--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Grief is like cancer. It ebbs and flows…" description: "\"“Grief is like cancer. It ebbs and flows within you. Then, it changes and transforms you. Forever. Grief. Cancer. Both force you to face your worst fea..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/622/katherine-owen-17876_bad-thing_grief-is-like-cancer-it-ebbs-and-flows-w_1834794.jpg" --- # Grief is like cancer. It ebbs and flows within you. Then… ![“Grief is like cancer. It ebbs and flows within you. Then, it changes and transforms you. Forever. Grief. Cancer. Both force you to face your worst fear—death. Grief and cancer. Both undermine your optimism of life. You finally see the cup is really just half full, even if you believed otherwise…” quote by Katherine Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/622/katherine-owen-17876_bad-thing_grief-is-like-cancer-it-ebbs-and-flows-w_1834794.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/622/katherine-owen-17876_bad-thing_grief-is-like-cancer-it-ebbs-and-flows-w_1834794.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/622/katherine-owen-17876_bad-thing_grief-is-like-cancer-it-ebbs-and-flows-w_1834794.jpg) > ““Grief is like cancer. It ebbs and flows within you. Then, it changes and transforms you. Forever. Grief. Cancer. Both force you to face your worst fear—death. Grief and cancer. Both undermine your optimism of life. You finally see the cup is really just half full, even if you believed otherwise your whole life. Both teach you to believe that bad things can happen to people, whether they’re good or bad or rich or poor or young or old, alike. Grief and cancer corner the market for all. Grief and cancer take all comers. Both rule. Do they always win? I begin to wonder.”” [Katherine Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-owen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Grief and cancer force confronting mortality, reshaping optimism and revealing life's duality **In simple terms:** Grief and cancer confront death and change outlook Key Takeaway Accept pain, find meaning, adjust hope Themes loss illness mortality Mood somber introspective Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - counseling - support groups - personal journaling Key Concepts existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does suffering reshape hope? - Can grief become a catalyst for growth? A Different Perspective Healing may not fully restore optimism ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alike Grief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alike-grief-2301737/) [Bad thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-thing/) [Bad things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-things/) [Cancer Undermine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cancer-undermine-2301738/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Grief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grief/) [Grief Cancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grief-cancer-2301736/) [Grief Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grief-like/) [Half full](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/half-full/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Like Cancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-cancer/) [Rich or poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich-or-poor/) [Whole life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole-life/) ## Related quotes > [These days grief seems like walking on a frozen river; most of the time he feels safe enough, but there is always that danger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/these-days-grief-seems-like-walking-on-a-frozen-river-most-of-the/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [“Grief is like a journey one must take on a winding mountainside, often seeing the same scenery many times, a road which eventually leads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gladys-m-hunt/grief-is-like-a-journey-one-must-take-on-a-winding-mountainside-often/) [Gladys M. Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gladys-m-hunt/) > [Finding hope after immense grief is like diving down to the Titanic with no scuba gear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-eastburn/finding-hope-after-immense-grief-is-like-diving-down-to-the-titanic/) [A Eastburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-eastburn/) > [“There is no grief like the grief that does not speak. —Henry Wadsworth Longfellow”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-force/there-is-no-grief-like-the-grief-that-does-not-speak-henry-wadsworth/) [Marie Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-force/) > [Total grief is like a minefield. No knowing when one will touch the tripwire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/total-grief-is-like-a-minefield-no-knowing-when-one-will-touch-the/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [“We wore that grief like one wears one's underclothes. An invisible skin, unseen to prying eyes, but knitted to us all the same. