--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Once you are diagnosed with cancer, time…" description: "\"Once you are diagnosed with cancer, time changes. It both speeds up insanely and stops altogether.\" — Eve Ensler" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/218/eve-ensler-1402_cancer_once-you-are-diagnosed-with-cancer-time_1342581.jpg" --- # Once you are diagnosed with cancer, time changes. It both… ![“Once you are diagnosed with cancer, time changes. It both speeds up insanely and stops altogether.” quote by Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/218/eve-ensler-1402_cancer_once-you-are-diagnosed-with-cancer-time_1342581.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/218/eve-ensler-1402_cancer_once-you-are-diagnosed-with-cancer-time_1342581.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/218/eve-ensler-1402_cancer_once-you-are-diagnosed-with-cancer-time_1342581.jpg) > “Once you are diagnosed with cancer, time changes. It both speeds up insanely and stops altogether.” [Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Facing a cancer diagnosis collapses normal time perception, making moments feel both frantic and frozen. **In simple terms:** Cancer warps how we experience time. Key Takeaway Accept the altered pace and cherish each moment. Themes mortality time perception illness psychology Mood somber reflective Type personal philosophical When to use this quote - hospital stays - personal reflection - support groups Key Concepts existential dread coping mechanisms Questions to Reflect On - How does this shift affect priorities? - Can you find calm amid the urgency? A Different Perspective Time perception can be subjective; medical reality remains unchanged. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cancer/) [Cancer Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cancer-time-1908207/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Diagnosed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diagnosed/) [Diagnosed Cancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diagnosed-cancer-295859/) [Illness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illness/) [Speed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speed/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-change/) [Time changes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-changes/) ## Related quotes > [For those of us who have been diagnosed with cancer, time is a precious commodity. The time and distance from the scientist's lab bench…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-lucchino/for-those-of-us-who-have-been-diagnosed-with-cancer-time-is-a/) [Larry Lucchino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-lucchino/) > [I knew when I was diagnosed with cancer the only thing I could control was what I ate, what I drank and what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-carr/i-knew-when-i-was-diagnosed-with-cancer-the-only-thing-i-could/) [Kris Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-carr/) > [When my mother was diagnosed with cancer, my middle school friends and myself really had no idea the impact of that diagnosis, but my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-morasca/when-my-mother-was-diagnosed-with-cancer-my-middle-school-friends-and/) [Jenna Morasca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-morasca/) > [I didn't believe when I was first told that I have cancer. I thought, 'How can a young person like me get cancer?' I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuvraj-singh/i-didn-t-believe-when-i-was-first-told-that-i-have-cancer-i-thought/) [Yuvraj Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuvraj-singh/) > [Being diagnosed with cancer is terrifying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-karl-stefansson/being-diagnosed-with-cancer-is-terrifying/) [Stefan Karl Stefansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-karl-stefansson/) > [I'd like to prove to other people that it's not the end of everything to be diagnosed with cancer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/i-d-like-to-prove-to-other-people-that-it-s-not-the-end-of-everything/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [When my sister was diagnosed with cancer in 1989, her doctor told her that the cancer had probably been in her system for 10…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/when-my-sister-was-diagnosed-with-cancer-in-1989-her-doctor-told-her/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Being diagnosed with cancer really opened my eyes to the fact anyone can have it and that even though we think we have control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-crow/being-diagnosed-with-cancer-really-opened-my-eyes-to-the-fact-anyone/) [Sheryl Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-crow/) > [“A leader’s goal is to remain relevant even when time changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/a-leader-s-goal-is-to-remain-relevant-even-when-time-changes/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“We all are wounded, we all are healers. Time changes, role changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shon-mehta/we-all-are-wounded-we-all-are-healers-time-changes-role-changes/) [Shon Mehta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shon-mehta/) > [Well, Peter has a writing style, but again, time changes subject matters and attitudes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-silver/well-peter-has-a-writing-style-but-again-time-changes-subject-matters/) [Josh Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-silver/) > [Time changes every man. Unusual circumstances change them in unusual ways](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-gumbel/time-changes-every-man-unusual-circumstances-change-them-in-unusual/) [Bryant Gumbel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-gumbel/) > [“Arrogance never takes you anywhere. If you're arrogant and try to subvert your subordinates just remember time changes and you May not be in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/himmilicious/arrogance-never-takes-you-anywhere-if-you-re-arrogant-and-try-to/) [Himmilicious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/himmilicious/) > [“People say time changes things, but it’s not true. Doing things changes things. Not doing things leaves things exactly as they were.