Postby Kathryn in MN » Tue Aug 27, 2013 2:13 am
"You'll beat this because you have such a positive attitude." REALLY? And my friends who have passed on despite their positive attitudes? I have inoperable stage IV colon cancer. I've been fighting for 4 years. Eventually if something else doesn't get me first (like a car accident) it will kill me. I have accepted that. Why can't everyone else?
"How many more rounds of chemo do you have to do?" or "How many rounds do you have to do this time?" Who the F$$K knows? I've been more on chemo than off the last 4 years. Chemo for life means just that - it is never over. Breaks yes, over no - not till I am nearing the end... I love when I reach a point of breaks, but constantly asking me this question drives me insane.
But the WORST one had to be the idiot check-out lady at Target. As my son & I go to purchase a sympathy card on our way to visitation for his friend who just died from brain cancer at age 21, she looks at my bald head and says, "Cancer?" I say yes, and she says, "But not anymore. You are cured. God told me you are cured." WTF? She has a personal line to God on this, but he forgot to tell me? And her timing sure was odd, because I'd just gotten the news that my CEA had climbed again that day. She really shook up my son too. He said that when I die he will go back and ask her if God told her that my cancer returned within minutes of it being gone! Some people are beyond insensitive - they are total idiots.
I also HATE how because of my bald head and the fact that I am a woman, everyone assumes I have breast cancer. It happens constantly. I've even had rude comments about how it must be nice that I got such large breasts for my replacements. ??? They are my real breasts, and if I had my way I'd get a reduction!
These have very rarely been people I know (except the positive attitude thing) - complete strangers that say the most stupid things. Somehow a bald head gives people the same rights that a pregnant belly does. And in both cases it is so WRONG! The only annoying thing I get from a few people I know are the links to the latest fad cure, etc.
Rant over... I have had plenty of people say nice things too. Those that just give a hug, or say that they think of me or pray for me, or wish I didn't have to go through this. Those who ask what they can do to help and mean it. Those who sign up to drive me to chemo. Lots of good eggs out there too.