Why I Don't Say 'Cancer-Free': Superstition, N.E.D. and the Evil Eye
Key Takeaways
- Threat cues can be idiosyncratic; one person’s somatic alarm does not mandate avoidance for others absent corroborating safety data.
- Post-treatment identity is negotiated through language; “cancer-free” may be replaced with “no evidence of disease” to manage uncertainty and social reactions.
A breast cancer survivor explains why she avoids saying 'cancer-free,' choosing N.E.D. and superstition instead to protect her hard-won health."
My friend Jenny is a sensitive person. She picks up vibes that most people might ignore. For instance, we were talking about a part of town where they’re closing stores due to customer theft. She said that she went into a national major department store over there and instantly felt evil, immense danger. Her feelings have something to do with a violent gang which she believed frequented this store. Needless to say, she avoids the store and other places in that vicinity.
What do we do with reactions such as this? Should I avoid this national major department store? The answer is a firm no because I do not get this feeling when I frequent this place. This store is a venue to buy nice clothing and/or holiday items. I like this store. I do not find it evil.
Another friend of mine reminds me often of avoiding calling down “the evil eye.” He says this when I declare that “I am cancer-free and have been for ten years.” If I dare make this kind of statement, he tells me not to say this because I will call down the evil eye. So, I remove statements like this from my lexicon and instead say, “It’s been a while since I’ve had to deal with cancer.”
Am I afraid that cancer will come back if I dare the issue and proclaim that the cancer is completely gone? Let’s put it this way. I’d rather be careful and avoid statements like these brazen ones above. Anything to stay healthy.
Having cancer can alter our language, the way we word things. I guess I should say “I am N.E.D., a person with no evidence of disease.” This might be a better way to describe my state.
Truth be told, it would suit me fine if I never talked about cancer. But the subject creeps in at places like high school reunions where I am asked, “So what’s new in the past 40 years?” Someone asked me that. And I hit him with “Two bouts of breast cancer and years of treatment to deal with it.” Funnily enough, the guy looked me in the eyes and said, “Sorry to hear that,” and promptly walked away. It was a party after all; he didn’t want to dwell on the negative. He’d rather have another cocktail and speak to the Pilates teacher with a great health track record.
Day to day, I don’t think about evil much. I did grow up Catholic, and I did see The Exorcist and was terrified by it. And it goes without saying, I won’t have a Ouija board in my home. At baptisms, I pray the prayer that rejects Satan and all his empty promises. I guess I do try to stay away from the bad side of things.
At least we’ve advanced to a place where we (the collective health community) don’t think that evil causes disease, like some folks used to. We have science to disprove this.
But my friend and his evil eye comments? I live with them. He’s just trying to keep me safe and “N.E.D.”
I’ll take whatever good vibes anyone throws at me.
My Goodness, cancer was a bad trip. I know one thing; cancer didn’t hit me because of an evil spell, but it did leave my body with the help of modern, Western medicine and a great deal of prayer. I am a believer in prayer.
Don’t call down the evil eye. But if you do, I will knock on wood for you.
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