What to Watch on TV When Facing Cancer
How to protect your hope when consuming media during a cancer journey.
By Chris Lawrence
Have you ever started watching a show or movie only to shut it off because it contained another sad cancer subplot? Yeah, me too.
Many of us wonder what to watch on TV when facing cancer, and that’s what this article is all about. This is an important consideration, as the media you consume can have a big impact on your thoughts and outlook, and especially your hope.
While this is true all the time, it’s especially relevant during a cancer journey, when you have less physical and emotional capacity.
A helpful distraction
Let’s be honest, sometimes watching TV can be a great escape. Sitting on the couch with a cozy blanket, perhaps with a bowl of popcorn in hand, the blue light spills across the room, transporting you into a story. It’s like a door to another world.
I’m not suggesting you avoid TV altogether during this season. Instead, I’m suggesting you be wise. Because sometimes viewing the wrong story can wreak havoc on your hope.
Cancer subplots
When I was in the thick of my cancer treatment, I quickly noticed how many cancer subplots were in TV shows and media. They are literally everywhere!
You want to add a little extra drama in the story, have someone get cancer. You want to write a character out of the show? Have them get terminal cancer.
Of course, cancer is not always a death sentence; even people with stage IV cancer are finding new hope (like my story and others featured on Hope Has Arrived). And even beyond the medical, there are plenty of reasons for hope (for more on this topic, read “7 Powerful Reasons to Keep Hope Alive”).
A few examples
While my wife and I had some reason for hope during my journey, that hope often felt fragile. And sometimes watching TV brought us some hope-killing landmines.
At one point, we tuned into a critically acclaimed family drama, This Is Us. While it is a great show, it focuses a lot on loss and heartache. One of the characters reunites with his estranged father, only to discover he has late-stage cancer. Several episodes focused heavily on his weakening state and eventual death.
Even though my age and diagnosis were different from the character’s, the story affected me in a negative way. Sometimes, when I struggled to fall asleep, I thought about the show, and even heard the tense theme music in my head. It amplified my fear and uncertainty, and certainly robbed me of sleep.
My wife and I agreed to stop watching. Maybe someday we will tune in for the conclusion, but we haven’t yet.
Guard your heart, protect your hope
Not everyone will have the same reaction like I did, but perhaps there is a show that will bring you down. While everyone’s threshold is different, it is important to pay attention to how what you watch affects you during this season.
We must guard our hearts and emotions, especially because they can be fragile. And hope is so connected to the state of our hearts.
Like these ancient words say: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (Proverbs 4:23).
Why is it so important to pay attention to what we watch? Because stories awaken the heart, and there is something powerful about how film brings them to life, whether for good or ill.
Shows to watch
During this season, I might suggest watching shows and stories that fall in these categories:
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Light comedy
Aim for programs that help you laugh and improve your mood. Romantic comedies, silly shows, or even nostalgic ones that remind you of better days. Light-hearted is right-hearted. For me, sometimes my safety show was about a pawn shop in Las Vegas. The only drama was haggling over a price or employee hijinks. Pretty light fare.
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Hopeful stories
Stories of courage and survival against the odds can be a balm for your soul. Look for them! There are plenty of them out there, and plenty without cancer subplots. Everyone has different tastes, but I found “Lord of the Rings” movies to be hope-giving for me. Certainly, the story has dark parts, but the overall feel is redemptive. Again, this is my preference. What show helps you focus on hope?
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Stories that point to spiritual hope
Stories that include prayer and unexplainable miracles can help create possibilities and hope for your own story. If you find a show that points to this, awesome. If it’s not too cheesy, even better.
Shows to avoid:
My wife and I made plenty of mistakes with what we watched during my diagnosis. I wish to spare you some of these pitfalls. Here are a few topics I would advise caution with right now:
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Medical dramas.
You may find some of them too heavy right now. A lot of these shows depict people facing serious health issues for the sake of entertainment. Not only are many of them inaccurate and sensational, but many won’t find them helpful.
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Stories with cancer subplots or sudden loss.
As I mentioned, cancer subplots are everywhere. It’s only a matter of time before one crosses your path. The temptation to compare our story to someone else’s is great—even though it is often unhelpful. Also, shows of unexpected loss, even though they might not be cancer, could bring up similar feelings. I would suggest avoiding these shows right now.
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High stress or violent content.
People have different thresholds; watching a zombie apocalypse movie before bedtime may not be the best vibe for me, but it may not bother others. Pay attention to how you feel after you watch a show. Do you feel drained or uplifted? Do you feel inspired or fearful? Let that guide you.
Set boundaries
If a show or movie feels like it is doing you more harm than good, take a break and watch something else. Pay attention to how watching it affects you—and also the person you are watching it with.
My wife and I certainly have different tastes and thresholds—sometimes we had to read each other’s cues to know what we should or shouldn’t watch together.
A quick side note: my advice is similar with what you read. Focus on books and blogs that are hopeful!
Some helpful resources
There are ways to avoid surprises and know what you are getting yourself into before you commit to a TV show or movie. Look at websites like “Common-Sense Media” or “Plugged In.” While they might spoil the plot, getting a heads-up on what you are signing up for may be worth it for you.
It could help save you a lot of time, and especially hope.
Lean into spiritual hope
This article talks a lot about hope, and especially how it can be fragile.
I want to point to a source of hope that is strong and reliable—a kind that can help you face the worst possible situations. Many people find this hope through a personal relationship with God.
I know that not everyone reading this comes from a spiritual background, but I would encourage you to consider how God could help give you hope.
For example, prayer can be a powerful way to release burdens when life feels overwhelming. When you ask God for help and to surrender the outcome to him, you can find a sense of peace about the future. For more info about how to begin a relationship with God, see Knowing God Personally.
The story of Jesus is one of the most hopeful and uplifting ones of all—especially because this story is true.
May your TV watching be wise and enjoyable—and especially, hopeful.
For more help with prayer, see Asking God for Help.
I have a question or comment
How to find God’s hope, strength and peace
Note: We are not doctors and we cannot answer your medical questions. However, we welcome your questions about finding hope and knowing God.