--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When cancer first came into my life…" description: "\"When cancer first came into my life, people all around me treated it as the enemy. I was told I had to join the medical team and we'd fight together to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/802/dawna-markova-19652_cancer_when-cancer-first-came-into-my-life-peop_284897.png" --- # When cancer first came into my life, people all around me… ![“When cancer first came into my life, people all around me treated it as the enemy. I was told I had to join the medical team and we'd fight together to defeat it. This was the wrong thing to say to someone who was the last one to be picked for any team. I was much happier sitting on the sidelines…” quote by Dawna Markova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/802/dawna-markova-19652_cancer_when-cancer-first-came-into-my-life-peop_284897.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/802/dawna-markova-19652_cancer_when-cancer-first-came-into-my-life-peop_284897.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/802/dawna-markova-19652_cancer_when-cancer-first-came-into-my-life-peop_284897.png) > “When cancer first came into my life, people all around me treated it as the enemy. I was told I had to join the medical team and we'd fight together to defeat it. This was the wrong thing to say to someone who was the last one to be picked for any team. I was much happier sitting on the sidelines and encouraging the other players. I was totally unskilled at defeating anything. So I secretly went my own way and decided that I was free to choose the meaning of the healing experience. I decided I would develop a friendly relationship with the cancer, which was something I was good at.” [Dawna Markova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawna-markova/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker reframes cancer from an enemy to a partner, choosing personal meaning and agency in healing. **In simple terms:** Seeing cancer as a companion gives control and peace. Key Takeaway Choose your own narrative in illness. Themes healing agency mindset acceptance Mood reflective empowering Type personal narrative inspirational When to use this quote - cancer diagnosis - support groups - personal therapy - creative coping Key Concepts psychology meaning-making self-determination Questions to Reflect On - How can redefining illness change your coping? - What risks arise from personifying disease? A Different Perspective May not work for all; some may need medical focus. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cancer/) [Defeat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defeat/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Healing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/healing/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Medical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medical/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) ## Related quotes > [I don’t need to reiterate the fact that that everyone has a relationship with cancer. Whether it’s an individual-personal relationship — whether it’s with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-crow/i-don-t-need-to-reiterate-the-fact-that-that-everyone-has-a/) [Sheryl Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-crow/) > [People's view of cancer will change when they have their own relationship with cancer, which everyone will, at some point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-linney/people-s-view-of-cancer-will-change-when-they-have-their-own/) [Laura Linney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-linney/) > [“...he assured me that God didn't make cancer because cancer is not good, and he cautioned me not to blame God for something He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-hall/he-assured-me-that-god-didn-t-make-cancer-because-cancer-is-not-good/) [Ron Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-hall/) > [Cancer's are good hearted. They have good heads on their shoulders. Don't take advantage of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/cancer-s-are-good-hearted-they-have-good-heads-on-their-shoulders-don/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If we put half the effort in coming up with a cure for cancer as we do with good tweets we would have found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/if-we-put-half-the-effort-in-coming-up-with-a-cure-for-cancer-as-we/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [Doctrine is to be the balm of a healing experience of God, not a theological scalpel to wound and exclude people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-butler-bass/doctrine-is-to-be-the-balm-of-a-healing-experience-of-god-not-a/) [Diana Butler Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-butler-bass/) > [When I designed 'Flower' I was thinking about making it a positive, almost like a self-healing experience. It's like therapy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/when-i-designed-flower-i-was-thinking-about-making-it-a-positive/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [“Patients may not know how to measure clinical outcomes, and they may not understand the technical know-how that a doctor must have in order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toby-cosgrove/patients-may-not-know-how-to-measure-clinical-outcomes-and-they-may/) Toby Cosgrove > [Done well, marital sexuality can be a supremely healing experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-thomas/done-well-marital-sexuality-can-be-a-supremely-healing-experience/) [Gary L. