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Melg's avatar
Melg
Member
12 years ago

Silly things people have said to you

I just thought I would start a post about silly things people have said to you or told you as you have been on this BC journey. This has started after I read a letter to the editor if the Sunday Telegraph implying BC is the "sexy" cancer. A work colleague told me when I returned to work after 11 months of treatment "you're lucky as you got to have all that time off work"..... Clearly I was living the life of luxury drinking cocktails on the beach. What silly or insensitive comments have people made to you ??? Mel xxx

36 Replies

  • I had someone tell me that if you have Chemo through a port rather than a cannula then you won't lose your hair. Obviously no understanding of the process of Chemo and the real cause of hair loss. Even though I tried to explain I could tell that they thought I just did not know what I was talking about! Not sure how they got this idea but they were totally convinced they were right. Sometimes you've just got to let them think what they want to but I did get very frustrated! :) Deanne
  • I just saw this on another blog and it made me laugh. The blogger wrote..... "What you need are what Mad Magazine used to call “Snappy Answers To Stupid Questions”: 1. “What kind of cancer do you have?” “The highly contagious kind. Don’t breathe in.” 2. “Are you in great pain?” “Only while talking to you.” 3. “Did God give you this disease?” “No, I got it from Lance Armstrong.” 4. “Was Chemo difficult for you?” “Not other than the nausea, vomiting, bone pain & neuropathy.” 5. “Why haven’t you lost weight?” “I’ve got ‘chocolate-coated’ cancer.” 6. “I had a relative who died from cancer.” “Lucky guy — I’m stuck talking to you.” Remember — you can get away with being cranky — you’re on drugs, and you’re sick!" I thought this was classic stuff! Hope you all get a laugh too. Janey xxx
  • I'd be definitely asking for another oncologist. What an absolute b............d. How dare he take that attitude. Sounds like he's in the wrong profession and needs a good boot in the ...........s. Much love Janey xxx
  • Mmmmmmmmm where do I start.

    Lets start with my very lovable and compassionate NOT male!!!!! oncologist telling me at my last visit with him that he hates dealing with females with breast caancer because they always have so many bloody issues.Meaning menopause, loss of libido, dry nether regions etc. etc. etc.   Obviously not something  him as a macho fat balding and very overweight male wants to have to bother himself with.

    He said following telling me the results of my PET scan is that I have told you that you are cancer free so what  else do you want from me.

    Ummmmmm a little bit of that so called bedside manner that you men who play god get paid for.  Not gunna happen with this man that is for sure.

    I am sooooo very pleased that I am not married to that lovely man!!!! mmmmmmmmm

    Mich xoxoxo

  • When I was first diagnosed and still at work, a colleague came up to me and said she'd just heard and how awful this was for me. She then proceeded to tell me that two of her close friends had 'died' from breast cancer. Just what I wanted to hear when I was about to start this journey! My sister-in-law also tells that a little girl she is tutoring is worse off than me as 'she is so young' and I've lived a longer life than this little girl is going to be able to. Every time she sees me she tells me how this little girl is doing so badly. Is this supposed to make me feel better? It is sooooo irritating. I've visited my work colleague when I've been well enough to have lunch with them at the uni where we work. I was told by one male colleague "how well you look, you're getting through chemo so well aren't you". I guess people are just trying to be nice but what they don't know is that it takes a good deal of time and effort to put on make up, draw on my eyebrows, put colour in my face and cover up my bald head with a scarf. I just nodded and smiled (gritting my teeth). But the thing that irked me the most (and I've posted this before) was when a 'stand in' Oncologist (when my Onc was away) told me that the side effects I was experiencing from Docetaxel were all 'manageable', I could have kicked him where the sun don't shine. I'd have liked to see him MANAGE. It's astounding what people say. Well now that I've had my little vent, I feel better :) Love Janey xxx
  • When I was first diagnosed and still at work, a colleague came up to me and said she'd just heard and how awful this was for me. She then proceeded to tell me that two of her close friends had 'died' from breast cancer. Just what I wanted to hear when I was about to start this journey! My sister-in-law also tells that a little girl she is tutoring is worse off than me as 'she is so young' and I've lived a longer life than this little girl is going to be able to. Every time she sees me she tells me how this little girl is doing so badly. Is this supposed to make me feel better? It is sooooo irritating. I've visited my work colleague when I've been well enough to have lunch with them at the uni where we work. I was told by one male colleague "how well you look, you're getting through chemo so well aren't you". I guess people are just trying to be nice but what they don't know is that it takes a good deal of time and effort to put on make up, draw on my eyebrows, put colour in my face and cover up my bald head with a scarf. I just nodded and smiled (gritting my teeth). But the thing that irked me the most (and I've posted this before) was when a 'stand in' Oncologist (when my Onc was away) told me that the side effects I was experiencing from Docetaxel were all 'manageable', I could have kicked him where the sun don't shine. I'd have liked to see him MANAGE. It's astounding what people say. Well now that I've had my little vent, I feel better :) Love Janey xxx