'War on cancer' metaphors may do harm, research shows

Use of military terminology can make people more fearful and fatalistic, say psychologists

The ubiquitous use of war metaphors when referring to cancer may do more harm than good, according to research into the psychological impact the phrases have on people's views of the disease.

Framing cancer in military terms made treatment seem more difficult and left people feeling more fatalistic about the illness, believing there was little they could do to reduce their risk, researchers found.