Hello to all the strong women out there!
My name is Sara and I have been newly diagnosed early stage breast cancer. Yes I know i'm super lucky! Ive just turned 40 and a single mother of 2 teen boys. I've had partial mastectomy and now w...
Forum Discussion
To tell or not to tell...excellent question.
BC V1 I was a single mother working in a public library, I didn't really have much choice and was very open about what was going on. I like wigs but couldn't bear them in a heated environment so I was the bald bookmobile woman. It was fine for the most part.
The other part was situations like my mother telling everyone she knew, furnishing them with my phone number and instructing them to ring me. WTF? Then there was my sons father who wanted to know not if, but when, I was going to die as he'd planned a holiday to the USA and who did I leave my house to? I wasn't the only one missing chunks of hair after that conversation.
BC V2 I've been more circumpspect. I wasn't working so that removed some complications and I only told people as I actually came across them. I had to tell Mum, AKA Radio Orange (broadcasting live from the nursing home dining room) but threatened to tell any random old ladies who rang me that she had dementia and I was perfectly fine. The problem with this approach is it leaves a lot to chance and you don't control the situation or the conversation. Reports of my death have been much exaggerated. It can also make people a bit snooty and wounded because you didn't tell them first off. Too bad, it's not about them.
It's not a bad idea to develop a little spiel that you can deliver in one breath. You can chuck it at people and escape quickly if you need to. Cancer has its advantages for the socially awkward--no one argues with a woman who mutters 'so sorry, got to go' while turning an interesting shade of green. Good luck, this shit ain't easy. Mxx
BC V1 I was a single mother working in a public library, I didn't really have much choice and was very open about what was going on. I like wigs but couldn't bear them in a heated environment so I was the bald bookmobile woman. It was fine for the most part.
The other part was situations like my mother telling everyone she knew, furnishing them with my phone number and instructing them to ring me. WTF? Then there was my sons father who wanted to know not if, but when, I was going to die as he'd planned a holiday to the USA and who did I leave my house to? I wasn't the only one missing chunks of hair after that conversation.
BC V2 I've been more circumpspect. I wasn't working so that removed some complications and I only told people as I actually came across them. I had to tell Mum, AKA Radio Orange (broadcasting live from the nursing home dining room) but threatened to tell any random old ladies who rang me that she had dementia and I was perfectly fine. The problem with this approach is it leaves a lot to chance and you don't control the situation or the conversation. Reports of my death have been much exaggerated. It can also make people a bit snooty and wounded because you didn't tell them first off. Too bad, it's not about them.
It's not a bad idea to develop a little spiel that you can deliver in one breath. You can chuck it at people and escape quickly if you need to. Cancer has its advantages for the socially awkward--no one argues with a woman who mutters 'so sorry, got to go' while turning an interesting shade of green. Good luck, this shit ain't easy. Mxx