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-thomas/) > [When you have cancer, it's like you enter a new time zone: the Cancer Zone. Everything in the Tropic of Cancer revolves around your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-brett/when-you-have-cancer-it-s-like-you-enter-a-new-time-zone-the-cancer/) [Regina Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-brett/) > [My friend had breast cancer and I came with her to the operation. We were taking funny pictures of her in her gown and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-sanders/my-friend-had-breast-cancer-and-i-came-with-her-to-the-operation-we/) [Lou Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-sanders/) > [I think cancer came into my life as a gift. My vision is sharper, my mind clearer, my perspective realigned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manisha-koirala/i-think-cancer-came-into-my-life-as-a-gift-my-vision-is-sharper-my/) [Manisha Koirala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manisha-koirala/) > [I met my future husband Andy fighting for trans equality, and we fell in love. A couple of months after we started dating, Andy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mcbride/i-met-my-future-husband-andy-fighting-for-trans-equality-and-we-fell/) [Sarah McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mcbride/) > [Well found out this morning that my uncle will be going to the hospital in 2 days down in Kettering Ohio and well his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/she-s-gone/well-found-out-this-morning-that-my-uncle-will-be-going-to-the/) She's\_gone > [Cancer came back into my life twice in order for me to understand something, and I guess I still wasn't getting it. And my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariel-hemingway/cancer-came-back-into-my-life-twice-in-order-for-me-to-understand/) [Mariel Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariel-hemingway/) ## More by Dawna Markova > [Forgiveness in no way justifies the actions that caused your wounding, nor does it mean that you have to seek out those who harmed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawna-markova/forgiveness-in-no-way-justifies-the-actions-that-caused-your-wounding/) [Dawna Markova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawna-markova/) > [I will not Die an Unlived Life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawna-markova/i-will-not-die-an-unlived-life/) [Dawna Markova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawna-markova/) > [In my better moments, I think of apathy as purpose's sleep. In my worse moments, when I'm trying to fix it or get rid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawna-markova/in-my-better-moments-i-think-of-apathy-as-purpose-s-sleep-in-my-worse/) [Dawna Markova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawna-markova/) > [I wonder why it is that we so often imprison ourselves in the opinions of other people. There can be no punishment worse than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawna-markova/i-wonder-why-it-is-that-we-so-often-imprison-ourselves-in-the/) [Dawna Markova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawna-markova/) > [To explore what it would mean to live fully, sensually alive and passionately on purpose, I have to drop my preconceived ideas of who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawna-markova/to-explore-what-it-would-mean-to-live-fully-sensually-alive-and/) [Dawna Markova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawna-markova/) > [I will not die an unlived life. I will not live in fear of falling or catching fire. I choose to inhabit my days,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawna-markova/i-will-not-die-an-unlived-life-i-will-not-live-in-fear-of-falling-or/) [Dawna Markova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawna-markova/) > [Once you begin to acknowledge random acts of kindness-both the ones you have received and the ones you have given - you can no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawna-markova/once-you-begin-to-acknowledge-random-acts-of-kindness-both-the-ones/) [Dawna Markova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawna-markova/) > [Through fear of knowing who we really are we sidestep our own destiny, which leaves us hungry in a famine of our own making...we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawna-markova/through-fear-of-knowing-who-we-really-are-we-sidestep-our-own-destiny/) [Dawna Markova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawna-markova/) > [The tears had turned to ink...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawna-markova/the-tears-had-turned-to-ink/) [Dawna Markova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawna-markova/) > [That which came to me as seed goes to the next as blossom, and that which came to me as blossom, goes on as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawna-markova/that-which-came-to-me-as-seed-goes-to-the-next-as-blossom-and-that/) [Dawna Markova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawna-markova/) > [The moments you are given are your true wealth. You don't need power, influence, or fame. The sunlight brings the power; the wind carries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawna-markova/the-moments-you-are-given-are-your-true-wealth-you-don-t-need-power/) [Dawna Markova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawna-markova/) > [I don't think anyone 'finds' joy. Rather, we cultivate it by searching for the preciousness of small things, the ordinary miracles, that strengthen our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawna-markova/i-don-t-think-anyone-finds-joy-rather-we-cultivate-it-by-searching/) [Dawna