struck /stricken with/by cancer

[Mnemon]

a. She was stricken with cancer.
b. She was struck with cancer.

Hi.
Which one would you prefer? Do they both work for you? Moreover, which preposition here sounds better to you, "with" or "by"? By cancer or with cancer?

 

[probus]

Only option a works for me.

 

[jutfrank]

Use a. The use of with shows that stricken is an adjective describing her cancerous state. Using struck by would be a passivisation of the verb strike.

 

[Tdol]

She was struck by lightning.