How Brain Cancer Erodes Identity

Abstract

Living with cancer is an often disorienting experience that affects every facet of life, including a patient's identity. The physical effects of the disease, the stress of living with such a condition, and the societal implications that come along with it heavily disrupt how individuals may perceive themselves and their role in society. Brain cancer, however, is especially detrimental to identity due to its unique impact on cognition––the processes that dictate memory, language, and behaviour. Unlike other cancers that may impact the body but leave the brain relatively unharmed, brain cancer targets the very organ that defines who we are. This makes discussing the relationship between brain cancer and identity particularly complex. Different tumor locations, treatment regimens, personal histories, and support systems make each patient's experience unique, and with identity being an individual and evolving concept, the ways in which brain cancer can influence it vary widely. However, by highlighting the potential the disease has to challenge identity––without making definitive claims––we can investigate its profound effects on identity while respecting the individuality of those impacted.