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Is just having cancer enough to be 'brave'?


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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/6215064.stm

 

Cancer girl shuns extra treatment

 

 

A 16-year-old leukaemia patient has decided to forego further treatment so she can enjoy the rest of her life.

 

Josie Grove, from Corbridge in Northumberland, has had two bone marrow transplants and a course of anti-cancer drugs which have not succeeded.

 

Having been told her condition is terminal, she is halting treatment which makes her feel ill, so she is able to enjoy time with her family.

 

Her parents say they fully approve of her decision.

 

Ms Grove, who enjoys art and swimming, was diagnosed with leukaemia two years ago when her family lived in Thailand.

 

They returned to the UK so she could be treated.

 

'Not frightened'

 

Josie said: "I've had enough of hospitals.

 

"A course of drugs I took in September left me feeling ill, shaky and aching, and it didn't do much to fight the cancer.

 

"I want to get on with my life and enjoy spending time with my family."

 

Her father, Cliff Grove, 46, said: "She is unique to be in this situation and deal with it in such a mature way.

 

"The transplants were pretty tough. She has just had enough of it and she is not frightened of the future and can understand it."

 

He added that her strength of character had made it easier for him and his 44-year-old wife, Jacqui.

 

His daughter's courage has been recognised by the Brave Hearts charity, based in Hexham.

 

She will be honoured along with 11 other local children at a ceremony in Newcastle United's St James' Park on Thursday.

 

Nowt against this lass, good luck to her, I don't think I'd be smiling so wide in the face of death. But I've always wondered about the papers and that calling people 'brave' when they have cancer, no matter how they cope with it. Kylie has 'bravely' fought it and this lass has 'bravely' refused to fight it. It's a win win situation tbh, just get cancer and no matter how you cope you'll be made welcome at SJP. What does a cancer sufferer have to do to be called soft?

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I'd say it probably is, because its a hell of a decision to make, either get treatment which might allow you to survive, but will be a very long, painful and tiring experience. Or do you just say f*ck it and enjoy life while you can but know that in doing so you're going to die.

 

Its not a decision I'd like to make.

Edited by Tom_NUFC
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/6215064.stm

 

Cancer girl shuns extra treatment

 

 

A 16-year-old leukaemia patient has decided to forego further treatment so she can enjoy the rest of her life.

 

Josie Grove, from Corbridge in Northumberland, has had two bone marrow transplants and a course of anti-cancer drugs which have not succeeded.

 

Having been told her condition is terminal, she is halting treatment which makes her feel ill, so she is able to enjoy time with her family.

 

Her parents say they fully approve of her decision.

 

Ms Grove, who enjoys art and swimming, was diagnosed with leukaemia two years ago when her family lived in Thailand.

 

They returned to the UK so she could be treated.

 

'Not frightened'

 

Josie said: "I've had enough of hospitals.

 

"A course of drugs I took in September left me feeling ill, shaky and aching, and it didn't do much to fight the cancer.

 

"I want to get on with my life and enjoy spending time with my family."

 

Her father, Cliff Grove, 46, said: "She is unique to be in this situation and deal with it in such a mature way.

 

"The transplants were pretty tough. She has just had enough of it and she is not frightened of the future and can understand it."

 

He added that her strength of character had made it easier for him and his 44-year-old wife, Jacqui.

 

His daughter's courage has been recognised by the Brave Hearts charity, based in Hexham.

 

She will be honoured along with 11 other local children at a ceremony in Newcastle United's St James' Park on Thursday.

 

Nowt against this lass, good luck to her, I don't think I'd be smiling so wide in the face of death. But I've always wondered about the papers and that calling people 'brave' when they have cancer, no matter how they cope with it. Kylie has 'bravely' fought it and this lass has 'bravely' refused to fight it. It's a win win situation tbh, just get cancer and no matter how you cope you'll be made welcome at SJP. What does a cancer sufferer have to do to be called soft?

 

Cancer sufferers are brave unless they take their own lives, which makes them cowards. [\Fish]

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The papers labelling anyone who has any sort of illness brave is a load of shite but I don't mind a few kids getting a bravery award. Its a day for them to feel special and seeing as a lot of them won't be around for much longer I wouldn't begrudge them that.

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Guest Patrokles

That crip on a trip thread also raises an issue about how people with illness/disability are perceived/treated. It really seems irrelevent what they are like as people. I am sure there are some real twats with disabilities who are treated with a lot more sympathy and patience than any number of essentially good, nice, but maybe slightly odd-looking/socially maladept types, who are shunned and sometimes even ridiculed.

