It seems that wherever I go, the elephant follows me into the room. As I travel around, visiting people I haven't seen for a while, so many of them won't say that word, cancer. They avoid it. They say they're pleased I'm so well or that I'm better now. But they don't mention cancer.
The thing is, I don't mind if you do say cancer to me. In fact, I'd really prefer it; it's so much less socially difficult to acknowledge that I am a person who has had cancer than try to think of euphemisms or skirt around the pachyderm. I'm not ashamed of having been someone with cancer who had to have surgery and radiotherapy. Why should I be? Talk to me about it. Ask questions. I really don't mind! And you know... if you don't mention it, I will, and I really think you might find that much more embarrassing.
So, when you see that elephant, just acknowledge it, please, and then we can go on to more interesting topics.
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