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyson-richman/we-wore-that-grief-like-one-wears-one-s-underclothes-an-invisible/) [Alyson Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyson-richman/) > [“You know, some people say grief is like an ocean,” I said. “I think that’s true. It’s deep and dark and bigger than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-rothert/you-know-some-people-say-grief-is-like-an-ocean-i-said-i-think-that-s/) [Brenda Rothert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-rothert/) > [“I wonder if I were to have an X-ray at the little hospital, would the machine see my grief? Is it like rust, arheum…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-barry/i-wonder-if-i-were-to-have-an-x-ray-at-the-little-hospital-would-the/) [Sebastian Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-barry/) > [“I picture Cully tromping through that high, deep snow. That's how I feel physically from all of this. Moving through grief like it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaui-hart-hemmings/i-picture-cully-tromping-through-that-high-deep-snow-that-s-how-i/) [Kaui Hart Hemmings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaui-hart-hemmings/) > [Don't make it sound like that. Like some ordinary sort of grief. It's not like that. They say time heals all wounds, but that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/don-t-make-it-sound-like-that-like-some-ordinary-sort-of-grief-it-s/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [There is no grief like heartbreak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/there-is-no-grief-like-heartbreak/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [Grief is like a long valley, a winding valley where any bend may reveal a totally new landscape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/grief-is-like-a-long-valley-a-winding-valley-where-any-bend-may/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Grief is like an ocean. It comes in waves - some waves are bigger than others and you cannot prepare for it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-lane/grief-is-like-an-ocean-it-comes-in-waves-some-waves-are-bigger-than/) [Summer Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-lane/) > [“She could no longer feel grief. She was now like a Geiger counter that had been subjected to too much radiation, no longer capable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liu-cixin/she-could-no-longer-feel-grief-she-was-now-like-a-geiger-counter-that/) [Liu Cixin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liu-cixin/) > [“Alice looked at the sky and sniffed at the heavens. Night seemed to swallow her. It was true, then, her ancient, girlish understanding. Grief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-jones/alice-looked-at-the-sky-and-sniffed-at-the-heavens-night-seemed-to/) [Gail Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-jones/) ## More by Katherine Owen > [“I’m fearless. This man can cure anything. I smile.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-owen/i-m-fearless-this-man-can-cure-anything-i-smile/) [Katherine Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-owen/) > [There are all kinds of ways for a relationship to be tested, even broken, some, irrevocably; its the endings were unprepared for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-owen/there-are-all-kinds-of-ways-for-a-relationship-to-be-tested-even/) [Katherine Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-owen/) > [“You can't really hear heartbreak. It is remarkably silent but excruciating all the same.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-owen/you-can-t-really-hear-heartbreak-it-is-remarkably-silent-but/) [Katherine Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-owen/) > [“He stands there, facing the largest windows, touching the glass with the open palm of his hands, feeling everything, but seeing nothing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-owen/he-stands-there-facing-the-largest-windows-touching-the-glass-with/) [Katherine Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-owen/) > [“My smell stays with you? I ruined you …for what?” “Your smell keeps me going all the time. I’m in a clutch game or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-owen/my-smell-stays-with-you-i-ruined-you-for-what-your-smell-keeps-me/) [Katherine Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-owen/) > [“You know what they say about air and water when it comes to fire, don’t you?” she asks. Now, I’m curious. She hasn’t spoken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-owen/you-know-what-they-say-about-air-and-water-when-it-comes-to-fire-don/) [Katherine Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-owen/) > [“Here’s what I know: death abducts the dying, but grief steals from those left behind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-owen/here-s-what-i-know-death-abducts-the-dying-but-grief-steals-from/) [Katherine Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-owen/) > [“She’s got this dreamy look going—her everything’s-right-with-the-world-why-isn’t-it-right-with-you-Tally? face. It’s such a carryover from high school that I almost laugh.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-owen/she-s-got-this-dreamy-look-going-her-everything-s-right-with-the/) [Katherine Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-owen/) > [“I stand still for a long time, holding the note, and let it all sink in. Her leaving is almost palpable like a gale-force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-owen/i-stand-still-for-a-long-time-holding-the-note-and-let-it-all-sink-in/) [Katherine Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-owen/) > [“The pain is too much, the loss too great. There is no more before, and the after is too devastating. There isn’t enough of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-owen/the-pain-is-too-much-the-loss-too-great-there-is-no-more-before-and/) [Katherine Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-owen/) > [“Well, maybe, you should. Because frankly, Brock, you’re being a jerk and you know it.” “I’m blind. Why can’t you people see that?