--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Cancer is a growth hormone for empathy…" description: "\"Cancer is a growth hormone for empathy, and empathy makes us useful to each other in ways we were not, could not have been, before.\" — Kelly Corrigan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/103/kelly-corrigan-14334_been_cancer-is-a-growth-hormone-for-empathy-a_1874234.png" --- # Cancer is a growth hormone for empathy, and empathy makes… ![“Cancer is a growth hormone for empathy, and empathy makes us useful to each other in ways we were not, could not have been, before.” quote by Kelly Corrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/103/kelly-corrigan-14334_been_cancer-is-a-growth-hormone-for-empathy-a_1874234.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/103/kelly-corrigan-14334_been_cancer-is-a-growth-hormone-for-empathy-a_1874234.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/103/kelly-corrigan-14334_been_cancer-is-a-growth-hormone-for-empathy-a_1874234.png) > “Cancer is a growth hormone for empathy, and empathy makes us useful to each other in ways we were not, could not have been, before.” [Kelly Corrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-corrigan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Empathy expands when we face illness, turning personal pain into shared strength that benefits relationships. **In simple terms:** Illness can increase empathy, helping us connect. Key Takeaway Cultivate empathy, especially during hardship. Themes empathy growth human connection Mood reflective hopeful Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - caregiving - support groups - personal illness - community building Key Concepts psychology social support resilience Questions to Reflect On - How does personal suffering change your view of others? - Can empathy be cultivated without crisis? A Different Perspective Empathy may be limited by personal bias or denial. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cancer/) [Empathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empathy/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) ## Related quotes > [“Don't tell me you're one of those people who becomes their disease. I know so many people like that disheartening. Like, cancer is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/don-t-tell-me-you-re-one-of-those-people-who-becomes-their-disease-i/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Cancer is the growth of madness denied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/cancer-is-the-growth-of-madness-denied/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [“We’ve discovered that cow’s milk protein at reasonable levels of intake markedly promotes experimental cancer growth, which is outside of the nutrition paradigm. We’ve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-colin-campbell/we-ve-discovered-that-cow-s-milk-protein-at-reasonable-levels-of/) [T. Colin Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-colin-campbell/) > [“Don't tell me you're one of those people who becomes their disease. I know so many people like that. It's disheartening. Like, cancer is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/don-t-tell-me-you-re-one-of-those-people-who-becomes-their-disease-i-3/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“we have shown in experimental animals that cancer growth can be turned on and off by nutrition, despite very strong genetic predisposition. We have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-colin-campbell/we-have-shown-in-experimental-animals-that-cancer-growth-can-be/) [T. 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When our attention lapses into single…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/empathy-occurs-when-we-suspend-our-single-minded-focus-of-attention/) [Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) ## More by Kelly Corrigan > [“I shift my position on the sofa, so my head is on a big, lumpy pillow in Greenie's lap and Georgia is leanign back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-corrigan/i-shift-my-position-on-the-sofa-so-my-head-is-on-a-big-lumpy-pillow/) [Kelly Corrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-corrigan/) > [You have to speak your dream out loud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-corrigan/you-have-to-speak-your-dream-out-loud/) [Kelly Corrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-corrigan/) > [And it occurs to me that maybe the reason my mother was so exhausted all the time wasn’t because she was doing so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-corrigan/and-it-occurs-to-me-that-maybe-the-reason-my-mother-was-so-exhausted/) [Kelly Corrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-corrigan/) > [The truth is, I'd like to be closer to my kids. 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