--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Where does my body end and an invader…" description: "\"Where does my body end and an invader start? And cancer, a tumor, is something you grow out of your own tissue. How does that happen? Where does medica..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e94/dave-debronkart-26209_ability_where-does-my-body-end-and-an-invader-st_2923219.png" --- # Where does my body end and an invader start? And cancer, a… ![“Where does my body end and an invader start? And cancer, a tumor, is something you grow out of your own tissue. How does that happen? Where does medical ability end and start?” quote by Dave deBronkart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e94/dave-debronkart-26209_ability_where-does-my-body-end-and-an-invader-st_2923219.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e94/dave-debronkart-26209_ability_where-does-my-body-end-and-an-invader-st_2923219.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e94/dave-debronkart-26209_ability_where-does-my-body-end-and-an-invader-st_2923219.png) > “Where does my body end and an invader start? And cancer, a tumor, is something you grow out of your own tissue. How does that happen? Where does medical ability end and start?” [Dave deBronkart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-debronkart/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The boundary between self and disease blurs, questioning where medical intervention ends and personal identity begins. **In simple terms:** Cancer challenges where our body ends and disease begins. Key Takeaway Recognize the personal impact of illness. Themes health identity boundary Mood empathetic thoughtful Type medical philosophical When to use this quote - patient care - medical research - personal health decisions Key Concepts medical ethics personhood Questions to Reflect On - Where do we draw the line between self and disease? - How does identity shift during illness? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex medical realities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Cancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cancer/) [Invader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invader/) [Medical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medical/) ## Related quotes > [I would love to start a cancer organization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-derulo/i-would-love-to-start-a-cancer-organization/) [Jason Derulo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-derulo/) > [Me being me, I put the numbers from my hospital's website from my tumor sizes into a spreadsheet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-debronkart/me-being-me-i-put-the-numbers-from-my-hospital-s-website-from-my/) [Dave deBronkart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-debronkart/) > [You invader zim & Im yo tallest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/synteneyo/you-invader-zim-im-yo-tallest/) [SynTeneYo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/synteneyo/) > [“When the invader invades you, they will make a history for you, and you will owe it to them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamaran-ihsan-salih/when-the-invader-invades-you-they-will-make-a-history-for-you-and-you/) [Kamaran Ihsan Salih](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamaran-ihsan-salih/) > [“If you can’t control it, fly with it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andri-e-elia/if-you-can-t-control-it-fly-with-it/) [Andri E. Elia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andri-e-elia/) > [Let the poor man count as his enemy, and his worst enemy, every invader of the right of free discussion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerrit-smith/let-the-poor-man-count-as-his-enemy-and-his-worst-enemy-every-invader/) [Gerrit Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerrit-smith/) > [I have a lot of mice, I have a kitten named 'Girr,' I have an iguana named 'Invader Zim,' I have some fish, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-underwood/i-have-a-lot-of-mice-i-have-a-kitten-named-girr-i-have-an-iguana/) [Matthew Underwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-underwood/) > [Before the invader sound was born, the Universe was silent and shall be again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/before-the-invader-sound-was-born-the-universe-was-silent-and-shall/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [By the end, you should be inside your character, actually operating from within somebody else, and knowing him pretty well, as that person knows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-trevor/by-the-end-you-should-be-inside-your-character-actually-operating/) [William Trevor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-trevor/) > [I insist that there is nothing sacred in the life of an invader, and there is no valid principle of human society that forbids…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-tucker/i-insist-that-there-is-nothing-sacred-in-the-life-of-an-invader-and/) [Benjamin Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-tucker/) > [The thing is, any time anyone invades anyone on stage, the invader always looks really bad no matter what point they're proving - obviously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-harris/the-thing-is-any-time-anyone-invades-anyone-on-stage-the-invader/) [Calvin Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-harris/) > [“listen, pal. I came here because I knew how worried you must be. But if you're going to talk to me like that, I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/listen-pal-i-came-here-because-i-knew-how-worried-you-must-be-but-if/) [Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/) > [Time is our element, not a mistaken invader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/time-is-our-element-not-a-mistaken-invader/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [The cost of justice can be justly paid only by the invader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-tucker/the-cost-of-justice-can-be-justly-paid-only-by-the-invader/) [Benjamin Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-tucker/) > [ \[Every\] hour of delay abates the fame and force of the invader, and multiplies the resources of defensive war. