--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I announced I had cancer on stage…" description: "\"When I announced I had cancer on stage, it was my brain leaping to that insane moment of, \"There's no way I could start a show saying, 'Hi, I have canc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f3/tig-notaro-3660_acknowledge_when-i-announced-i-had-cancer-on-stage-i_1130149.png" --- # When I announced I had cancer on stage, it was my brain… ![“When I announced I had cancer on stage, it was my brain leaping to that insane moment of, "There's no way I could start a show saying, 'Hi, I have cancer!'" And also for me to have these scars, and then think, "Oh my gosh, what if I did stand-up and not even acknowledge that my shirt was off, or…” quote by Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f3/tig-notaro-3660_acknowledge_when-i-announced-i-had-cancer-on-stage-i_1130149.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f3/tig-notaro-3660_acknowledge_when-i-announced-i-had-cancer-on-stage-i_1130149.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f3/tig-notaro-3660_acknowledge_when-i-announced-i-had-cancer-on-stage-i_1130149.png) > “When I announced I had cancer on stage, it was my brain leaping to that insane moment of, "There's no way I could start a show saying, 'Hi, I have cancer!'" And also for me to have these scars, and then think, "Oh my gosh, what if I did stand-up and not even acknowledge that my shirt was off, or that I have scars.” [Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She recounts the fear of revealing her cancer diagnosis on stage, confronting vulnerability and authenticity. **In simple terms:** Fear of exposing illness publicly. Key Takeaway Embrace authenticity despite fear. Themes vulnerability humor health awareness Mood candid humorous Type comedic personal When to use this quote - medical conferences - support groups - creative workshops Key Concepts stand‑up comedy personal storytelling Questions to Reflect On - Would you share personal health struggles publicly? - How does humor help cope with illness? A Different Perspective Audience may react unpredictably. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Cancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cancer/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Scar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scar/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“Are we insane? The moment we awake, we shall acknowledged God as the Divine Being.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/are-we-insane-the-moment-we-awake-we-shall-acknowledged-god-as-the/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Only people who have been discriminated against can really know how much it hurts. Each person feels the pain in his own way, each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/only-people-who-have-been-discriminated-against-can-really-know-how/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“Only people who've been discriminated against can really know how much it hurts. Each person feels the pain in his own way, each has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/only-people-who-ve-been-discriminated-against-can-really-know-how/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [She may say she is alright , she will get over it before you will and laugh , but she's actually dyiing inside ,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie-121/she-may-say-she-is-alright-she-will-get-over-it-before-you-will-and/) Jessie 121 > [“Each person feels the pain in his own way, each has his own scars. So I think I’m as concerned about fairness and justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/each-person-feels-the-pain-in-his-own-way-each-has-his-own-scars-so-i/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [Behind these scars, are not what you think. there is more to it, than you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashie/behind-these-scars-are-not-what-you-think-there-is-more-to-it-than/) [Dashie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashie/) > [“His eyes were cold steel, his mouth fixed in a hard line. "I like my face the way it is," he said icily. "You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/his-eyes-were-cold-steel-his-mouth-fixed-in-a-hard-line-i-like-my/) [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) > [One cannot celebrate books sufficiently. After saying his best, still something better remains to be spoken in their praise. As with friends, one finds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amos-bronson-alcott/one-cannot-celebrate-books-sufficiently-after-saying-his-best-still/) [Amos Bronson Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amos-bronson-alcott/) > [“Do you know what’s so strange, Uilleam?” she asked, saying his name perfectly. “You have never, in your entire life, done something for which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/do-you-know-what-s-so-strange-uilleam-she-asked-saying-his-name/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) > [That was the Liam Stewart way of saying, Hi, darlin', missed you something fierce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-bracken/that-was-the-liam-stewart-way-of-saying-hi-darlin-missed-you/) [Alexandra Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-bracken/) > [“His son lost everything because he was trying to do his job and protect himself. His life matters too, you know?" I cannot right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angie-thomas/his-son-lost-everything-because-he-was-trying-to-do-his-job-and/) [Angie Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-thomas/) > [“Carried away. He got a little carried away. This is like saying Hitler was a tad