Is cancer an internal or external conflict? Why do you think so?

When someone is diagnosed with cancer, I'm sure that they experience both internal and external conflict. I'll explain why I feel that both types of conflict are present, as well as why I think there is more internal conflict for a person living with cancer.

For starters, there is a very literal conflict going on inside the body of someone with cancer. The person's immune system is battling a proliferation cancerous cells. Metaphorically, this internal...

When someone is diagnosed with cancer, I'm sure that they experience both internal and external conflict. I'll explain why I feel that both types of conflict are present, as well as why I think there is more internal conflict for a person living with cancer.

For starters, there is a very literal conflict going on inside the body of someone with cancer. The person's immune system is battling a proliferation cancerous cells. Metaphorically, this internal attack can cause mixed feelings for the person who is afflicted. Cancer is unlike some other illnesses because there is no foreign antigen which causes the cancer. (Of course, certain substances can contribute to the development of cancer.) The cancer is essentially made of the same stuff as the rest of the body-- it is self attacking self. One must decide how to fight back against the unhealthy cells, and this is another layer of conflict. Should the person let nature run its course and hope that their immune system can overpower the cancerous tissue? Should they try for radiation therapy? Or chemotherapy? Treating cancer can be very hard on the body, and many people choose not to undergo treatment because of the side effects. Chemotherapy in particular is very effective at reducing cancerous tissue, but it works by poisoning the whole body. Many people feel torn over whether they would rather have and possibly die of cancer, or go through the physical and emotional discomfort of chemotherapy to be rid of cancer.

There is also a wealth of external conflict when someone is diagnosed with cancer. Physicians, family members, and friends may all have hopes or suggestions for the person diagnosed, but ultimately it is up to the person afflicted to make decisions about their treatment. Many people who have cancer feel isolated from the people around them because their body hurts in ways they cannot articulate, and the prospect of one's own death can cause them to lose hope. Some people feel they are a burden on those who help to care for them and wish that they did not require such assistance. Outside of the immediate social circle, cancer is still quite a scary term for most people. Others in society may not be sure how to interact with someone who has cancer or feel that the person is defined by their illness. Many people who have cancer struggle to assert their identities during and after treatment, wishing to be treated like themselves outside of the context of their illness. 

These are just some of the possible conflicts a person with cancer may find themselves experiencing. I think that the internal, mental conflict of cancer is greater than the external conflict because all external conflicts have an effect on the internal experience of the person.