--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can look at cancer as a disease that…" description: "\"I can look at cancer as a disease that picks me out and 'why me,' or I can look at it through love and say, 'This is a wake-up call. This is my body te..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9c/melissa-etheridge-2952_balance_i-can-look-at-cancer-as-a-disease-that-p_958438.jpg" --- # I can look at cancer as a disease that picks me out and… ![“I can look at cancer as a disease that picks me out and 'why me,' or I can look at it through love and say, 'This is a wake-up call. This is my body telling me: 'Hey, you're out of balance here. It's time to get in line with yourself.'” quote by Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9c/melissa-etheridge-2952_balance_i-can-look-at-cancer-as-a-disease-that-p_958438.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9c/melissa-etheridge-2952_balance_i-can-look-at-cancer-as-a-disease-that-p_958438.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9c/melissa-etheridge-2952_balance_i-can-look-at-cancer-as-a-disease-that-p_958438.jpg) > “I can look at cancer as a disease that picks me out and 'why me,' or I can look at it through love and say, 'This is a wake-up call. This is my body telling me: 'Hey, you're out of balance here. It's time to get in line with yourself.'” [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) ## 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 a cancer diagnosis as a personal signal to restore balance, using love and self-awareness as motivation. **In simple terms:** Seeing illness as a call to realign health. Key Takeaway Use adversity as a catalyst for self‑care. Themes health self‑compassion resilience Mood hopeful reflective Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - diagnosis coping - wellness planning - support groups Key Concepts mind‑body connection personal growth spirituality Questions to Reflect On - What practical steps can follow this insight? - How can love guide health decisions? A Different Perspective Positive framing may overlook medical realities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Balance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/balance/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Cancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cancer/) [Disease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disease/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Wake up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wake-up/) ## Related quotes > [“The cold stream of visual impressions failed him now as if the eye were a cup that overflowed and let the rest run down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/the-cold-stream-of-visual-impressions-failed-him-now-as-if-the-eye-2/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“I’ve never been to a real Irish wake,” said Lucy. “Just visiting hours at the funeral home.” “You think this’ll be different?” “I’m no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-meier/i-ve-never-been-to-a-real-irish-wake-said-lucy-just-visiting-hours-at/) [Leslie Meier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-meier/) > [“He gave me a look that would have made cancer apologize, then ran like hell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wong/he-gave-me-a-look-that-would-have-made-cancer-apologize-then-ran-like/) [David Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wong/) > [I look upon cancer in the same way that I look upon heart disease, arthritis, high blood pressure, or even obesity, for that matter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-whitaker/i-look-upon-cancer-in-the-same-way-that-i-look-upon-heart-disease/) [Julian Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-whitaker/) > [I am going to cut my hair very short; I've never done this before... I want to say I had something to do with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-robach/i-am-going-to-cut-my-hair-very-short-i-ve-never-done-this-before-i/) [Amy Robach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-robach/) > [“Why do you say that I am alone? My body is with me wherever I am, telling me endless stories of hunger and satisfaction,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/why-do-you-say-that-i-am-alone-my-body-is-with-me-wherever-i-am/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [My mind is telling me no...but my body...my body's telling me yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly-2/my-mind-is-telling-me-no-but-my-body-my-body-s-telling-me-yes/) [R Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kelly-2/) > [“Every cell in my body was telling me that he was my happily ever after.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-english/every-cell-in-my-body-was-telling-me-that-he-was-my-happily-ever-after/) C.J. English > [Now I know you should listen to what your body is telling you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delta-goodrem/now-i-know-you-should-listen-to-what-your-body-is-telling-you/) [Delta Goodrem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delta-goodrem/) > [Most of the human body disease such as Obesity, Cancer, Heart disease are linked with our food which we eat in our day to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subodh-gupta/most-of-the-human-body-disease-such-as-obesity-cancer-heart-disease/) [Subodh Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subodh-gupta/) > [Cancer is a disease that is mysterious, headstrong and makes its own rules. And mine, to this date, is incurable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farrah-fawcett/cancer-is-a-disease-that-is-mysterious-headstrong-and-makes-its-own/) [Farrah Fawcett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farrah-fawcett/) > [Cancer is a disease of the genome. And that's what happens. You make mistakes in a cell somewhere in your body that causes it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/cancer-is-a-disease-of-the-genome-and-that-s-what-happens-you-make/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [Cancer is a disease where the patient can contribute a great deal of help himself if he or she can retain their morale and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carman/cancer-is-a-disease-where-the-patient-can-contribute-a-great-deal-of/) [George Carman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carman/) > [You've got to get away from the idea cancer is a disease to be cured. It's not a disease really. The cancer cell is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-davies/you-ve-got-to-get-away-from-the-idea-cancer-is-a-disease-to-be-cured/) [Paul Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-davies/) > [ They pick me \[to be tested for steroids\] every time. I don't know why. I don't know if it's because I'm a big guy,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ortiz/they-pick-me-to-be-tested-for-steroids-every-time-i-don-t-know-why-i/) [David Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ortiz/) ## More by Melissa Etheridge > [Once I overcame breast cancer, I wasn't afraid of anything anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/once-i-overcame-breast-cancer-i-wasn-t-afraid-of-anything-anymore/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) > [My friends have always told me that rock stardom was wasted on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/my-friends-have-always-told-me-that-rock-stardom-was-wasted-on-me/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) > [The sign says do not enter, no trespassing allowed. With visions of redemption I walk against the crowd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/the-sign-says-do-not-enter-no-trespassing-allowed-with-visions-of/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) > [Our