aggressive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kinsella/carried-away-he-got-a-little-carried-away-this-is-like-saying-hitler/) [Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/) > [“I was too tired to be pleasant today, even if it was just a matter of putting a smile on my face and saying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-hockley/i-was-too-tired-to-be-pleasant-today-even-if-it-was-just-a-matter-of/) [Julie Hockley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-hockley/) > [“Cooper,” she said. “Cooper Jax.” As if saying his name would someone break the spell, vanquish the mirage she was still faintly hoping she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-kauffman/cooper-she-said-cooper-jax-as-if-saying-his-name-would-someone-break/) [Donna Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-kauffman/) > [I thought that I had no time for faith nor time to pray, then I saw an armless man saying his Rosary with his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/i-thought-that-i-had-no-time-for-faith-nor-time-to-pray-then-i-saw-an/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) ## More by Tig Notaro > [Reminding myself that I have a tailbone keeps me in check.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/reminding-myself-that-i-have-a-tailbone-keeps-me-in-check/) [Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/) > [I think my brain just has a natural way of going to what would be the most insane thing, the least likely option.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/i-think-my-brain-just-has-a-natural-way-of-going-to-what-would-be-the/) [Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/) > [Before I had a double mastectomy, I was already pretty flat-chested, and I made so many jokes over the years about how small my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/before-i-had-a-double-mastectomy-i-was-already-pretty-flat-chested/) [Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/) > [Even losing my mother, I wanted my mother. That's who you want instinctually when you're having a hard time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/even-losing-my-mother-i-wanted-my-mother-that-s-who-you-want/) [Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/) > [I think every person and place is interesting, and there's an interesting story behind every door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/i-think-every-person-and-place-is-interesting-and-there-s-an/) [Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/) > [A lot of times, people will have after-parties or try and host an event for comedians, and they misunderstand us. They think it should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/a-lot-of-times-people-will-have-after-parties-or-try-and-host-an/) [Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/) > [I'm fascinated by caddy Buddhists popping up all over Hollywood and people that take themselves too seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/i-m-fascinated-by-caddy-buddhists-popping-up-all-over-hollywood-and/) [Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/) > [I love devastating movies, documentaries and hummingbirds (yes, in that order).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/i-love-devastating-movies-documentaries-and-hummingbirds-yes-in-that/) [Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/) > [I definitely still like writing one-liners, but I also think that I've changed a lot in that I've allowed myself freedom to grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/i-definitely-still-like-writing-one-liners-but-i-also-think-that-i-ve/) [Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/) > [I'm the luckiest unlucky person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/i-m-the-luckiest-unlucky-person/) [Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/) > [I didn't know whether I'd be attractive to anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/i-didn-t-know-whether-i-d-be-attractive-to-anybody/) [Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/) > [The hardest lesson to learn always is to just have faith in that you will always have something to say or a story to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/the-hardest-lesson-to-learn-always-is-to-just-have-faith-in-that-you/) [Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/) > [My age makes all my wrinkles and gray hair make sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/my-age-makes-all-my-wrinkles-and-gray-hair-make-sense/) [Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/) > [It's almost embarrassing how much support I have. I mean, I always tell people I feel like I'm perfectly set up to have cancer.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/it-s-almost-embarrassing-how-much-support-i-have-i-mean-i-always-tell/) [Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/) > [I am just at tragedy right now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/i-am-just-at-tragedy-right-now/) [Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/) [Explore all 125 Tig Notaro quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/) ## More Acknowledge quotes > [Black music has always known, and not been afraid to acknowledge just how high the stakes of Black thought are. To summarize the final…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-b-wilderson-iii/black-music-has-always-known-and-not-been-afraid-to-acknowledge-just/) Frank B. Wilderson III > [I'm a Christian because Christianity names and addresses sin. It acknowledges the reality that the evil we observe in the world is also present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-held-evans/i-m-a-christian-because-christianity-names-and-addresses-sin-it/) [Rachel Held Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-held-evans/) > [The only way to ease our fear and be truly happy is to acknowledge our