Why are people who are fighting a life threatening illness referred to as being 'brave'?

[dave50]

While not making light of it, surely it is the most basic human instinct to fight for life, I don't think bravery comes into it at all.

[bednobs]

i too wonder that, and i also wonder about the term "fighting" What does it say about people who chose NOT to have treatment?

[emmie]

my o/h was brave, he lost his battle, but i would put him against anyone who has to go through what he did.

[bednobs]

also, there is no "brave" to it - you just have to deal with what's in front of you, no matter what it is. People sometimes referred to me as "brave" when i was dealing with the death of my children, but seriously, what else was i supposed to do - commit suicide?

[Sqad]

I have a certain amount of sympathy for your post dave, of course the only alternative would be to run down the street shouting "woe is me i have a life threatening illness."

There was a thread some weeks ago which mentioned that when one died of cancer , it described "losing the fight" but when one died of any other disease, "losing the fight" wasn't mentioned.

[Mamyalynne]

It has been discussed a fair bit on here.

My late husband was in my view 'brave' as he never complained but tried his best to keep happy and cheerful for as long as he possibly could, hope I have that strength when the time comes.

[Mamyalynne]

http://www.theanswerb.../Question1155779.html

[andy-hughes]

I have raised a similar Question concerning death from cancer always being decribed as 'having lost a battle with ...' - and often a 'brave battle' which brings me to your point.

I do not subscribe to the notion of 'bravery' or 'fighting a battle' when dealing with an illness.

Should I succomb to dreadful illness, i would prefer my notice of death to confirm that "Andy finally died of (whatever) having been exceedingly pissed off at his serious misfortune in pegging it this way - he always wanted to keel over of a heart attack at the encore of a Kylie Minogie show..."

[daffy654]

I have a life threatening illness and I definitely don't consider myself brave. I have no choice about what is happening to me as my condition is progressive and incurable. I just get on with it as best as I can.

[Sqad]

I have often noticed in my professional life, that people with "life threatening illnesses" live longer than apparently healthy people.

[Old_Geezer]

I assume courage is a reference to how the individual deals with the situation. And extended as a courtesy to those who cope less well anyway.

[jake-the-peg]

I think that the idea is that it takes a certain type of mental discipline to carry on in a productive and positive manner under such circumstances and that is associated with bravery as more traditional types of bravery are also often associated with functioning positively in the face of mortal danger.

But I do think it's just become one of those things that people say and expect to hear

[jake-the-peg]

much more sucinctly put OG

[FredPuli43]

You're too modest, bednobs. Brave is not just for doing something which wins the VC of GM (incidentally,the two winners of such bravery awards who I've met, both said they'd never have done it if they'd thought first!). It's showing strength in terrible adversity, whether the adversity is from choice or chance. People who face life- threatening illness with calm or even cheerfulness are certainly brave.

[Old_Geezer]

That makes a change for me Jake :-)

[emmie]

If a person is too sick to do anything at all, and cancer can and does do that to you, where perhaps you are given a few months to live at most, there is no happy ever after, nor putting on a brave face, even though i would say my o/h had it in abundance, but it's universally grim and horrible.

[vivandorron]

IMO...Bravery is not on the part of the person who dies, but those who loved the individual and continue themselves to get on with living their lives without their loved one.

Sorry if my remarks offend anyone.

Ron.

[madiba]

Similarly why should sportsmen be referred to as " Heros "
particularly when they don't come first.

[emmie]

i would make those fools on TV who keep on saying they are on a journey, to keep right on going.

[modeller]

I have a terminal illness it's called Old Age . Every day is a new battle so I suppose the term fighting has some validity.

[woofgang]

believe me, when it comes to cancer all the sufferers and their carers are heroes and fighters. I do hate to hear about people losing or winning the fight though.
Old-geezer does have a point.
I say this both from personal and professional experience.