What???
How about “I have been advised I can expect to be tired for some time to come” ???
You don’t have to say who advised it!
I had a great one yesterday. My friends mum asked how I was doing after chemo. I said I didn’t get up till lunch time as I was so tired. She said lucky YOU some of us have no choice and have to go to work!!!
Stupid bint, I will have her job and she can do chemo!!!
I had a couple of similar comments. I founda good response was to make eye contact, tilt head and say in an enquiring voice ‘Swap?’.
Normally had them backtracking rapidly!
Dx
Have any of you felt like being given breast cancer was “a blessing” or a “test” to get through?
My District Nurse said that some of her patients had described it in this way. I think my reaction took her by surprise.
Super trouper… I am speechless… alas in my line of business some people do see it that way.
NO NO NO and a gazillion times NO
Whilst I believe that nothing will come my way that is too much for me to handle (and that’s me talking about me, not a mandate for anyone else) it sure as anything is NOT a blessing not a test. What a pants divinity that’d be.
…not a person, but the radio!!! Every other advert is cancer related! Have a coffee morning to raise money, see your GP if you have XYZ symptoms!! Cant even eat breakfast without being reminded!!! Sadie Xx Xx
Sadie I’m with you on this one!! I’m sick to the back teeth of Macmillan radio adverts & October is Breast Cancer Awareness month & read all these “inspiring” magazine articles about how all these ladies “beat” the disease…NO, B**ger off & leave me alone!!!
Here here!!!
I know its important, but i just want space…and breskfast!!!
Sadie Xx Xx
I thought i was being a meany but so fed up with every magazine I pick up being full of it!!! and the macmillan advert I could scream, my 9 year old is coping beautifully without the suggestion that her Mum might not be around anytime soon!!!
A woman actually said to me, “if I had Breast Cancer I would want both breasts off, otherwise your just a freak” Three days after my mx I was speechless and then felt very upset!
What!!!
The word muppet springs to mind for some reason…
Easier said than done, but she is definitely not worth getting upset over.
Sending a big hug.
Dx
Only just caught up with this thread. Just after I returned to work after my treatment a colleague referred to my breast prosthesis as a “chicken fillet” - I was so upset 
Listen to this!
While waiting in the restaurant for my bleep to go off when my chemo was ready, I over heard this lady on her mobile saying "yes, she’s back in recovery etc etc. The other person must have been sympathetic as she replied “no it’s cool, mum will be fine I am not worried it’s only breast cancer”!! She then went onto say “they found it in her routine mammogram, it’s grade three and quite aggressive so she’s having chemo but it’s cool” I was so angry I wanted to punch her. How insulting. When Mum was diagnosed three years ago before me I was so distraught I felt it was end of world.
this wasn’t well meaning but totally annoying.
I came from chemo ward after having a relaxing massage to a full lift (one was out of order) - I got in and the lift became overloaded - there was a rather large bloke who told me I had to get out and walk - I wouldn’t have minded if I ‘looked really well’, but I had headscarf on, eyes watering like I’d been crying all morning and had a towel impression on my cheek and looked pretty rough - I couldn’t believe what he’d said and I couldn’t contain myself, I retorted with ‘wouldn’t want to get stuck in here with you if the lift gets stuck with all this weight in here’ managed to stop myself from swearing though… bliddin peasant
cheeky bugger! Can’t believe some people. As with the other posts I am peed off with the MacMillan ads. Just left the hospital after my mx and the hospital TV had a constant MacMillan ad…argh! Then my surgeon told me my mastectomy scar looks fantastic. Not for me mate!
I have read this thread and smiled a lot but I did’nt think I would have a story to add to it; that’s changed and I have two!
I went to the dentist yesterday for the first time post chemo. I explained what had happened over the last few months. Throughout my entire treatment whilst my mouth was open and I could not respond the dentist muttered, ‘poor you, oh dear poor you’. I thought about biting his finger off and saying ‘oh dear poor you’. Sadly I only thought about it!
I now have a fine covering of fuzz on my head and went out today for the first time without a scarf. Two people who I barely know thought it was appropriate/acceptable to ruffle the fuzz and say that my hair was coming on nicely. I don’t think they will do it again!
Those two stories aside most people have been lovely.
I know what you mean, why do our heads suddenly become public property to be touched and ruffled just because we’ve lost our hair? Bog off! It’s my head, please ask my permission before invading my personal space!
The site i work at everyone has been amazing but i think i need to stop answering the phone to head office, clearly when they realise they are speaking to me they get all tongue tied and cant get off the phone quick enough or end up saying something stupid.
The most current one, someone said to me ‘oh are things better for you now’ so far ive had a lumpectomy - about to start chemo then rads then 5yrs of tamoxifen… going to to get a lot worse before they get better! Der!
I could have been offended by having my hair ruffled but–it was by a woman I know who has been through BC and chemo in the last few years and I know it was meant as a gesture of affection and solidarity. It would probably have been a hug if I had been out of the car, but she came over and reached through the window as I dropped my daughter off.
I have suffered two recent incidents created by complete strangers who have had bc (and should know better?). The first was in Sainsburghs, the checkout assistant spotted my LD sleeve and announced that she too had LD, I quietly said I was sorry to hear that and then she proceeded to ask me if it was breast cancer and how was I coping emotionally, I said I was doing OK but although it must have been obvious that I didn’t want to talk about, she just carried on babbling about the local support group and if I ever wanted to talk to come and find her. The customer behind me heard the whole conversation I just wanted the ground to swallow me up.
Then at the weekend we were having breakfast in the hotel we were staying at (OHs birthday and we had gone away to forget about the last 9 months) and the lady on the next table said “oh I see you are in the same club as me” and held up her arm to show me her swelling. I said “I am sorry that you are also in the club no-one wants to join” and went back to eating my breakfast, but she clearly wanted to talk about it and this was in front of the whole dining room!
I’m going to get a badge to pin on my headscarf/hat that says “I DONT WANT TO TALK ABOUT CANCER OK?!” would anyone else like one?