What is "What Cancer Cannot Do"?

"What Cancer Cannot Do" is an inspirational poem. It describes the limitations of what cancer cannot do to the lives of cancer patients despite how terminal it proves to be.

The poem's author is unknown. The origin of the poem can be traced to the 1960s in a newspaper column by Ann Landers.

What Cancer Cannot Do describes cancer as being limited in its actions. The author states that cancer cannot cripple love, shatter hope or destroy peace. According to the poem, even though cancer can be terminal, it cannot kill friendships, memories or courage. A cancer patient can use this poem to be inspired to beat cancer, despite the hardships faced.