Markova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawna-markova/) > [Reignite the fire in your heart. Live on purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawna-markova/reignite-the-fire-in-your-heart-live-on-purpose/) [Dawna Markova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawna-markova/) > [I choose to inhabit my days, to allow my living to open me, to make me less afraid, more accessible, to loosen my heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawna-markova/i-choose-to-inhabit-my-days-to-allow-my-living-to-open-me-to-make-me/) [Dawna Markova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawna-markova/) > [When we find ourselves devoid of passion and purpose, the first thing we need to do is stop. But that's not easy. The rest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawna-markova/when-we-find-ourselves-devoid-of-passion-and-purpose-the-first-thing/) [Dawna Markova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawna-markova/) [Explore all 32 Dawna Markova quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawna-markova/) ## More Cancer quotes > [Women still, when they have breast cancer, go to work; they still lead their lives. They have to. I just did what I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-potter/women-still-when-they-have-breast-cancer-go-to-work-they-still-lead/) [Monica Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-potter/) > [If one truly has lost hope, one would not be on hand to say so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bentley/if-one-truly-has-lost-hope-one-would-not-be-on-hand-to-say-so/) [Eric Bentley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bentley/) > [Racism is a cancer. You cannot ignore it and it'll go away. If you ignore cancer, it simply metastasizes and consumes the whole body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-davis/racism-is-a-cancer-you-cannot-ignore-it-and-it-ll-go-away-if-you/) [Daryl Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-davis/) > [Historically, more people have died of religion than cancer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-francis/historically-more-people-have-died-of-religion-than-cancer/) [Dick Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-francis/) > [“Our kind of love can go into remission, but it's always waiting to return. Like the world sweetest cancer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-flynn/our-kind-of-love-can-go-into-remission-but-it-s-always-waiting-to/) [Gillian Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-flynn/) > [Bollywood is a cancer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-banerjee/bollywood-is-a-cancer/) [Victor Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-banerjee/) > [You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn't do anything to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-should-be-angry-you-must-not-be-bitter-bitterness-is-like-cancer/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [When people go get chemo, they're not injecting themselves with will - I have lost various loved ones to cancer, and I certainly don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-c-hall/when-people-go-get-chemo-they-re-not-injecting-themselves-with-will-i/) [Michael C. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-c-hall/) > [“the doctor hesitated before breaking the news to her. "those aren't stars. it's cancer." - forty years a smoker”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-lovelace/the-doctor-hesitated-before-breaking-the-news-to-her-those-aren-t/) [Amanda Lovelace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-lovelace/) > [I loved you to the moon and back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/i-loved-you-to-the-moon-and-back/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [The risk of developing carcinoma of the lung increases steadily as the amount smoked increases. If the risk among non-smokers is taken as unity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-doll/the-risk-of-developing-carcinoma-of-the-lung-increases-steadily-as/) Richard Doll > [I would do away with super PACs. I think it's a cancer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-conrad/i-would-do-away-with-super-pacs-i-think-it-s-a-cancer/) [Kent Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-conrad/) > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) > [If you are a white male, you don't deserve to live. You are a cancer, you're a disease, white males have never contributed anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-ignatiev/if-you-are-a-white-male-you-don-t-deserve-to-live-you-are-a-cancer/) [Noel Ignatiev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-ignatiev/) > [The way I look at it is, cancer research is absolutely nonpartisan. Cancer is very democratic in the sense that it attacks people regardless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-koch/the-way-i-look-at-it-is-cancer-research-is-absolutely-nonpartisan/) [David H. Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-koch/) [Browse all 3,177 Cancer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cancer/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When cancer first came into my life, people all around me treated it as the enemy. I was told I had to join the medical team and we'd fight together to defeat it. This was the wrong thing to say to someone who was the last one to be picked for any team. I was much happier sitting on the sidelines and encouraging the other players. I was totally unskilled at defeating anything. So I secretly went my own way and decided that I was free to choose the meaning of the healing experience. 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