When people say that cancer is ‘life changing,’ they are not exaggerating! Whether it is you that have cancer or your friends and family, I believe EVERYONE is affected by it. My question is do we then start feeling vulnerable and more fragile, whether physically, mentally or both? I would like to start by using a quote to define the word. VULNERABLE: “It’s best used for a person whose feelings are so delicate that they can’t withstand any criticism or pressure”
As an adult I have never felt vulnerable, always up for a challenge, and feeling emotionally strong, even during the most challenging of times. But in hindsight I realise that it was because I always assumed that my body would be able to stand up to the rigours of life. Since cancer, it has become incredibly weak, and every little thing can become a medical emergency. Doing small jobs around the house is difficult, as I have little strength or movement now, and even getting in and out of the car has to be a carefully planned manoeuvre! Mentally I am still strong and maybe stronger since my experience, but overall I would class myself as feeling vulnerable.
I ask this question because I have become uneasy with the increase of emotionally disturbing advertising I am seeing from the large cancer charities. Adverts telling us that one charity is there for us whatever we need. Another promising that they will cure cancer sooner, with our donations. Many others offering free will writing services, which for me is one of the worst things that I see. Encouraging people who may well be dying of this terrible disease, to leave money to them! If I am honest, I don’t believe that this is morally correct. Of course people don’t have to use that service, or even leave money to the charity. Other will say that it encouraged them to at least get their affairs in order, which of course is a positive thing.
The facts are that for many charities, legacy can be the largest chunk of their income. I run a charity, and I know how tough getting donations can be, I also talk to many very vulnerable people, who barely have enough money to put food on the table, and are also at the end of life. I wonder how they view this new style of advertising? “We support you physically, financially and emotionally,” so says the latest advert from Macmillan Cancer Support. I’m sure there are many people that would agree with this statement, but it is a very bold one! I am working with patients daily, and this is not the general service received. How can they support everyone in this country affected by cancer? Of course they can’t but it doesn’t look like it from their latest advert. Brilliant marketing I must agree, but misleading in my opinion.
Cancer Research UK also come in for criticism for their advertising, focussing heavily on will writing and featuring children frequently always good for pressing the emotional buttons. The issue that I see here is that once one of the big boys moves, everyone else has to, with a fear of being left behind in the never ending quest for donations. Meaning more and more of their income gets spent on television advertising and general marketing. The advertising companies love the cancer world, as they push our boundaries even further. It feels like I am part of a target audience, there to lap up their latest offerings.
I have spoken to these organisations about their lack of sensitivity towards people affected by cancer, but they both hide behind the excuse of increasing awareness of the services they offer! Of course we need to talk about these issues, and we have certainly come a long way in the last twenty years, but are we now going too far? When I look on their social media platforms, I read as many complaints as compliments. But the same replies are given out to every complaint, no human interest at all. Are they even bothered about criticism from the people they are supposed to be helping? I find little humility from their senior management, only interested in statistics, targets and income!
Yes, we are all a target for these people. As the numbers of us increase, so does their captive audience, new people joining every day. I don’t believe they are interested in treating us as vulnerable people, just as an ever increasing fundraising audience. Bombarding us with emotionally charged advertising that shows us how they can help all of us with everything cancer has to throw at us. I personally believe that this is incredibly CYNICAL, MISLEADING and offering FALSE HOPE to many, who actually believe what they are shown on the television. Then as soon as we receive our diagnosis we are bombarded with advertising about making a will and leaving these organisations money in it. Of course we all need to ensure we make a will, but the last thing I wanted to hear after my diagnosis was a begging advert from a charity who has never spoken to me during my life other than to ask for money!
Of course us charities need money to function, but I believe that the current advertising is very misleading and has no consideration for families affected by cancer. Asking someone you have never met for money in their will just doesn’t sit well with me.
Here is the video I refer to in my piece.
I appreciate there will be many points to be raised on this subject, and as always these are mine. Please feel free to join the discussion below!
Hi Chris, my daughter and I – especially I – groan when these adverts come on. I find myself talking to the TV – “No, you don’t care, you just want money!”, “No, you’re not curing cancer! All the money you’ve had so far hasn’t resulted in a cure!” etc. My daughter probably groans when these ads come on because she’s heard all my comments before and knows what’s coming!! I’ve said it here before and say again now, I wholeheartedly agree with you, these charities are big businesses and their focus is making money, pure and simple. For me as a former patient, it’s about discernment – I choose not to donate to these charities. Keep up the good work, Chris, all the best to you and your family. Deb xx
I agree totally Deb, and this seems to be the reaction I hear from most people. Yet despite seeing large numbers of complaints on their social media channels, it makes no difference. They certainly don’t listen and have no humility at the top of the organisation. Anything to make a quick buck!
