Back to reality:
Stranger yet was the juxtaposition of these events to an article about Kris Carr in The New York Times Sunday Magazine, "Kris Carr: Crazy Sexy Entrepreneur." Many of you are fans of hers, and I appreciate that. My concern: the grey line that connects newly emerging cancer celebrities to the Oprah and Dr. Oz powerhouse, and people accepting their utterings as gospel. That's alarms me. But as it's said, sex sells.
She beat cancer not because of who she is but because of the kind of cancer she had. What Kris Carr is famous for is writing about a cancer that -- most fortunately - has not taken root. No treatment. No surgery. No chemo. No radiation. But one woman's green drinks and enemas does not constitute evidence-based medicine. It is about marketing, her shrewd ability to fill a niche for a new cancer vocabulary, and our culture's voracious appetite for a fresh face.
Beyond all though is the nature of post 9/11 empowerment and our cultural need to believe that by golly, we can take control of any and everything with the right amount of vegetables, mantra humming, and "phabulouness."
But it isn't reality. There are many things we can not control. Cancer that is biologically aggressive in nature is one of them. And I find this kind of voodoo tremendously insulting to the millions of people worldwide who are not as fortunate to appear on the other side of the cancer treatment stream with limbs, psyche and mind intact.
Of all the cancer stories available that the Times profiled this is a sad reflection on what is perceived as "fit to print" about cancer. This story doesn't accurately represent people with cancer. It's more like a cartoon, and a bad one at that.
Houston weather today: Highs around 101. Mostly sunny, turning partly cloudy. bit.ly/c7r3wv
Travel is absolutely a fabulous gift. The return isn't always, as you can see by our forecast.
The bigger shock, though, has been the relentless march of cancer across the lives of people I care about. In the short time I was gone two women died of cancer way, way before their time; two more were recently diagnosed, and another friend had to have three separate surgeries to obtain clear margins in her early stage breast cancer.
She beat cancer not because of who she is but because of the kind of cancer she had. What Kris Carr is famous for is writing about a cancer that -- most fortunately - has not taken root. No treatment. No surgery. No chemo. No radiation. But one woman's green drinks and enemas does not constitute evidence-based medicine. It is about marketing, her shrewd ability to fill a niche for a new cancer vocabulary, and our culture's voracious appetite for a fresh face.
Beyond all though is the nature of post 9/11 empowerment and our cultural need to believe that by golly, we can take control of any and everything with the right amount of vegetables, mantra humming, and "phabulouness."
But it isn't reality. There are many things we can not control. Cancer that is biologically aggressive in nature is one of them. And I find this kind of voodoo tremendously insulting to the millions of people worldwide who are not as fortunate to appear on the other side of the cancer treatment stream with limbs, psyche and mind intact.
Of all the cancer stories available that the Times profiled this is a sad reflection on what is perceived as "fit to print" about cancer. This story doesn't accurately represent people with cancer. It's more like a cartoon, and a bad one at that.
21 comments:
Kris Carr's wild success is great marketing and a world full of desperate people who are literally "dying" to find a cure for their cancer. They will hold on to a thread, no matter how slender, because it tethers them to hope.
I hate to admit this, but early after my diagnosis, I bought her first book and tried her diet. While I'll allow for the fact that it seems to work for Kris, it landed me in the Emergency Room.
Great words as always, sweet friend.
XOXOXO,
Brenda
I absolutely agree with you. This topic touches a nerve with me because people do take this kind of advice as gospel. Each cancer is individual, as is each person.
Brenda,
There are a lot of people who bought her book, too and many who also were helped by some of her early chapters discussing dealing with the cancer diagnosis. That is all valid AND valuable.
I don't want to discount the impact of a cancer diagnosis on anyone; especially a young adult. But as a representative of the cancer experience as most of us know it? I don't think so.
Thanks so much - look forward to chatting with you tonight:)
jms
Ann,
I know what you mean. And I'm amazed how people won't trust information from "the internet" but hearing baloney from Dr. Oz is OK "because it's on TV."
So we take our fried nerves and try to shape the conversation in any way we can.
Hope all is well your way,
jms
Great and thought provoking post. As I mentioned to you before I read her book in my early days of diagnosis and found it uproariously funny at times. I needed it. BUT while I understand her wanting to tout the idea of taking better care of herself, I'm seeing that we can't seem to just stop there. We have to turn it into some sort of religion, whereby if someone dies, we can blame them for not doing it right.
Katie
Nailed it JodyMS! I've been harboring suspicions that "cancer" is now being positioned as a lifestyle by the canny marketers. The Kris Carr article confirmed it. Crazy Commoditized Cancer.
Dealing with a cancer diagnosis is one thing. Cashing in on it is another. I didn't know much about Carr's background, because I could not get past her "Crazy, Sexy Cancer" billing to read further. I'm not surprised to hear that she never, in fact, had to endure the slash/burn/poison protocol of acute cancer treatment, because her diagnosis never warranted it. No one in their right mind who has would ever honestly think of the experience as "sexy." Thanks for your gutsy, perceptive candor, Jody. You're right on point, as usual.
So well said my friend and something that people need reminding of, cancer may be crazy but it sure as he'll ain't sexy, and no amount of herbal tea is gonna change that!
Xxoo Deb
LIKE. Thanks for having the guts to say it. :) I'm glad you did!
