You can't be a fully vested member in the survivor community and not run into bad news. Bad news that rocks everything you believe about e-patients, empowered patients, medical progress, the miracles of successful interventions and also, treatments that fail.
This morning I heard about one of those failures, from a woman who is just 40, and dealing with metastatic breast cancer. She has spit, and fire, and humor, and enough intellectual energy to power rockets. Her cancer sneaks past all that.
I write this because it is essential that we understand what cancer is in some cases. Not to raise the climate of fear, but in an effort to make damn sure that women with metastatic illness are part every conversation about survivorship. Casting a wider net and building a more inclusive community helps us face and move past our own fear so we can help someone else.
When friends get bad news there are no answers.
None are expected.
But your supportive, caring presence speaks volumes.
Don't retreat or find excuses not to call or write.
Stay present.
Listen.
Make pie or ring a bell. She has not forgotten how to laugh nor is she contagious.
And by all means, keep talking.
Move the conversation forward.
Jody
This morning I heard about one of those failures, from a woman who is just 40, and dealing with metastatic breast cancer. She has spit, and fire, and humor, and enough intellectual energy to power rockets. Her cancer sneaks past all that.
I write this because it is essential that we understand what cancer is in some cases. Not to raise the climate of fear, but in an effort to make damn sure that women with metastatic illness are part every conversation about survivorship. Casting a wider net and building a more inclusive community helps us face and move past our own fear so we can help someone else.
When friends get bad news there are no answers.
None are expected.
But your supportive, caring presence speaks volumes.
Don't retreat or find excuses not to call or write.
Stay present.
Listen.
Make pie or ring a bell. She has not forgotten how to laugh nor is she contagious.
And by all means, keep talking.
Move the conversation forward.
Jody
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