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-owen/well-maybe-you-should-because-frankly-brock-you-re-being-a-jerk-and/) [Katherine Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-owen/) > [“Beautiful things are like that, extraordinary one minute, gone the next.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-owen/beautiful-things-are-like-that-extraordinary-one-minute-gone-the-next/) [Katherine Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-owen/) > [“When you’re married, you’re privy to the misunderstanding. When you’re not married, it’s overrated.” I try to smile. “You rush in, headlong, full of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-owen/when-you-re-married-you-re-privy-to-the-misunderstanding-when-you-re/) [Katherine Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-owen/) > [“Here’s the truth: I am the female version of a heartbreaker. The one that everyone says is too dedicated to ballet, too self-involved to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-owen/here-s-the-truth-i-am-the-female-version-of-a-heartbreaker-the-one/) [Katherine Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-owen/) > [“He’s gone, incinerated for all time. I am the ashes left behind, soaked with too many tears, and burdened with an infinite future I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-owen/he-s-gone-incinerated-for-all-time-i-am-the-ashes-left-behind-soaked/) [Katherine Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-owen/) [Explore all 36 Katherine Owen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-owen/) ## More Bad thing quotes > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [I've said it before, good people are forced to do bad things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-cloud/i-ve-said-it-before-good-people-are-forced-to-do-bad-things/) [Angus Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-cloud/) > [I think the people I talk about are generally so stupid that they don't even know I'm saying bad things about them. I've run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-handler/i-think-the-people-i-talk-about-are-generally-so-stupid-that-they-don/) [Chelsea Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-handler/) > [One thing I always tell players is that there are three bad things: Nothing good happens after midnight, nothing good happens when you're around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/one-thing-i-always-tell-players-is-that-there-are-three-bad-things/) [Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/) > [I'm not going to pretend that bad things don't happen. I just hope my daughter has enough understanding that when they do, just give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-krasinski/i-m-not-going-to-pretend-that-bad-things-don-t-happen-i-just-hope-my/) [John Krasinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-krasinski/) > [I've heard some pretty bad things in my life. I'm just one of those people I've gotten to a point where I don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-bush/i-ve-heard-some-pretty-bad-things-in-my-life-i-m-just-one-of-those/) [Sophia Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-bush/) > [Like everybody, you get nights where you feel completely depressed. You start thinking about all the bad things and think about the glass half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/like-everybody-you-get-nights-where-you-feel-completely-depressed-you/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [Be Thankful for all things in life. Even for the bad things. SOMETIMES the worst situations in life turn out to be the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-thankful-for-all-things-in-life-even-for-the-bad-things-sometimes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In my business, you should be very strong in mind. 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I want Hartley in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-watt/i-don-t-know-why-i-latched-onto-the-idea-of-being-friends-but-it-sits/) [Erin Watt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-watt/) > [I'm just grateful to people who are willing to admit how bad things feel for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-furman/i-m-just-grateful-to-people-who-are-willing-to-admit-how-bad-things/) [Ezra Furman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-furman/) > [I love it when television is shot in a cinematic way and I think to aspire to that is no bad thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-rhys/i-love-it-when-television-is-shot-in-a-cinematic-way-and-i-think-to/) [Matthew Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-rhys/) > [“Dear Delphine, When you are older I want you to find Chinua Achebe. I want you to read Things Fall Apart. 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Sometimes I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-brannaman/in-life-we-don-t-know-why-things-happen-i-believe-god-is-not/) [Buck Brannaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-brannaman/) [Browse all 2,889 Bad thing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-thing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Grief is like cancer. It ebbs and flows within you. Then, it changes and transforms you. Forever. Grief. Cancer. Both force you to face your worst fear—death. Grief and cancer. Both undermine your optimism of life. You finally see the cup is really just half full, even if you believed otherwise your whole life. Both teach you to believe that bad things can happen to people, whether they’re good or bad or rich or poor or young or old, alike. Grief and cancer corner the market for all. Grief and cancer take all comers. Both rule. Do they always win? 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