Lindsay Norris' Letter to Patients - "Sorry, I didn't get it"
Empathy statement from an oncology nurse turned patient. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIXLcxnFqns&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR2ju2mYXgmMlEN8YruUaiBGEJ7wPEofV1SpLu4NfWKsZPFCef6Yl7wr4Gs
Forum Discussion
Dear @Patti J
You are of course correct. Most people only really understand something when they have experienced it themselves. And many people put up, consciously or unconsciously, a barrier to opening up too much to something we really fear or dislike. Before diagnosis, if we can remember correctly, how many of us were really interested in what it was like to have cancer? I know I took the ‘won’t happen to me’ path. Problem is, I honestly don’t want stage 4 cancer even if that is my only means of truly understanding. I don’t want anyone to get cancer in order to ‘get it’. I’ll try and take comments in the spirit they are intended from those who don’t understand. And in that spirit, I wish all of those with stage 4 breast cancer strength, hope and patience, particularly with the blunderers who don’t full understand. Best wishes.
You are of course correct. Most people only really understand something when they have experienced it themselves. And many people put up, consciously or unconsciously, a barrier to opening up too much to something we really fear or dislike. Before diagnosis, if we can remember correctly, how many of us were really interested in what it was like to have cancer? I know I took the ‘won’t happen to me’ path. Problem is, I honestly don’t want stage 4 cancer even if that is my only means of truly understanding. I don’t want anyone to get cancer in order to ‘get it’. I’ll try and take comments in the spirit they are intended from those who don’t understand. And in that spirit, I wish all of those with stage 4 breast cancer strength, hope and patience, particularly with the blunderers who don’t full understand. Best wishes.