--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What I've been telling people is that the…" description: "\"What I've been telling people is that the doctors are gaining on cancer very rapidly. It's almost become a chronic disease, like diabetes - something y..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/molly-ivins-1296_cancer_what-i-ve-been-telling-people-is-that-th_667234.png" --- # What I've been telling people is that the doctors are… ![“What I've been telling people is that the doctors are gaining on cancer very rapidly. It's almost become a chronic disease, like diabetes - something you can treat. It doesn't go away, and you're not well in the sense of being over it, but you go on and live your life.” quote by Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/molly-ivins-1296_cancer_what-i-ve-been-telling-people-is-that-th_667234.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/molly-ivins-1296_cancer_what-i-ve-been-telling-people-is-that-th_667234.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/molly-ivins-1296_cancer_what-i-ve-been-telling-people-is-that-th_667234.png) > “What I've been telling people is that the doctors are gaining on cancer very rapidly. It's almost become a chronic disease, like diabetes - something you can treat. It doesn't go away, and you're not well in the sense of being over it, but you go on and live your life.” [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Medical advances are turning cancer into a manageable chronic condition rather than a fatal disease. **In simple terms:** Cancer is becoming treatable like diabetes. Key Takeaway Focus on long‑term management. Themes health medicine hope Mood optimistic serious Type informational inspirational When to use this quote - patient care - policy planning - public health education Key Concepts oncology chronic disease management Questions to Reflect On - How does chronic management change patient outlook? - What resources support long‑term care? A Different Perspective Treatment may not cure, only control symptoms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cancer/) [Diabetes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diabetes/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [I have some afflictions, like diabetes 2, but I take care. I sleep well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/i-have-some-afflictions-like-diabetes-2-but-i-take-care-i-sleep-well/) [Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/) > [..Since depression is a genetic biological illness, like diabetes, or low thyroid, it wasn't lack of character, laziness, or something I could "snap out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/since-depression-is-a-genetic-biological-illness-like-diabetes-or-low/) [Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/) > [Addiction is a disease like anything else. It's like cancer, like heart disease, like diabetes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sheff/addiction-is-a-disease-like-anything-else-it-s-like-cancer-like-heart/) [David Sheff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sheff/) > [Addiction is a disease, just like diabetes and heart disease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leana-s-wen/addiction-is-a-disease-just-like-diabetes-and-heart-disease/) [Leana S. Wen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leana-s-wen/) > [There are some people who're all doctors. Is it genetic?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aida-turturro/there-are-some-people-who-re-all-doctors-is-it-genetic/) [Aida Turturro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aida-turturro/) > [I don't know if I would ever truly want somebody's life in my hands. I think what these people, what doctors and nurses and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-donnell/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-ever-truly-want-somebody-s-life-in-my-hands-i/) [Colin Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-donnell/) > [“One day I told him about the boys of the neighborhood, about their mocking. He said, "That's because they don't understand." "They should understand,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-pinto/one-day-i-told-him-about-the-boys-of-the-neighborhood-about-their/) [Jerry Pinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-pinto/) > [Occasionally I talk with people who see doctors as people who do nothing but give of themselves and never receive from anyone else -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/occasionally-i-talk-with-people-who-see-doctors-as-people-who-do/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [I wanted to show people that doctors are humans, too. It's important for us to be around other people - that way, we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-varshavski/i-wanted-to-show-people-that-doctors-are-humans-too-it-s-important/) [Mikhail Varshavski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-varshavski/) > [“Like diabetes, she referred to it. Diabetics take insulin. In the same way, people with bipolar disorders took lithium, and alcoholics went to AA.