fear and look deeply at its source. Instead of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-way-to-ease-our-fear-and-be-truly-happy-is-to-acknowledge/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [On Thanksgiving Day we acknowledge our dependence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/on-thanksgiving-day-we-acknowledge-our-dependence/) [William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/) > [You can't go into games with any fear. You can acknowledge a good team but you can't go in worrying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reece-james/you-can-t-go-into-games-with-any-fear-you-can-acknowledge-a-good-team/) [Reece James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reece-james/) > [Conservative feminism is such an artificial term that doesn't mean much to me. For me conservatism means accepting reality. I acknowledge that there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristina-schroder/conservative-feminism-is-such-an-artificial-term-that-doesn-t-mean/) [Kristina Schroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristina-schroder/) > [We must acknowledge that bearing and raising children is not some pesky, peripheral activity that we engage in, but the whole point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-maushart/we-must-acknowledge-that-bearing-and-raising-children-is-not-some/) [Susan Maushart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-maushart/) > [When we pray, we must begin by conceiving God in full and vigorous images, but we must go on to acknowledge the inadequacy of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-farrer/when-we-pray-we-must-begin-by-conceiving-god-in-full-and-vigorous/) [Austin Farrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-farrer/) > [Acknowledging foolishness is a very powerful and important experience. We could almost say that being willing to be a fool is one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/acknowledging-foolishness-is-a-very-powerful-and-important-experience/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [Actually, when I look at my old notebooks, I think I have been a bit self-indulgent and have given myself too much time to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/actually-when-i-look-at-my-old-notebooks-i-think-i-have-been-a-bit/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [I would like, then, to end by putting in a good word for the non-industrious poor. At least they aren’t hurting anyone. Insofar as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-graeber/i-would-like-then-to-end-by-putting-in-a-good-word-for-the-non/) [David Graeber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-graeber/) > [No one seriously doubts Socrates' maxim: The unexamined life isn't worth living. Self-assessment and attempts at self-improvement are essential aspects of "the good life."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-burton/no-one-seriously-doubts-socrates-maxim-the-unexamined-life-isn-t/) [Robert A. Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-burton/) > [As objects of contemplation, images of the atrocious can answer to several different needs. To steel oneself against weakness. To make oneself more numb.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/as-objects-of-contemplation-images-of-the-atrocious-can-answer-to/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [It is in the measure that special methods acknowledge their common core in transcendental method, that norms common to all the sciences will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-lonergan/it-is-in-the-measure-that-special-methods-acknowledge-their-common/) [Bernard Lonergan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-lonergan/) > [I can hear of the brilliant accomplishments of any of my sex with pleasure and rejoice in that liberality of sentiment which acknowledges them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-adams/i-can-hear-of-the-brilliant-accomplishments-of-any-of-my-sex-with/) [Abigail Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-adams/) Browse all 1,475 Acknowledge quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I announced I had cancer on stage, it was my brain leaping to that insane moment of, \"There's no way I could start a show saying, 'Hi, I have cancer!'\" And also for me to have these scars, and then think, \"Oh my gosh, what if I did stand-up and not even acknowledge that my shirt was off, or that I have scars.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tig Notaro" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/when-i-announced-i-had-cancer-on-stage-it-was-my-brain-leaping-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acknowledge" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/when-i-announced-i-had-cancer-on-stage-it-was-my-brain-leaping-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f3/tig-notaro-3660_acknowledge_when-i-announced-i-had-cancer-on-stage-i_1130149.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f3/tig-notaro-3660_acknowledge_when-i-announced-i-had-cancer-on-stage-i_1130149.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f3/tig-notaro-3660_acknowledge_when-i-announced-i-had-cancer-on-stage-i_1130149.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I announced I had cancer on stage, it was my brain leaping to that insane moment of, \"There's no way I…” — Tig Notaro", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Tig Notaro", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I announced I had cancer...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/when-i-announced-i-had-cancer-on-stage-it-was-my-brain-leaping-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/when-i-announced-i-had-cancer-on-stage-it-was-my-brain-leaping-to/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```