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/every-hour-of-delay-abates-the-fame-and-force-of-the-invader-and/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) ## More by Dave deBronkart > [I've been online since 1989; I was sysop on several CompuServe forums.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-debronkart/i-ve-been-online-since-1989-i-was-sysop-on-several-compuserve-forums/) [Dave deBronkart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-debronkart/) > [Patients know what patients want to know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-debronkart/patients-know-what-patients-want-to-know/) [Dave deBronkart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-debronkart/) > [Think about the possibility: why is it that iPhones and iPads advance far faster than the health tools that are available to you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-debronkart/think-about-the-possibility-why-is-it-that-iphones-and-ipads-advance/) [Dave deBronkart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-debronkart/) > [I am here on behalf of all the patients that I have ever met, all the ones I haven't met. This is about letting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-debronkart/i-am-here-on-behalf-of-all-the-patients-that-i-have-ever-met-all-the/) [Dave deBronkart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-debronkart/) > [I advocate for a totally new view of the role of the patient: patient as engaged partner, not passive recipient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-debronkart/i-advocate-for-a-totally-new-view-of-the-role-of-the-patient-patient/) [Dave deBronkart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-debronkart/) > [In other industries, value is defined by the ultimate stakeholder - the one who benefits, or not, from the service. We should do the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-debronkart/in-other-industries-value-is-defined-by-the-ultimate-stakeholder-the/) [Dave deBronkart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-debronkart/) > [In my book, 'Let Patients Help,' one chapter is titled 'Let patients vote on what's worth the cost.' That's sensible, right? In other industries,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-debronkart/in-my-book-let-patients-help-one-chapter-is-titled-let-patients-vote/) [Dave deBronkart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-debronkart/) > [As I've met clinicians in my travels, time after time I've been inspired to hear why people went into medicine: to apply their way-above-average…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-debronkart/as-i-ve-met-clinicians-in-my-travels-time-after-time-i-ve-been/) [Dave deBronkart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-debronkart/) > [Careful writing is important for many reasons, not least that intelligent but hurried reporters will trust the presser, resulting in a cascade of secondary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-debronkart/careful-writing-is-important-for-many-reasons-not-least-that/) [Dave deBronkart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-debronkart/) > [I've been online long enough to know if I don't like the first results I get, I go look for more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-debronkart/i-ve-been-online-long-enough-to-know-if-i-don-t-like-the-first/) [Dave deBronkart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-debronkart/) > [Please, let patients help improve healthcare. Let patients help steer our decisions, strategic and practical. Let patients help define what value in medicine is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-debronkart/please-let-patients-help-improve-healthcare-let-patients-help-steer/) [Dave deBronkart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-debronkart/) > [Ever tried to get sleep in a hospital? Ever wonder if anyone even taught them what care is? Some hospitals are great, but some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-debronkart/ever-tried-to-get-sleep-in-a-hospital-ever-wonder-if-anyone-even/) [Dave deBronkart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-debronkart/) > [I'm an e-patient: equipped, enabled, empowered, engaged. I'm no clinician, but I do everything in my power to help them, to play an active…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-debronkart/i-m-an-e-patient-equipped-enabled-empowered-engaged-i-m-no-clinician/) [Dave deBronkart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-debronkart/) > [The most underutilized resource in all of health care is the patient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-debronkart/the-most-underutilized-resource-in-all-of-health-care-is-the-patient/) [Dave deBronkart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-debronkart/) > [Diagnosed incidentally with stage IV, grade 4 metastatic renal cell carcinoma, I had bone metastases in my femur (which eventually fractured), ulna, and cranium;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-debronkart/diagnosed-incidentally-with-stage-iv-grade-4-metastatic-renal-cell/) [Dave deBronkart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-debronkart/) [Explore all 22 Dave deBronkart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-debronkart/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Where does my body end and an invader start? 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