Naming your tumor to help cope? - Cancer Message Board

seanw123 · 08-04-2008, 01:56 PM

Hi everyone,

Has anyone here given their tumor a human name in order to better cope with it? I have heard of this being done but how common is it? For those of you that do this, what are the advantages: making you laugh, increasing your desire to fight, separating it from yourself emotionally, something else? Overall, do you think it is a helpful coping strategy?

Lindaru · 08-04-2008, 08:54 PM

You pose an interesting question. The only condition I ever gave a name to was "Aunt Martha" who was coming to visit when I would have my monthly. In thinking about it, I would say putting the condition into the perspective of the third person means that they do not plan to stay forever and are only there for a short time. It might give hope to people with serious illnesses like cancer patients.

Lindaru