Scan Results and "What not to say to cancer patients 101"***UPDATED***

Well, other than my RBC count being a little high, my scans were stable this past Friday.  I got back to our poor island yesterday but am so happy to be home.  My next scans are in January.  I just feel so blessed that they keep turning out good.  I thank God for that.  But, I've written something similar to this before, and now I'm at my breaking point with it.   Remember, my blogs are not always rainbows and butterflies.

Those of you reading this that don't have cancer, I pray to God you never do.  I have an incurable disease that threatens to take my life daily.  Emotionally, that will take it's toll on you.  If you don't have cancer, please be respectful as you don't know what is going on in our lives.  We may not know what is going on in yours, but I do my best to be respectful.

I've had some things said that are sometimes meant well, but did make me want to punch the person in the throat.   Man I sound violent.   Well, here they are...just a few things you SHOULDN'T say to a cancer patient because we hear it all the time and a lot of them are BS.

1.  "You're going to be fine".....ummm, when did you become God?  Are you a psychic now?  This is not comforting.  This is aggravating.  

2.  "That's a good cancer to have"......ummmm, in what world do you live in that any cancer is good?   Mine is incurable.  I have not endured some of the treatments others have, but no cancer is good.

3.  "You're so brave"......no, I'm not brave.  You may mean well, but to me, bravery is when someone chooses to take on something scary.  I did not choose this.

4.  "Mind over Matter".....one of my biggest pet peeves.  I can't count on my hand the number of friends I've lost to cancer who had a much better outlook on it than me.   Yes, having a positive attitude helps, but it won't save you.  It's insulting to the family and friends of loved ones who were lost, like their loved one didn't fight hard enough.  

5.  "Have you tried....."......no.   I don't plan on it either.   I quit researching these long ago because it was a complete waste of time.  I'll go with the medical community, especially since I have Stage 4 Lung Cancer.

6.  "If anyone can beat this, you can"....really?  are we psychic again?  Telling me this makes me feel like a failure if it starts to spread.  Don't make me feel like a failure.

7.  "You brought this on yourself"....that one just gets a throat punch.

8.  "My grandma had your cancer.  She died"....ummmm ok.  Thanks

9.  "God doesn't give you more than you can handle"......where is that in the bible?  He wants you to lean on Him but you CAN get more than you can handle.  

Like I've said, I think most people mean well.  Most mean well.  Just wanted to emphasize that "most".  Some just think they know everything.  So, unless you have cancer, or another terminal disease, or are a caretaker, please refrain from the above.  You cannot relate.  Having cancer is a full time job.  It is physically and mentally exhausting.  You lose friends more than you can handle.   But I don't have to tell this to the people on this "Journey".  Which is another one that bothers me.  Journeys should be fun and full of travel.   Not sleeping the day away or getting overwhelmed with a few house hold chores.   

In the meantime, I'm going to keep my positive, but realistic attitude.  I feel that if you can't handle the nature of the situation, it's better if you move on, but don't insult me.

Thank you for your ongoing prayers and support.  I just know so many who are fighting for their lives and the last thing they need to hear are the above.  Emotionally, it takes it's toll, a toll that is so great, some days you can barely go on with it.

***UPDATE***

So, after receiving so many comments, here were a few that were requested.

10.  "God has a bigger plan"....ok.  Just because I believe this, doesn't mean you do.  This is where you don't want to shove religion down someone's throat.  Also, I don't want my daughter thinking it was God's plan to take me out.  I'm sure I'll learn everything on the other side, but saying this to people who are dying or just lost loved ones can have an adverse effect on their feelings towards God.  Because, what God would allow this to happen?  This takes a lot of time to get right in your head even if you are a religious person.  So, just consider who you're talking to when saying this.

11.  "You look great or You don't even look sick"....I don't mind this so much either because I'm a weirdo that loves the shock value.  I mean, a bit morbid, but I have to have a little fun in my head.  However, some people get offended by this.  Also, just because we don't look sick doesn't mean we aren't desperately fighting for our lives.  It's almost like they're saying "you must be doing well because you look so good".  Not always true.  Some days I can't even get out of bed, but when I do, I go around shocking people.

12.  "Never Ever Give Up"....ok.  Jimmy V's speech was one of the most inspirational speeches I have ever heard and makes me cry every time.   But, I think people take it the wrong way.  Some come away with it implying that if you stop the torture of treatment you are giving up.  One must consider quality of life over quantity of life.  This probably gets to the more religious of us, because we know, as Joan Fong said, "see you on the other side" is better than the torment we go through.  I think he meant it in a more mental sense.  Because sometimes, there are no more options for treatment or you want to LIVE the rest of your life.  That is what I took from his speech.  So, just consider who you're talking too when saying this.

All this being said, I'm sure you're like, "Well, what the hell do I say?"  I've linked a website to a designer of cards for cancer patients.   Stuff similar to this is good.    "I'm sorry, that really sucks" is good.  So here is a link to some cards....and I think most of them are spot on, and they are kinda funny.  Google is also a good place to look. Here is that link:  What we want to hear  Peace!

                                Just a few examples of when "Mind over Matter" didn't work.