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-carter/like-diabetes-she-referred-to-it-diabetics-take-insulin-in-the-same/) [Emily Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-carter/) > [I think modern societies have to ask a very basic question: What strategies buy the most health for people? Doctors can do so many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lamm/i-think-modern-societies-have-to-ask-a-very-basic-question-what/) [Richard Lamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lamm/) > [Sunday-the doctor's paradise! Doctors at country clubs, doctors at the seaside, doctors with mistresses, doctors with wives, doctors in church, doctors in yachts, doctors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/sunday-the-doctor-s-paradise-doctors-at-country-clubs-doctors-at-the/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [I have Type-1 diabetes, so Team 1 Diabetes is one thing I've been a part of for a while, empowering kids who have diabetes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raelynn/i-have-type-1-diabetes-so-team-1-diabetes-is-one-thing-i-ve-been-a/) [RaeLynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raelynn/) > [One day I was running around playing with my son Connor when afterwards I was sweating, tired and out of breath. I was embarrassed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-carey/one-day-i-was-running-around-playing-with-my-son-connor-when/) [Drew Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-carey/) > [Diabetes is an all-too-personal time bomb which can go off today, tomorrow, next year, or 10 years from now - a time bomb affecting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-tyler-moore/diabetes-is-an-all-too-personal-time-bomb-which-can-go-off-today/) [Mary Tyler Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-tyler-moore/) ## More by Molly Ivins > [Preemptive war is what Israel did in '67 with Arab armies on its borders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/preemptive-war-is-what-israel-did-in-67-with-arab-armies-on-its/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [The idols of one's adolescence tend to endure - you never forget how you worshipped them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/the-idols-of-one-s-adolescence-tend-to-endure-you-never-forget-how/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Having breast cancer is massive amounts of no fun,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/having-breast-cancer-is-massive-amounts-of-no-fun/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [How the American right managed to convince itself that the programs to alleviate poverty are responsible for the consequences of poverty will someday be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/how-the-american-right-managed-to-convince-itself-that-the-programs/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [To mistake Midland for the volk heartland is the West Texas equivalent of assuming that Greenwich, Connecticut, is Levittown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/to-mistake-midland-for-the-volk-heartland-is-the-west-texas/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [I only aim at the powerful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/i-only-aim-at-the-powerful/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Even for southerners, Arkansans are amazingly friendly and extend hospitality to all strangers with astonishing openness. You couldn't find a pretension in that state…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/even-for-southerners-arkansans-are-amazingly-friendly-and-extend/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [It's hard to convince people that you're killing them for their own good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/it-s-hard-to-convince-people-that-you-re-killing-them-for-their-own/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [the pyramids were built for pharaohs on the happy theory that they could take their stuff with them. Versailles was built for kings on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/the-pyramids-were-built-for-pharaohs-on-the-happy-theory-that-they/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Any nation that can survive what we have lately in the way of government, is on the high road to permanent glory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/any-nation-that-can-survive-what-we-have-lately-in-the-way-of/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [I think provincialism is an endemic characteristic with mankind, I think everybody everywhere is provincial, but it is particularly striking with Texans, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/i-think-provincialism-is-an-endemic-characteristic-with-mankind-i/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [During a recent panel on the numerous failures of American journalism, I proposed that almost all stories about government should begin: “Look out! They're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/during-a-recent-panel-on-the-numerous-failures-of-american-journalism/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Naturally, when it comes to voting, we in Texas are accustomed to discerning that fine hair’s-breadth worth of difference that makes one hopeless dipstick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/naturally-when-it-comes-to-voting-we-in-texas-are-accustomed-to/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Be outrageous, ridicule the fraidy-cats, rejoice in all the oddities that freedom can produce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/be-outrageous-ridicule-the-fraidy-cats-rejoice-in-all-the-oddities/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) > [Texas is not a civilized place. Texans shoot one another a lot. They also knife, razor, and stomp one another to death with some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ivins/texas-is-not-a-civilized-place-texans-shoot-one-another-a-lot-they/) [Molly Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) [Explore all 260 Molly Ivins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ivins/) ## 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": "What I've been telling people is that the doctors are gaining on cancer very rapidly. It's almost become a chronic disease, like diabetes - something you can treat. 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