end the war on cancer

I am so struck by the idea that there was a war declared against cancer in the 70’s. A war conjures up imagery of destruction, fighting, and competition. In it’s very definition a war is a state of hostility or conflict. So here we are, declaring a war on cancer. Marching in walks and parades as survivors of this war. Wearing coats of arms in the form of ribbons and colors that denote our class, ranking, and status.

But what is cancer? Simply speaking, cancer is defined as abnormal cells. They’re our own cells behaving abnormally.

So is participating in a war against cancer simply declaring a war on your self?

The human destruction seen during some treatments of cancer certainly supports the idea that self-destruction and conflict is a means to healing and fighting cancer. But how would the treatment and its effects be different if we declared Peace with Cancer?

“I was once asked why I don’t participate in anti-war demonstrations. I said that I will never do that, but as soon as you have a pro-peace rally, I’ll be there.”

― Mother Teresa

So, lets consider a world where we forgo anti-cancer rallies and participate in pro-health rallies. Where we come to peace with our cells in our body and find self-love instead of inner conflict.

I envision a world where instead of being someone that survived cancer they can talk about how cancer revived them. How through cancer they have been connected to a greater level of consciousness, health, and wholeness. Cancer brought them back to life. It is possible, and I see it happen everyday.

I encourage us all to demonstrate our peace efforts by choosing a life that involves healthy food, exercise, laughter, and forgiveness. Not because we need to change ourselves, but because we love ourselves so much we would never dream of committing the war crime of self-injury.

By making peace with your own body, you can share peace with others.

By declaring peace on cancer, we can begin to find ways to live within the pulses and rhythm of having this illness. We could easily go through the ebbs and flows of remission, recurrence, and remission again. It would be approached like a flare up of joint pain that can easily be put to rest, instead of a battle to the death that we will either win or lose.

If there was peace declared on cancer, no one would ever have to “loose their battle” when they die from cancer.

Death can be seen as a statement of peace. If expressed in peace and not war, death has the opportunity to embrace the release of the physical body in an act of freedom while the soul returns to the source of it all.

So I ask…who’s willing to raise the white flag? Who will stand for declaring peace with cancer?