Campaign puts cancer 'on a pedestal'

The Cancer Society's controversial new campaign is a 'disgrace', according to a local cancer survivor.

Launched last week, the new 'I Want to Get Cancer' campaign has received widespread criticism for what critics say is its insensitive and provocative use of language.
One of those critics is Nida Collins from Edenderry, in Offaly, who is one of the founder members of the Little Wishes organisation which surprises local cancer patients and their families with gifts to help raise their spirits.
She told the Offaly Independent that she was shocked when she first saw the 'I Want to Get Cancer' advertisement on television. Rather than encouraging people to be proactive about their health, she says that it puts the disease on a “pedestal”.
“All it does is highlight the disease and puts it on a pedestal. It's a disaster and more so because it's all our money that was used to fund the campaign. This money should be used for counselling for people.
The Cancer Society has defended its decision to run the campaign. It's head of communications Grainne O'Rourke said that it has been created to get people talking about cancer and wasn't meant to offend people.
“I Want To Get Cancer is designed to be provocative, it has to be to save lives.
“However, it was not intended to upset anyone who has cancer or lost someone to cancer. It was designed to get a conversation going on the issue.”
Ms Collins says that she is a big believer in the power of positive affirmations and using language to create positive thoughts. She says that the Cancer Society's expensive new campaign was ill judged and could have negative consequences. “I don't know how much money they spent but it's affirming the spread of the disease.”