How do you tell people you're sick? "Welcome to the wonderful World of....."
No, that doesn't work. "10 things do to while you have cancer..." Nope,
can't think of that many.
"Cancer and the foods we eat". While that sounds promising it would just
be a reminder to eat green things and not get totally whacked each night.
See the thing is, the word is out. Everyone knows you've been given the
diagnosis. Not details just "the news". So the only thing that remains is
to just grudgingly acknowledge the damn thing. Now here's where it gets
interesting. If it's one of the popular cancers, like, say, breast
cancer, you can throw that right into the cocktail hour mixer before
dinner at the club. Trust me, everyone, even the ladies, will immediately,
but slyly, look at your chest and that's where you get to throw in the
casual comment about finishing up reconstruction next month.
Even guys are coming out a little more about prostate cancer, no pun
intended. The thing is the other guys will grab a quick look at the area
just to reassure themselves the proper bulges are there. Hell, guys do
that on the tennis court where it doesn't even matter but that's where
everyone wears shorts.
Nope, there is no real way to talk about a death predicted outcome, like
lung cancer. You can't politely decline an invite for next summer at the
lake because you might not be here. That's too much of a downer. If
you're just open about it the listener immediately adopts the face they
are going to use at the memorial service and tells you, with great
sincerity, how sorry he is and "did you smoke?" Then you get to hear
about all the people they knew who had lung cancer, who, of course, are
now 'not with us' and either they smoked like the proverbial chimney or
never came near a cigarette, ever, ever.
One of the best ways is to slip in some comment like, "I was talking to
the guy next to me in the chemo room the other day about refinancing....."
It gets the subject out there but allows the listener to ignore the
required scare response and just go to the problem they've been having
with their bank as well. Then later, in the car, he can say to wifey,
'You know, she looks pretty good for having cancer" And wifey can
observe, "I think the wig looks terrific."
Later, after the news has been around for awhile the whole subject just
begins to take on it's normal role in our lives. The next door neighbor
yells across the yard, "Hey, how's it going?" and you get to say "pretty
good" and then he finishes with a big thumbs up and a "you're looking
great" and you are. The big dark monster that sat on your shoulder at
the start of this menacing expedition has become one of those pesky
no-see-ems, that flit around your head just to remind you they are still
there but can be waved away for a short time and maybe won't come back
until the next doctor visit.