Things I remember being annoyed about were:
- I am sure you are going to be fine, said very enthusiastically (so presumably this excuses them from worrying about me or or providing support?)
- long tales of people they know but I don't, who died from cancer (quite insensitive I think and I don't know these people and never will)
- long tales about trivial problems while failing to ask how I am or offer support (am I supposed to care about these trivial problems now?)
- how I need to read about how the Chinese treat cancer (how could I possibly care)
- don't eat sugar because it makes the cancer grow (chemotherapy nurses just said sadly, if it was the easy, we wouldn't have a job)
- but one of my breasts is smaller then the other too (please can I have some sympathy, my breasts are now very different sizes)
- telling me how much help they have provided to friends with cancer, but sadly, not to me (so they know how to provide support but just don't want to give any to me)
-my favorite was, when I said 90% of woman with breast cancer survive 5 years, that he was a statistician and this did not mean I would be in the 90%, I might be in the 10% that does not survive (quite obvious, did not need pointing out, not kind or helpful, especially from my father!)
Many people mean well and just lack the imagination to realize what they are saying is stupid or insensitive. Of course lots of people say wonderful things.
