Cancer – Euphemisms and Dysphemisms: Life Will Go On, or Maybe It Won’t
When providing professional care for mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collectively “mental health”), regarding two clients I see for individual sessions, I heard each of these people—who don’t know one another—use the term “c-word” for cancer, as one source states:
Cancer is a group of diseases involving uncontrolled cell growth typically resulting in tumors with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These malignant tumors contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Over 100 types of cancers affect humans.
It was as though, through some method of magical thinking, my clients believed that evoking the word “cancer” would invoke actual cancer. Yet, my clients didn’t learn that ish from me! Thus, because I maintain that the words we use matter, I thought of a psychoeducational lesson.
I now invite you to consider that the term “ish” is a euphemism, while the slur it substitutes for is a dysphemism regarding the term “shit” (vulgar: bodily waste discharged through the anus). Related to this topic, one source states:
A euphemism is the substitution of a potentially offensive or unpleasant word or expression with one that is more pleasant or inoffensive. Some euphemisms are humorous, while others use mild or neutral language to downplay certain concepts. They can often be used to soften profanity or discuss sensitive or taboo topics, such as disability, sex, bodily functions, pain, violence, illness, or death, in a more polite manner.
Per my understanding, the term “ish” derived from the sound made by a vinyl record scratching over the term “shit,” as many hip hop artists used the resulting sound to comply with Parental Advisory policies within the music industry in the ‘80s and ‘90s. That was infantilizing shit!
Similarly, the euphemistic term “c-word” is a juvenile manner of avoiding the word, as well as the complex and complicated topic of, “cancer.” In any event, I don’t encourage such childish behavior! Related to this matter, one source states:
A dysphemism is an expression with connotations that are derogatory either about the subject matter or to the audience. Dysphemisms contrast with neutral or euphemistic expressions. For example, expressing disapproval by calling a person a snake is a dysphemism. Dysphemism may be motivated by fear, distaste, hatred, contempt, humor and abuse.
As I’ve evoked hip hop, I imagine that those people who listen to rap music have heard the dysphemistic term “bitch” (the female of the dog or some other carnivorous mammals) when referencing human females (girls and women), and emasculated human males (boys and men).
Animal terms are often used as dysphemistic epithets in this way. By using these terms, a speaker attempts to offend or antagonize a listener by targeting one’s humanity. Utilizing a euphemistic term for “bitch,” rappers and lyricists historically used the word “hoochie.”
Personally, even though I tend to utilize them, use of euphemisms and dysphemisms may deprive the subject matter of relevant meaning. In some cases, using these terms may intentionally or unwittingly serve the purpose of censorship, as in a chilling effect on free speech.
I’m not with that shit! Likewise, I discourage the clients with whom I work from use of euphemisms and dysphemisms which may nonconsciously attribute power to concepts which hold no authority over their lives. This is a matter of empowerment versus disempowerment.
Particularly, I maintain that it’s disempowering to use the term “c-word” in place of “cancer.” Alternatively, behaving as an adult with a functioning capacity to empoweringly use one’s mind – instead of childishly pretending that cancer mustn’t be talked about – is what I advocate!
Perhaps you’re not a hip hop fan, and because you don’t know my clients or have an aversion to use of the word “cancer,” the topic at hand isn’t of interest to you. Very well. I’ll shift musical genres and subject matter, as I now invite you to consider that one source states:
At first glance, the Beatles’ [rock band comprised of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr] “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” [from the ninth studio album, The Beatles (1968)] is nothing more than a hopeful ode to life’s persistence.
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da, life goes on brah [brother], the refrain repeats throughout the song. La, la, how their life goes on. The song was innocent enough—until the terror attacks of September 11, 2001 [“9/11”], painted the unassuming track in a far different light.
The 1968 track was one of several Beatles tunes that Clear Channel Communications ([CCC] now iHeartMedia) included in an infamous memorandum that urged radio stations to ban certain songs following the national tragedy for various reasons. Other Beatles songs included “A Day in the Life,” “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” and “Ticket to Ride.”
“Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” made it on the list, ironically, due to its happy-go-lucky attitude. Per CCC’s controversial memorandum (which, decades later, some argue never actually existed), the refrain Life goes on, brah could’ve been offensive to a nation mourning the deadliest terrorist attack in the country’s entire history.
Referring to the attacks of September 11, 2001 as “9/11” is a matter of shorthand, not a euphemism or dysphemism. Nevertheless, censoring “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” may euphemistically be termed as a “yellow” (cowardly) and dysphemistically as a “bitch” move!
