Today The Impartial Reporter pays tribute to the brave men and women who have spoken out about their experience with cancer in this newspaper.

Their candid accounts of life with cancer are a world away from the tradition that once stood firm in this county. Cancer was a disease with no name, the cause of hushed whispers, called “the big C” by those who feared to even speak its name.

But no more. With silence comes ignorance. Speaking out lets others know vital information -- what symptoms to look out for and crucially, the need never to delay on spotting symptoms that could spell the beginning of the disease.

The official statistics for the incidence of the disease here shows that cancer affects a lot of people, and by extension, their families, and friends and work colleagues.

The stories that Rodney Edwards write today will most probably move you, as they are stories not only of struggle but of hope and determination. They tell of people striving to make it back to health, of those looking for the positive aspects of living with the disease and the unshakeable desire to live their lives to the full. The evident support they receive from friends and family show that this is an incredible community we live in where neighbours help neighbours and a friend in need is supported and encouraged.

Make no mistake -- cancer is a condition that causes great sorrow and anguish but the people who tell their stories in this newspaper today demonstrate that straight talking can take the disease that once had no name out of the shadows and into the light. Only by facing it and talking about it, can we educate others about it.

No doubt it has been a tough decision to speak out about such personal matters. Our interviewees have helped us all by being so open and honest about their fight to regain health. Their willingness to talk so frankly about cancer breaks the age-old taboo and educates us all for the future.