Best Cancer Movies Ever

Cancer is the ultimate illness to symbolize the fickleness of life. Depending on the kind of cancer, it will spell almost certain death, or with treatment a good chance of survival. And anything in betweeen. But whatever happens, it will face you with the uncertainty of what comes next, and the certainty of a time of pain and suffering. Chemo therapy, after all, is rarely gone through pleasantly. 

Cancer makes us face the fact that life cannot be controlled and that some things just have to be taken one step at a time. 

Because of the uncertain outcome and the life and death stakes of the disease, cancer in a movie will usually bring out existential questions. 

I just saw Listen to your Heart, a movie in which two kids meet. Both have lost a parent at an early age. The girl has lost most of her hearing. The boy is living off a job waiting tables and makes music in his spare time. This movie is about the girl getting out of the clutches of her over protective mother, love and ultimately - dealing with death. 

I won't give the entire plot away, except to say that this is a celebration of life and love and all the risks that come with both. 

Winner of several awards, including 'best picture' at the Action On Film International Film Festival. 

The cast is mostly unknowns, except that you'll recognize the mother as Cybill Shepherd. 

Autumn in New York is a feel good movie. We meet Winona Ryder who plays Charlotte Fielding a fragile young artist. WIll Keane, played by Richard Gere is an attractive older man who knew her mother. He never had a serious relationship in his life. Charlotte of course changes his life as he learns about commitment and real love. 

These great actors turn a soppy story into a real great movie. 

Stepmom with Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon two of the greatest female actors alive. Susan Sarandon plays Jackie a divorced mom who has taken on almost full responsibility of the raising of her two kids. Isabel starts dating her ex Luke (played by Ed Harris). Jackie doesn't take it well when Isabel starts playing a more important role in the kids' lives. However, she is forced to take on a different attitude when cancer is not only discovered, but also doesn't respond to treatment. 

All the characters in this movie face up to the challenges this puts them to and grow from it.\

One of the most psychologically realistic of the movies on this list. No saints here. 

Which is a complete contrast with A Walk to Remember. This is really a movie about teen love. Minister's daughter Jamie meets bad boy Landon. Together they discover love and he turns into someone who can take responsibility. 

Heart wrenching and the kind of movie that makes you believe in the best in everybody. 

There are few movies that actually deal with the ethical issues around modern medical procedures. My Sister's Keeper is one of the rare exceptions. We meet a family that has lived their lives around the disease of the oldest daughter: Kate. Her younger sister Anna was in fact conceived to provide organs so that Kate could survive Leukemia. 

We meet the family at a time when this sad situation is coming to a head: Anna brings her parents to trial, because she doesn't want to continue being an organ delivery system for her sister. 

This ethical dillemma is clearly portrayed and the ending is a surprise twist.