, and yet, all hell breaks loose with tragedy seemingly closer the moment the words roll off somebody’s tongue.

Our society, although known to be vocal about various things, cannot seem to find the right words to say to a family member or a friend who has just revealed is the newest victim of this “malignant disease”. Truth be told, no one wants to go to the hospital and hear the dreadful news, and everyone tries to avoid having to spread it to their family and friends.

Many immediately think about negative prospects: pain, suffering, and ultimately, death. Others cannot find the right thoughts nor words to communicate their feelings, thus they deliberately distance themselves and choose to disappear. The reason for this behavior is simple: our society is not trained to deal with cancer, because this topic has been dismissed far too long.

Despite the fragile state of cancer patients, it is often the family members who seem to experience negative attitudes the most with their minds crafting endless scenarios each one more dreadful than the one before it. The lack of awareness about the issue often leads families to sweep cancer under the rug and indefinitely keep it a secret, fearing the reactions they might receive after the word gets out. While patients are typically treated like porcelain dolls on the verge of breaking, their loved ones find themselves walking on eggshells around them.

Cancer is indeed a disease you don’t wish on anyone, however, it is a part of life as much as any other. Upon diagnosis, patients require constant support and love to help them fight the battle. And for that, it is equally important for them to understand what the battle is and why they are fighting it.

Today, we’re in 2021. Every day a new groundbreaking discovery is uncovered, there is an entire agenda dedicated to space exploration missions, and rules and laws across the world are being created and others modified. However, like all the years prior, cancer remains a foreign topic, and it’s time we change that.

Medical researchers around the world have been investigating for years all the ways to eradicate this disease, and with the rapid medical advances, treating cancer has become easier, but the treatment can take a patient so far. It is the compassion, love, and understanding of their loved ones that can help make the change.

So, say the name of the disease and bring it up at dinner, talk about it with your family and loved ones, normalize the conversation and decrease the fear towards it.

It’s about time we scratch “cancer” out of the Middle East’s list of taboo topics.