-MM
I'm writing a blog post now... but I love your post and I find it VERY real and VERY much inline with what I would say about her... being fresh faced and saying all the happy stuff about cancer *rah rah* sexy go team is always what people want to hear.
you are right on. But... I also know that SOME stuff she says-- like the empowering stuff (i don't give a crap WHAT diet or healing through food she does - just that she IS doing it) we forget as patients and doctors forget... NO ONE - *NO*ONE* can diagnose me into good or bad health... they can only give me a diagnosis... and *I* have the right and ability to use other means and THAT goes often unspoken. TOO OFTEN. x
xx
M
All I can say is I agree with Debbie! Cancer certainly is crazy, but it sure as hell ain't sexy.
Trivialization of cancer. hmmm. I'm not buying her book.
Thanks for your wise words, Jody.
No cancer I've seen is crazy or sexy either and Dr. Snit, I completely get it on empowerment. I don't take that away from her or anyone.
And by the way, I loved and left a comment on your post.
love,
Jody
Thank you for this brilliant post. It just seems the media enjoys covering up the ugliness of cancer with make-believe cures and "crazy, sexy" stuff. Cancer is not crazy, sexy....ever.
And going to Whole Foods won't stop cancer from knocking on one's door.
I agree with almost everything you said.
I'm not saying I didn't enjoy the one book of by her that a friend gave me, but you are right about so many things, including the lack of awareness of her luck.
I actually don't fault the journalist and editor for doing the story, to me it is a fascinating bit of sociology.
Thanks for keeping us informed. Hope you are well.
Best wishes,
Natalie
www.BreastCancerRegistry.com
My Dear Friend,
I am Callie Broussard-Wheeler I have the same kind of sarcoma that Kris has. She is an amazing woman and one of my friends. However her cancer is dormant not beaten this press always scares me because it makes people thing that something is cured and not healed. She is healed I am not her mother nor have we spoken for ages by email or other but she has a type of cancer that is called idolent until it flairs she has brilliantly learned and taught so many of us me included how to live healthy and happy with cancer. I lived the csl diet for years and still work it to a degree. I am so proud of Kris and all she has accomplished and wish her the very best in all things. I pray with all my heart that she stays well and the press does not eat her alive if she gets sick. She is one of my heros. I run Basic Missions a Global Foundation for change and we lobby, work with individuals as health and wellness coaches and teach eating and healing skills for those with cancer. We begin a reboot on Monday so come and visit us and I would be honored to be a part of your community of wellness warriors. Stay well and if you ever need anything please contact me. Many Blessings. Callie.
Well I tiptoed around that. I suppose the best way to say it is the diet I do not agree with and the spin... is dangerous. We all need to look at the press wagon at work and the huge amount of energy that is put into this CSC and CSD work. I can attest to you the juicing works. The rest can be dangerous and not help you at all. I wish we could have a dialog about press and the way we all work. I never want to bash anything or anyone I care deeply about but this approach to life leads to zealots or converts that see nothing else. If you have a bad immune system this diet can help you heal from some "some" cancers if you have an autoimmune disease it can kill you. Cancer is a disease that needs a stronger immune system built to kill onc cells, MS and AlS etc. need a weaker immune system because that immune system is on overdrive and building it more can cause dangerous side effects. Also you have to look at the fact that this is a huge market. Selling Green anything right now is enormous it is the cash cow of the millenuim and we all know it. I hope we at Basic and me.. alone help bring the word to people that living with stage four sarcoma in the lungs lymph nodes and bones can be done. Healing is not curing.. it is living the best quality of life we have. Not bullshit hollywood spin. So there it is said. I look forward to coming back here. And hope to see you all at BasicMissions.com >.. Peace and love Callie
Thanks for weighing in, Callie. Believing that strengthening our immune system to fight disease - cancer or other - is one thing. Selecting foods to do that? The same. But selling and spinning it for others? I just can't go there.
I'm really glad the program has worked for you. Good luck to you and your work -- please stop by again.
-- Jody
I really enjoyed this post. I have read over a few other posts you have up and I will say you do a great job of blogging.
I will be looking for your new posts daily, keep up the good work!
While Kris Carr's method may not work for every type of cancer, I believe it is a wonderful method of dealing with it, or even act as a preventive in some cases as certain diets and chemicals in our everyday lives can negatively influence growth of cancer. There is no one size fits all, so no this isn't going to work for every single person out there. But it will inspire and work for some, and that's what matters - that it is making a positive difference in the lives of some of the people in this crazy chaotic world. If you watch interviews, she almost went broke doing the film pieces for her show, until TLC took it up. And she didn't make a business out of her other works until close to 8 years after starting everything. My point, though each person is entitled to their opinion, is that rather then bashing Kris for speaking out about her cancer and how she healed her self on the off chance that it might help others, we should give her props for having the courage to put her story out there....
Wow... I'm baffled by the message that so many are being left with after reading/seeing Kris Carr's "Crazy, Sexy Cancer".
While her diet was part of her story I didn't think the point of her story was how to cure cancer by following this diet.I believed it to be more about living with a cancer diagnosis.Discovering a cancer diagnosis cannot cripple love, shatter hope, corrode faith, silence courage and most of all cannot conquer the spirit.
I experienced some of the same emotions Kris experienced in her documentary when I was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer stage 3C,3 years ago at the age of 43.I am currently under going my 3rd type of chemo.
Smiles to all,
Kelly
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