Cancer should not be called a 'battle' say language experts Linguists say using 'language of war' can be counter-productive They fear that portraying disease as fight leads sufferers to feel guilty Experts are urging doctors not to introduce 'battle' terms to patients Charities have pointed out that young sufferers identify with the language Comparing cancer to a 'battle' makes sufferers feel guilty if their condition deteriorates, language experts have warned. They are urging doctors not to introduce the 'language of war' when talking about the disease as it can lead sufferers to feel like a failure. A study of 200 patients, carers and doctors found that while battle metaphors help some patients, they can make many others feel personally responsible for their condition. Linguists have urged health professionals to use language that emphasises how cancer patients can live life to full, like Stephen Sutton, who drew praise from around the world for his fundraising campaign Academics at Lancaster University carried out the research into the way the disease is described by patients and the people who treat them. They say that language which describes cancer as an enemy is often unhelpful and doctors should instead concentrate on how people can live with the disease. Linguistics professor Elena Semino told the Independent: 'The battle metaphor applied at the end of life clearly can have harmful consequences for some people who end up feeling responsible for the fact that their illness cannot be treated. We all need to talk about cancer more as something that we can live with for some time, that we can have a good quality of life in spite of cancer - rather than just as an enemy to defeat. She gave the example of Stephen Sutton as someone who lived his life to the full during treatment. Stephen raised £5million for charity with an online blog and campaign after he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer aged 15. Portraying cancer as a 'battle' or an 'enemy' can lead patients to feel responsible if their conditions worsens, academics at Lancaster University say Professor Semino said cancer is becoming like a 'chronic disease' in society, making finding ways of living with disease all the more important. She is now working on a guide for doctors and specialists around the UK to help them choose the best words when dealing with patients. The guide will tell healthcare professionals only to use battle metaphors if the patient uses such words themselves. Responding to the research, Macmillan Cancer Support said they 'stayed clear of the language of war', but pointed out that young people 'strongly identify with the idea of fighting cancer and often use this language themselves'.