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/house/people-say-time-changes-things-but-it-s-not-true-doing-things-changes/) [House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/house/) > [“Wasting time changes the nature of time. And the heart is stilled.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-tremain/wasting-time-changes-the-nature-of-time-and-the-heart-is-stilled/) [Rose Tremain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-tremain/) ## More by Eve Ensler > [I have been struggling to find my way back into my body my whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/i-have-been-struggling-to-find-my-way-back-into-my-body-my-whole-life/) [Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/) > [When I wrote 'The Good Body,' I turned 40 and suddenly had this stomach. It seemed like the end of the world. Because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/when-i-wrote-the-good-body-i-turned-40-and-suddenly-had-this-stomach/) [Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/) > [Cherish your solitude. Take trains by yourself to places you have never been. Sleep out alone under the stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/cherish-your-solitude-take-trains-by-yourself-to-places-you-have/) [Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/) > [Why are women immobile? Because so many feel like they're waiting for someone to say, 'You're good, you're pretty, I give you permission'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/why-are-women-immobile-because-so-many-feel-like-they-re-waiting-for/) [Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/) > [Terence McKenna says, "The culture is not your friend." I am not sure we can change this culture. But I think we can rise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/terence-mckenna-says-the-culture-is-not-your-friend-i-am-not-sure-we/) [Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/) > [What neo-capitalism does so brilliantly is that it's always subdividing and dividing, so that people are never able to be joined in their numbers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/what-neo-capitalism-does-so-brilliantly-is-that-it-s-always/) [Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/) > [The verb that's been enforced on girls is to please. Girls are trained to please...I want us all to change the verb. I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/the-verb-that-s-been-enforced-on-girls-is-to-please-girls-are-trained/) [Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/) > [“De acordo com os congressistas, ouvir as experiências reais de mulheres vítimas de violência era diferente de ler as estatísticas de violência contra mulheres.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/de-acordo-com-os-congressistas-ouvir-as-experi-ncias-reais-de/) [Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/) > [The clitoris is pure in purpose. It is the only organ in the body designed purely for pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/the-clitoris-is-pure-in-purpose-it-is-the-only-organ-in-the-body/) [Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/) > [stop fixing your bodies and start fixing the world!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/stop-fixing-your-bodies-and-start-fixing-the-world/) [Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/) > [Anorexia was my attempt to have control over my body and manipulate my body and starve my body and shape my body. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/anorexia-was-my-attempt-to-have-control-over-my-body-and-manipulate/) [Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/) > [I believe in irony. And if V-Day has taught me anything, it's that if you go out with artistic, outrageous irony and humor, people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/i-believe-in-irony-and-if-v-day-has-taught-me-anything-it-s-that-if/) [Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/) > [People didn't feel so much shame around it and that they didn't feel so much humiliation around it. And the other thing that people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/people-didn-t-feel-so-much-shame-around-it-and-that-they-didn-t-feel/) [Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/) > [Cancer essentially lives in us and becomes activated at some point, and then cells begin to psychotically divide. Initially, the cancer cell looks like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/cancer-essentially-lives-in-us-and-becomes-activated-at-some-point/) [Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/) > [Today the United States has the highest prison population in the world, over 2.1 million people. ... We lock people up at a rate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-ensler/today-the-united-states-has-the-highest-prison-population-in-the/) [Eve Ensler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/) [Explore all 241 Eve Ensler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-ensler/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "Once you are diagnosed with cancer, time changes. 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