society, where we are right now, our minds are junkyards. We watch TV and sit on the computer all day and barely have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/our-society-where-we-are-right-now-our-minds-are-junkyards-we-watch/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) > [I wanted to be out so I could relax and be me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/i-wanted-to-be-out-so-i-could-relax-and-be-me/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) > [Your own personal health is your own personal choice, all the way down the line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/your-own-personal-health-is-your-own-personal-choice-all-the-way-down/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) > [Don't let people who live in fear and hate govern how you live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/don-t-let-people-who-live-in-fear-and-hate-govern-how-you-live/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) > [I know your friend you told her about me. She filled you with fear some kind of sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/i-know-your-friend-you-told-her-about-me-she-filled-you-with-fear/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) > [Empty and cold, but it keep me alive. I gave it my soul, so that I could survive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/empty-and-cold-but-it-keep-me-alive-i-gave-it-my-soul-so-that-i-could/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) > [I am what I am and I am what I am afraid of. Oh what am I afraid of I need a fearless love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/i-am-what-i-am-and-i-am-what-i-am-afraid-of-oh-what-am-i-afraid-of-i/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) > [I don't have a bucket list because it is my dedication to live every day of my life there. I don't have a bucket…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/i-don-t-have-a-bucket-list-because-it-is-my-dedication-to-live-every/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) > [“Bruce has always been so nice to me, which is crazy, because he's one of my heroes. I'll never forget being at a Rock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/bruce-has-always-been-so-nice-to-me-which-is-crazy-because-he-s-one/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) > [Pursuing all my happiness I want a fearless love I won't settle for anything less.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/pursuing-all-my-happiness-i-want-a-fearless-love-i-won-t-settle-for/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) > [Nothing fills the blackness that has seeped into my chest. I need you in my blood I am forsaking all the rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/nothing-fills-the-blackness-that-has-seeped-into-my-chest-i-need-you/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) > [Can I survive all the implications? Even if I tried could you be less than an addiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-etheridge/can-i-survive-all-the-implications-even-if-i-tried-could-you-be-less/) [Melissa Etheridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) [Explore all 144 Melissa Etheridge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-etheridge/) ## More Balance quotes > [Balance suggests a perfect equilibrium. There is no such thing. That is a false expectation… There are going to be priorities and dimensions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/balance-suggests-a-perfect-equilibrium-there-is-no-such-thing-that-is/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [The bones of my architecture are very much related to the structure, to the physical fact of how a building can stand up; it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/the-bones-of-my-architecture-are-very-much-related-to-the-structure/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [she got a reputation for an easy smile and a sharp tongue, and using one to balance the other, she seemed friendly but distant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/she-got-a-reputation-for-an-easy-smile-and-a-sharp-tongue-and-using/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [Life's unfairness is not irrevocable; we can help balance the scales for others, if not always for ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/life-s-unfairness-is-not-irrevocable-we-can-help-balance-the-scales/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [“We don't need to strive towards balance, we rather need to work on the obstacles that are preventing the natural flow of balance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-alebraheem/we-don-t-need-to-strive-towards-balance-we-rather-need-to-work-on-the/) [A.A. Alebraheem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-alebraheem/) > [I think that kind of balance comes with the process of growing together as a band, the Little Dragon. We love to write, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukimi-nagano/i-think-that-kind-of-balance-comes-with-the-process-of-growing/) [Yukimi Nagano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukimi-nagano/) > [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/) > [At times of recession, running a budget deficit is highly desirable. Once the economy begins to recover, you have to balance the budget. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/at-times-of-recession-running-a-budget-deficit-is-highly-desirable/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [It's my intention to make something stand outside the realm of album art, but it also feels comfortable to me to be in it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dyer-baizley/it-s-my-intention-to-make-something-stand-outside-the-realm-of-album/) [John Dyer Baizley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dyer-baizley/) > [Once you've gotten your money in balance, you know how much you have to spend on things that are just fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-warren/once-you-ve-gotten-your-money-in-balance-you-know-how-much-you-have/) [Elizabeth Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-warren/) > [I never understood how much running changes your life. I'm now obsessed. When not trying to beat my personal best, I'm talking to other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadiq-khan/i-never-understood-how-much-running-changes-your-life-i-m-now/) [Sadiq Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadiq-khan/) > [Whatever needed to be done, I need to know how to do it just as well as my wife. You know, for us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/whatever-needed-to-be-done-i-need-to-know-how-to-do-it-just-as-well/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) > [I don't think my parents would have let me go straight into acting full time when I was 12. I do like to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/i-don-t-think-my-parents-would-have-let-me-go-straight-into-acting/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [When it comes down to music, I have no balance. I am 100 percent. It is like full throttle. Five hundred miles an hour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yanni/when-it-comes-down-to-music-i-have-no-balance-i-am-100-percent-it-is/) [Yanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yanni/) [Browse all 5,166 Balance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/balance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I can look at cancer as a disease that picks me out and 'why me,' or I can look at it through love and say, 'This is a wake-up call. This is my body telling me: 'Hey, you're out of balance here. 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