Appreciate your support Deb, and my very best to you all XX
I always hate the adverts especially on TV if I want to give I will not be told how much each month. I agree with your thoughts Chris.
I feel exactly the same way Georgine. I believe the way these organisations operate their advertising is a disgrace. Thank you XX
Chris, you are so right. I was literally hounded by a cancer charity who wanted to film me saying I would be leaving them money in my will. When you are a cancer patient you need practical help not future promises for others, laudable though that may be. After I recover then I will think about helping in the future, but now that is why I like to support charities like yours, that reaches out to offer practical support when I need it.
Unfortunately these organisations are so brazen and without shame Verite! I get very angry whenever I see this style of advertising, putting emotional pressure on people who are already vulnerable! Despicable in my book!
There was some discussion in other groups to the Macmillan Cancer doesn’t care campaign. Most felt uncomfortable watching especially with children. Many of us wrote to complain and received a pretty standard reply https://www.chris-cancercommunity.com/wp-content/uploads/Macmillan-Twitter-.jpg
Wow – that Cancer doesn’t Care ad Hadn’t seen it. It’s awful.
I thought you might have seen it Ceinwen. It is a shocker, and I feel more sick each time I see their latest ads. Bordering on fraudulent in my opinion. No thought for the people they are supposed to be helping! X
Completely agree Chris,our charity would never do this as it feels too uncomfortable,although we do have donations from funerals they are based on the support and advice we have given which is over and above what the big charities do…
We have also received gifts from people who have passed, but thanking us for the work we have done! I am a dreadful fundraiser Caroline but could not get involved with advertising like this. I believe it is a disgrace to all of us affected by cancer, and in many ways fraudulent.
Well done Chris … I firmly believe that large cancer charities are cashing in on the hopeful patients and families. CEO’s and.manu employees of these Charities are enjoying lavish salaries and lifestyles funded by … Yes Fundraisers.
Fundraise for the little local charities who do amazing cancer support work!!!! And managed on a shoestring.
There are a lot of fab charities in this sector, doing great work Caroline. Everyone must be paid of course, but money not spent on making outrageous promises to mislead the public! Can they support everyone? Are we closer to curing #cancer?
This is so true @christheeagle1 and I’d love to meet you and discuss what we can maybe do to change some things for the better.
Do the expensive advertising campaigns used by cancer charities make you step back from giving money. The amazing @christheeagle1 shares his concerns…
The one thing I would like to see stopped immediately is the advertising of cancer charities offering Free Will writing linking it to saving lives?? NO this is not right, it needs to stop! Some of the tv adverts are disturbing and frightening, especially for young children.
What we say as people living with cancer needs to count. What sort of research was carried out before these adverts went live?
I wanted to put my views out there Cheryl. I feel sick when I see these charity giants chasing people affected by #cancer to leave money in their will by making false promises. As a charity owner I am embarrassed by this behaviour. It’s wrong!
Spot on as always Chris
First question the @macmillancancer representative asked me when I was in hospital, having been given my diagnosis only minutes before: did I have a will? Then gave me a leaflet about will writing.
This is the charity which will support you at any stage through your cancer? I would love to have been a fly on the wall then Simon! They need your money to support another round of advertising telling everyone how good they are 🙂
That entire industry is an utter disgrace and makes me cringe. I also turn off the radio adverts too!!
Beverley I think that reason why there is advertising stressing ‘fear of cancer’ is because we need to be frightened of the way NHS seems to slip further and further down the survival statistics in comparison with other countries. My local Cancer Alliance has just spend a fortune on conference venue, meals for over 150 attendies (all provided by NHS) on a conference that regurgitated the same old stuff from 10 years ago. Until NHS actually bans these money-wasting exercises, there won’t be any will to improve what we are offered – just lazy admin staff hitting the ‘re-send’ button on their lap tops. Good luck to Chris – what he says needs to be said, and the NHS needs to sack those who don’t bother to sort out the mess that is our cancer care.
The whole charity thing is a shambles, the CEO of these charities make more then the cancer people ever get to see.
@macmillancancer are the only ones that proved to be helpful to me
I am pleased you managed to find @macmillancancer helpful. CEO salaries are always talked about, but I have no interest in that as long as their org is making a positive impact. I’m not convinced that the two I talk about in the piece are?