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That crip on a trip thread also raises an issue about how people with illness/disability are perceived/treated. It really seems irrelevent what they are like as people. I am sure there are some real twats with disabilities who are treated with a lot more sympathy and patience than any number of essentially good, nice, but maybe slightly odd-looking/socially maladept types, who are shunned and sometimes even ridiculed.

 

Good point. A person should be defined by what type of person they are, not what illnesses they have.

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The blind fella in curb your enthusiasm.

 

What a twat!

 

:)

haha :D

 

Or the guy in a wheelchair Larry almost runs over with his car... love how Larry doesn't even stop to think for one second about how the bloke's handicapped and just yells at him in true unprejudiced style.

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The blind fella in curb your enthusiasm.

 

What a twat!

 

:)

haha :D

 

Or the guy in a wheelchair Larry almost runs over with his car... love how Larry doesn't even stop to think for one second about how the bloke's handicapped and just yells at him in true unprejudiced style.

 

Or him with the speech impediment who parks in the disabled space.

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Cancer sufferers are brave unless they take their own lives, which makes them cowards. [\Fish]

 

:D

You might have a btter chance with one of these mate.

 

dock_rod_holders.jpg

 

cockend :)

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Actually, the bravery can come from going to the Docs for the first time to find out what a particular problem is, when deep down you know what it probably is but have tried to ignore it.

 

It can also come from telling your friends and family for the first time that you have a particular terminal illness and so hearing yourself say it for the first time and the realisation that brings.

 

Then perhaps from continuing to face the world and not shut yourself away in a box hoping its all just a bad dream.

 

So in some respects, yes I can understand why people are said to be brave just for dealing with it.

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Any kid facing up to something like this with a smile on their face and a positive outlook could reasonably be called brave tbh.

 

fuck yae I am so in agreemnemt !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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People will always be described as brave, and it would take braver person than me to disagree with such a description. Although I suppose if you label every cancer sufferer as brave the description does become rather redundant.

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I suppose facing the facts is brave in itself, but I'd love to see the papers tear someone apart for being a pussy about it. for (made up) example... It was 4 months ago Morrissey was diagnosed with bowel cancer and the ageing miserablist hasn't shut up about it since, the nationalistic emigrant had initially stayed in for 2 months with close friends saying he wept constantly and when consoled stamped his feet in a fit of petulance. Recently though, he's found it within himself to integrate with society again, but those unfortunate enough to converse with him have quickly realised that if the topic is not his ongoing pain, they'll get short shrift. He'll receive a bravery award next week ;)

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Id say that cancer is the catalyst to bring out bravery in many people...

 

 

However it doesnt automatically make you brave, its the fight, mental toughness and making decisions regarding cancer ;):

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Any kid facing up to something like this with a smile on their face and a positive outlook could reasonably be called brave tbh.

 

 

agreed. and anyone sitting behind a computer screen complaining that a 16year old cancer sufferer doesnt deserve a bravery award could reasonably be called an idiot tbh.

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Any kid facing up to something like this with a smile on their face and a positive outlook could reasonably be called brave tbh.

 

 

agreed. and anyone sitting behind a computer screen complaining that a 16year old cancer sufferer doesnt deserve a bravery award could reasonably be called an idiot tbh.

 

Who's done that like?

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It's a win win situation tbh, just get cancer and no matter how you cope you'll be made welcome at SJP. What does a cancer sufferer have to do to be called soft?

 

There are bount to be people on here who have unfortunately had to watch relatives battle with cancer and i dont suppose they see it as a win win situation.

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It's a win win situation tbh, just get cancer and no matter how you cope you'll be made welcome at SJP. What does a cancer sufferer have to do to be called soft?

 

There are bount to be people on here who have unfortunately had to watch relatives battle with cancer and i dont suppose they see it as a win win situation.

 

I've watched quite a few relatives fight cancer, and some die from it. But then I wasn't discussing cancer as a win win situation, more the media coverage of victims.

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Guest Patrokles

There's an alternative viewpoint, though. She's actually shunning the treatment because she doesn't want to go through the subsequent feeling shitty. Surely it's braver to endure with hope than to be a fatalist? Just throwing that out there.

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There's an alternative viewpoint, though. She's actually shunning the treatment because she doesn't want to go through the subsequent feeling shitty. Surely it's braver to endure with hope than to be a fatalist? Just throwing that out there.

 

 

Its terminal so its a choice of taking the treatment and maybe living a while longer but feeling shit all the time or accepting the inevitable without the side effects of the treatment.

 

I think she's doing the right thing but a lot of it might depend on your view of death.

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research shows that "fighting cancer" doesn't make any difference to the outcome TBH

 

 

The papers use "brave" to mean "thank God it isn't happening to me or my family"

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