Watching TV as a Person with Cancer
- Some cancer warriors struggle to see cancer used for “entertainment” purposes on TV shows and movies.
- If you’re feeling triggered by a cancer-related storyline in a TV show or movie, there are ways to try to avoid or relieve that anxiety such as switching to an old favorite show of yours or asking for tv and movie recommendations from friends who know you won’t want to watch something that touches upon the topic of cancer.
- Navigating life after you’ve been touched by cancer is hard, but it’s important to remember that you’re not alone.
Although we all wish it wasn’t, cancer is a part many peoples’ lives. According to the American Cancer Society, there will be an estimated 1.9 million new cancer cases diagnosed by the end of 2021, and it’s pretty rare to find someone who has never had a family member, friend or loved one touched by the disease.
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“I've been diagnosed and it seems like a lot of movies and shows have a character that has cancer or has a cancer scare,” read the original post by @skunkjunkfunk, a stage four cancer warrior. “As much as I love the representation I def just want to forget about it while I watch tv.”
Others quickly followed expressing similar sentiments.
“‘Mmm, tasty cancer drama’ – Hollywood writers, probably. I felt similar for the first few months after being diagnosed, but have become less and less annoyed with it as I've gotten further along in my treatments,” wrote DSRCT (desmoplastic small round cell tumors) warrior @tobyhatesmemes2. “Your mileage may vary, but it should pass.”
Others shared their thoughts on why they felt it was a common theme on TV and film, but there was no shortage of empathy for the original poster.
“Conflict and hardship will always interest people, and events like a cancer diagnosis (or murder, sexual abuse, natural catastrophe, etc) are a convenient and easy way to include conflict and hardship into a story,” wrote synovial sarcoma survivor @IeMang. “It sucks when you’ve experienced the hardship that’s been turned to entertainment, but sometimes that’s just the way it is.”
How to Watch TV if Cancer-Related Topics Feel Triggering
If you are feeling triggered by a cancer-related storyline in a tv show or movie, there are ways to try to avoid or relieve that anxiety. Below we’ve compiled a list of tactics to use if TV shows or movies that touch upon the topic of cancer are understandably hard to watch at this time.
- Switch to an old favorite. Everyone has that comedy series or classic movie they can count on for a pick-me-up. If you’re feeling upset because you happen to be surfing the channels or find yourself watching a program that surprised you with a cancer subplot, perhaps try changing it up to something you know and love.
- Ask for TV and movie recommendations. Being surprised by a cancer-related theme in a series or film can be distressing. If you know that cancer-related storylines are not what you’re searching for at this time, reach out to a trusted family member or friend and ask for suggestions that they know don’t touch upon the topic of cancer.
- If you still want to continue watching a TV show or film after being caught off guard by a cancer-related theme, try to gauge how you’re feeling. Is it worth continuing to watch? Is there something positive that you can gain from the program? If the answers to these questions are both a ‘no,’ it might not be the right choice. But if it’s still a program you enjoy, and there’s the potential for learning something from the characters or their experiences, then maybe continue viewing. The important thing is to try to know your limits and recognize when whatever’s on the screen is doing more harm than good.
- Take a break. If you’re feeling triggered because you stumbled upon a cancer-related topic on TV, maybe switch to something that you know brings you joy and calms you down. Whether it be painting, sudoku, reading or even just going for a walk, there’s no wrong answers. But separating yourself from the thing that’s making you upset can give you the space you need to overcome those negative feelings brought about by the TV show or movie.
- Remember you’re not alone. You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who has not been touched by cancer, and we know some cancer warriors struggle with TV entertainment touching upon the topic of cancer. If this is something you’ve been struggling with, perhaps try talking with people you consider to be a part of your support group including, if you can, other cancer warriors open to the conversation.
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