Can someone please explain this to me:
"When he was advised in June that the cancer was incurable, Courtenay discontinued further treatment and dedicated his last book to his doctor, Koroush Haghighi." (News.com.au)
Well, that is pretty clear. So far so good. This well known person decided to cease treatment. But then:
"Author Bryce Courtenay loses cancer battle, aged 79" (The Age)
If he has decided to refuse further treatment why are people saying he has lost something?
I am so sick of the crap about battling cancer. It is really insulting. I want it on the record here that although I have not read one of his books I salute Bryce Courtenay for his acceptance of his life ending the way it did. He was not losing a battle in any sense of the word. He was ending life with a lot of dignity, clearly at peace. Well done, Bryce Courtenay.
It get right up my nose that the mindless media machine can only deal with celebrity cancer deaths using the battle metaphor, even when it flies in the face of the facts.
He chose to stop treatment. He won that battle. He didn't lose it.
H