The distorted inference of a reported ban on “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” is that people in the United States wouldn’t be able to tolerate or accept reminders of 9/11. For context, the chorus of the song states:
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da
Life goes on, brah
La-la, how their life goes on
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da
Life goes on, brah
La-la, how their life goes on
Imagine hearing an uplifting song following an unfortunate event and thinking, “This is intolerable!” If this scenario isn’t the stuff of imagination for you, as you infantilizingly say to yourself, “I can’t stand reminders of 9/11,” then I encourage you to read this post in its entirety.
As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) was formed by the late psychologist Albert Ellis, who reportedly developed the first cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) psychotherapeutic modality in 1955, this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding his book, Ask Albert Ellis?: Straight Answers and Sound Advice from America’s Best-Known Psychologist.
Now, I invite you to consider how Ellis stated that unfortunate “things do happen, and we can choose to upset ourselves about them by believing they are absolutely terrible, or we can allow ourselves to be disappointed and moderately upset, but know that life will go on” (page 4).
Also, Ellis’ ABC model illustrates that when an undesirable Action occurs and you Believe an unhelpful narrative about the event, it’s your unfavorable assumption, not the occurrence itself, that causes an unpleasant Consequence. This is known as distress or disturbance.
Noteworthy, with virtually any undesirable Action that occurs, it’s your unfavorable Beliefs which cause unpleasant distress or disturbance (Consequence). Given this framing of self-distress and self-disturbance, it’s worth noting that one REBT source states (page 71):
REBT conceptualizes [distress] as healthy even though it is intense. Other approaches to therapy have as their goal the reduction of the intensity of negative emotions. They take this position because they do not keenly differentiate between healthy negative emotions (distress) and unhealthy negative emotions (disturbance).
Now, REBT keenly distinguishes between healthy distress and unhealthy disturbance. Healthy distress stems from your rational beliefs about a negative activating event [Action], whilst disturbance stems from your irrational beliefs about the same event.
Complete elimination of distress is highly unlikely in an impermanent and uncertain world wherein people conceptually suffer, struggle, and battle with, or merely experience hardship. Still, individuals often make matters worse for themselves by disturbing about such instances.
In particular, there are four predominate irrational beliefs which people often use to distress or disturb themselves: global evaluations, low frustration tolerance, awfulizing, and demandingness. When contemplating these unproductive scripts, think of the acronym GLAD.
Additionally, from a psychological standpoint, people distress or disturb themselves using a Belief-Consequence (B-C) connection. Of course, this isn’t to suggest that in the context of the naturalistic or physical world there is no Action-Consequence (A-C) connection.
From an A-C view, nothing except foreign debris (e.g., burning trash) struck 7 World Trade Center (“Building 7”) on 9/11 (Action), though Building 7 nonetheless collapsed in on its own footprint (Consequence). Now, imagine hearing “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” and using a B-C view.
You hear “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” after 9/11 (Action), Believe, “Life is meaningless, if it doesn’t go on [G], and I can’t stand it [L], because death is awful [A], so the happy-go-lucky song “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” mustn’t be played [D],” and you then feel unhealthy disgust (Consequence).
Addressing how people upset themselves with unhelpful attitudes, the ABC model incorporates Disputation of unproductive philosophies of life in order to explore Effective new beliefs. Whereas rigid beliefs cause self-disturbance, flexible beliefs result in an un-disturbed condition.
Instead of using a GLAD Belief, suppose that you use the Effective belief, “Unfortunate things happen, and I can choose to upset myself about them by believing they are absolutely terrible, or I can allow myself to be disappointed and moderately upset, but know that life will go on.”
Also, imagine using the REBT technique of unconditional acceptance—which acknowledges that everyone will one day be pushing up daisies (i.e., dead)—and you Effectively believe, “Ob-la-di, ob-la-da, life goes on, brah, or maybe it won’t! After all, you could die at any moment!”
Photo credit, Designed by Magnific, fair use
With either of these Effective new beliefs, you could hear any of the aforementioned songs by the Beatles without experiencing self-upset. In this way, you wouldn’t behave like a hoochie (euphemism) or a bitch (dysphemism). Imagine that!
Now, if you comprehend this psychoeducational lesson, then you can also forego childish behavior, like disempoweringly referring to cancer as the “c-word,” because you’re a self-empowered adult! Imagine that!
If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.
As the world’s foremost hip hop-influenced REBT psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.
At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!
Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW
References:
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Beatles, The. (2018, June 21). The Beatles - The Beatles - Ticket to Ride (Official music video) [Remastered 2015] [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/SyNt5zm3U_M?si=BtR1ROaWydOx_xzy
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Hollings, D. (2026, April 21). Self-upset. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/self-upset
Hollings, D. (2025, December 24). Some people advocate walking. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/some-people-advocate-walking
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