Worth a read and Thankyou to you all.

Arpie - this is also my experience and you express it so well. Thanks. I remind myself that family and close friends fear the worst and we see or hear their contained fear and grief. Apparently the ANZACS used humour to negotiate impossible conditions - is this embedded in the Australian psyche? I make light of ongoing Herceptin treatments (I'm up to no.93 and its been seven years to date) by calling it 'juicing' and the treatment centre is the 'juice lounge'. I have found it necessary to re-assure a couple of close friends that I am not in denial and 'spoke seriously' while fighting the urge to express my annoyance at being psychologised. Strangers don't do this and yet they are likely to make a big difference - the gift of the moment and shared laughter. Thanks again. xBeryl