Absolutely agree that everyone has their own rules about who/when/what to tell. But, can I just put a thought forward ? (and not a criticism AT ALL). All the major charities spend an absolute fortune of 'raising awareness' of breast cancer; for some, this is all they do. Millions of people walk miles, run races, etc - all to 'raise awareness'. Why do they do this? Two main reasons 1. to make sure people come forward with symptoms and don't keep it to themselves until it is too late 2. so that as much resource as possible is put into research (donations from public and government decisions).
It was the thought that I had a chance to help people to a) not be scared and b) understand that those of us with cancer are everywhere and that this happens in their street, in their family - not to someone else, that helped me to decide to tell as many people as possible about my diagnosis, explain the facts and the prognosis. I really do not judge anyone who decides not to tell people, but I felt that if I was more open about it, this might help other people to come forward if they had symptoms and through their awareness, understand and possibly donate to the fantastic charities, without whom, we wouldn't be here.
It is an extremely difficult thing to actually face people and tell them, if you are not an outgoing person (I'm not). However, I experimented by telling a few people to start with, then built up my confidence about how to do it. I have found so many other women who have opened up and talked about their dx too and who have kept it quiet and one who has actually gone to the doctor about a lump that she thought would 'go away'.
If this disease arms us with anything positive, it is the ability to talk about it and bore for England if necessary, to get raise the awareness and understanding that the millions of pounds of charity money has still not achieved.
But this is just a point of view and each must deal with it in their own way.
Love to all for 2011.
