It is confronting. It took me months to bring myself to say to myself "you have cancer" I tried it in the shower, and infront of the mirror. Finally I can say it out loud without feeling too shocked.
I still flinch a little when other people, including my husband, say it in conversation.
At first when I told my clients I felt like a fraud, and like I was making it up, it felt so unreal.
I think starting chemo really brought it home for me.
I am good at just getting on with what I have to do health wise and disassociating myself emotionally from the experience (except when enclosed machines are involved) so perhaps I was doing that.