‘Battling’ cancer

SIR – I spent 10 years working daily as a driver for our local cancer day hospice. Patients were collected in the morning and returned to their homes in mid-afternoon.

I met a lot of patients and spent a lot of time talking in the car. All were incredibly positive and spoke of “fighting” cancer and “winning” the battle. There were times when I received an early-morning phone call and was told that a patient I had taken home the day before had died in the night. They had sadly “lost the battle”.

If these metaphors are widely used and accepted by patients and their spouses and friends, why should we stop using them (Letters, August 18)? Disheartening they certainly are not.

Duncan Rayner

Sunningdale, Berkshire

SIR – I am indebted to Bruce Denness for bringing post-polio syndrome (PPS) to my attention in his letter (August 18) on the language of illness.

Like him I contracted the poliovirus in the late 1940s or early 1950s, which affected my feet and lower legs, and spent time in an iron lung as part of my recovery. Mercifully, the condition did not prevent me enjoying a 40-year aircrew career in the RAF.

However, about 20 years ago, I began having symptoms, principally in my feet, which I now suspect were due to PPS. Until now I had assumed they were caused by old age, poor fitness and being overweight.

In passing, I have never thought of myself as being a “victim” or “survivor” of polio (although I suppose both words apply), merely as someone who had it and fortunately recovered.

Ian Jefferies

Crowthorne, Berkshire