Olubukola Ayodele, Breast Cancer Lead at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“We talk openly about diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma and COPD. But when it comes to cancer, many people lower their voice or avoid the word entirely. It becomes “the C-word.”

That reaction isn’t accidental. For generations, cancer has carried layers of fear, trauma and silence. The diagnosis can land like an emotional earthquake, not only for the person receiving it but for everyone connected to them. It shapes identity, relationships and expectations about the future.

Yet cancer care today is not what it was decades ago. We’ve made real progress in early diagnosis, personalised treatment, survivorship and supportive care. Outcomes continue to improve. People are living long, full lives during and after treatment. But the word itself hasn’t evolved with that progress.

So it raises a genuine question:

“If the name triggers fear that stops people from engaging with screening, reporting symptoms or seeking support early, is it time to rethink how we talk about cancer or even what we call it?”

Some argue that renaming could reduce stigma and normalise conversation. Others worry that changing the name won’t change the feelings beneath it, and could even create confusion or mistrust.

What feels clear to me is that we need a trauma-informed approach to cancer care. We need language that reflects the reality of modern treatment without minimising the emotional weight that patients carry. We need conversations that are open, compassionate and culturally grounded, especially in communities where silence has been the norm for far too long.

Maybe the solution isn’t a new name.
Maybe it’s a new narrative.