Well considering there is proof that medical cannabis works on most cancer patients and has proven to prolong lives I always wonder why they’ve never done any research on it but when it comes to chemo which is proven to create secondary cancers still gets promoted
What those two giants have is a total lack of transparency, which is why these conspiracy issues exist. For me, a lot of this is driven by drug companies. £££££ So much money to be made out of #cancer from large healthcare.
Thank you for writing this. It has bugged me for ages but I thought I was alone in thinking that. As for the advert…. Utterly horrible.
No you are not alone in thinking that. Those two #cancer giants are the ‘darlings’ of politicians and the media. Nobody wants to question what they do and how they spend their money.
It unfortunately sets the (low) standard for some other cancer charities. Thank you for speaking out about it.
@macmillancancer have been & continue to be most helpful to me which is why I fundraise for them via my non profit event
That’s always good to hear Rachel. I know your event is always such a success too!
A poor choice of words and a con for all concerned.
Thank you Rod, that was my view too. The worrying thing is that these days with the advertising regs how do these pass? Some big claims being made?
I couldn’t agree more Chris, this is appalling and makes me so angry
This is just wrong in so many ways and even more infuriating because some promotional company would have been paid big bucks to come up with this cynical and misleading statement ..
Thank you Peter. #Cancer is a massive money spinner for so many! I’m not a ‘conspiracy theory’ man but so many get well rewarded for lack of results in this sector. Who can hold them to account?
Ethics and morality are called into question my friend .. I get so tired of cancer being brought up on daytime tv as if it’s cool!!It’s not, you and I know ..There’s always an expert making money out of this which should go straight to fundraising for research to beat it all
I know what you mean about the TV thing. I feel exactly the same Peter, but the positive of that is we have come a long way since whispered convos about the big c.Never thought I would see the day when cancer is cool as you say.
True Chris, I guess all publicity is good publicity, especially when awareness is crucial
#CancerAwareness
I think that is the argument Peter and it is a job that must continue. I would like to see more positive ACTION from those who can change things. Not convinced at the moment
I agree Chris ..
I clearly don’t know the ins and outs, but there are always people who enjoy the accolades for doing very little!
Positive ACTION is required and I believe those with a vested interest IE fellow sufferers, are best suited to move this forward .. we know, we care
So true Chris – the false hope for millions continues.
Nicely summed up Dianne! That is the result. Unfortunately these behemoths of the #cancer sector take more notice of their donors than the people they purport to support. That is why they want to tell us so frequently on tv how good they are!
I agree that charities need to take more responsibility for the images they project of the people and services they claim to support. It’s a mixed bag out there but I agree that there material exists that is at best misleading and at worst disempowering and insulting
This is a brilliant article, I actually work “currently off sick” from cancer research UK. Working for them is rather testing and I have stage 4 cancer. I had this when i joined and was totally open about it! I don’t donate to them now not even clothes donations, i do not agree with the campaigns they do.People wouldn’t donate if they knew what happens and how they treat people! It’s actually just unnecessary and very stressful
Thanks so much for sharing your personal experience with CR which doesn’t surprise me at all. I speak daily to people who have been poorly treated by both of those two. Politicians and celebs just love them and the media won’t have a word said against them. To me they are giant money making machines who care little for people affected by cancer. I will be doing my best to ensure the public know exactly where their money is going. Chris XX
Thanks for this article and to everyone for all the comments. I was just about to launch our legacy campaign and this has really made me pause and rethink. I work for a tiny cancer charity (just 2 pt staff). Our income is mainly from events and unsolicited legacies. We had no real world events last year so promoting legacies seems like the obvious option. And it still is my plan. But I will comb through the materials I’ve put together alongside everyone’s comments above and think carefully about the tone and audience before I commit to anything.
I’m so glad I stumbled across this. I think as a small charity we make the mistake of thinking that if we could just do what the ‘big boys’ do in terms of advertising etc then we’d pull in much more money and be able to help more people. But clearly just copying them is not the way to go.
Sarah
Hi Sarah,
Thanks so much for sharing this comment! I also run a small charity, suffering in the same way that you are, (www.yoursimpal.com) Of course diminishing income is a massive problem. Personally I find that following the charity giants is not the right way for us. In fact we go out of our way to be different, and play to OUR strengths!
The world of charity is changing massively in front of our eyes, and the lack of income is levelling the playing field. There are many ways of raising money, not just the well used routes. This is an opportunity to innovate. I believe our work will be more judged on impact than the volume and frequency of our asks. Ultimately your supporters will decide. Of course you can give them an option to leave a legacy, but we are all working with vulnerable people not just fundraising targets.
Happy to have a conversation some time Sarah, it is a passionate subject for me.
Very best with your work, and stay safe, Chris