Search This Blog

Saturday, November 8, 2014

What Not to Say to Someone with Cancer


by Carol Fragale Brill

Are you old enough to remember the old Art Linkletter show, “Kids say the Darnedest Things? It turns out, adults do too. Since sharing I have cancer, I have heard some doozies. Maybe it’s that facing someone with an illness or disability unsettles us to the point where we grope for words, or ramble and unintentionally blurt out the not-so-empathetic thing.
Here are some of the “darnedest” things I wish I could un-hear.  
1.    Cancer Stories with unhappy endings - “My (fill in the blank; sister, mother, cousin, neighbor) just DIED from cancer.” Or even worse “Died from the same kind of cancer you have.
 
I can’t tell you how many times, after hearing I have cancer, the first thing someone tells me is about someone that died. Most of us have at least one personal story about someone who suffered an unpleasant cancer death.

Unless I ask you, this is not a good time to remind me that people die from cancer. If you feel compelled to share, make it a hopeful story about someone who beat the sucker and is cancer-free.  

2.    Chemo Horror Stories. “Do you know how often after chemo, cancer returns with a vengeance?”
 
In what universe does a person in the midst of chemo treatments need to hear cancer and vengeance in the same sentence? The only thing the local store-owner who said this to me accomplished is making me want to avoid him and his store with a vengeance.

Before starting chemo, I was freaked out enough about losing my hair, the possibility of nausea and vomiting, and the long list of other potential side-effects shared by my doctor without being bombarded with unsolicited real-life accounts of organ damage, excruciating mouth sores, fingernails that turned black and fell off, or life-threatening dehydration. There is only so much cancer and chemo horror I can take-in without completely wigging-out. If I want to hear the gory details, trust that when I’m ready I’ll ask you.

And for the record, my experience with chemo isn’t nearly as nasty as those alarming stories. That’s what I’d like someone embarking on their own chemo journey to hear.

3.    The royal “We”. We will get through this,” “Just six chemo treatments? We can do that.”

On a recent episode of Parenthood, I almost cheered out loud when a character who plays a cancer survivor complained about how much “we” statements bugged her.

Not all “we” statements bother me. I love to hear “we” when you mean you and someone else like, “we are praying,” or “we want to help.”

I know my cancer causes distress to those who care about me. I believe when you say “we” you mean you want to be there and support me. Instead, what I hear is you believe you’re experiencing the same thing as me--that you have as much skin in this game as Jim and me.
“We” can wish it were different. The reality is this cancer is happening inside only my body. That changes my life and Jim’s in ways it doesn’t impact anyone else. There are parts of having cancer I have no choice but to do alone—parts even Jim can’t do for me.

Melissa Etheridge, a cancer survivor, says it poignantly in her beautiful song, “This is Not Goodbye,”  

Where I go now, I go alone.
This path I walk, these days of stone. 

Before using the royal “we” it might help to ask yourself, “How does her cancer change my day to day life?” If you are doing pretty much what you always did, consider ditching the “we.”  

I know no one intends to upset me when they say these darnedest things. Innocent or not, some remarks nearly pushed me over the edge in the early weeks after my diagnosis when I was numb and fragile—when it was nearly impossible for me to hear a sad cancer story and not project the same thing happening to me. While I’m getting better at not agonizing and melting down, there are still things that rattle my hope and that I’d rather not hear. 

This was a hard post for me to write. I don’t know if others with cancer feel the way I do, so in spite of the title, this post is about me with cancer, not we with cancer.

Please share in comments and help me better appreciate and understand the flip-side, What does hearing a person has cancer—or any serious illness or disability—feel and sound like to you? 

And, follow this link to hear Melissa Etheridge’s song, “This is Not Goodbye”
                        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksihRX4kPtM

21 comments:

  1. As a nurse, I always knew what to say to the "patient", as a friend or family member, I learned that if you can't be supportive and positive at that moment, wait until you can before you say something. I also learned that it is important to know the mind-set of the person with cancer. Do they want hope? Do they want realism? And since I am the nurse-friend-family, what role are they looking for from me? Usually, as with my mother and sister-in-law, it was all 3. That was a balancing act that even a seal would have a hard time with!

    So, if I was silent when you were first diagnosed, now you know why. I was waiting to take my cue from you. And, notice I never said "we" because this is not about me. It's about you - your illness, your stress, your coping methods, your healing, your wellness, your survival and your future.

    BTW, love the "wigging-out" comment!

    Julie V

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Julie, that is great insight for me. I have so many nurse friends and others may be waiting too. Thanks for sharing.
      I did notice and wonder about your silence and am so glad you are back and sharing. :)
      and, I knew you'd like wigging out

      Delete
  2. I have learned to ask, "How can I best support you right now?" What you need today might not be what you need tomorrow, but it is about what would help you most right now. Not me. Not we. You. Thank you for sharing this important information that we all need to hear, Carol.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Diane. You nailed it, asking an open ended question and then listening is what I usually need most.
      thanks for stopping by
      carol

      Delete
  3. We must live among weirder people than you. Here are a few things we heard: When my husband had been undergoing chemo (w/the prospect for lots more) for a year and there was no sign of his (pancreatic) cancer: "Now's the time to cut your ties with western medicine." The one that sent me over the edge: A woman informed a group of us that Steve had cancer because he was "out of balance." And a number of people ascribed my agnostic husband's miraculous recovery to the power of religion and strenuously suggested he come to church with them. Also, to be even more curmudgeonly, I know Steve got tired of hearing how "brave" he was. His response: What the hell else would I do? The best thing to say to someone with cancer is: Can I take care of your dog while you're out of town getting treatment? Or: Let me bring over some casseroles you can heat up with things get away from you. Or: I'll pick that up for you when I'm in town. Or, of course, my young step-son's eloquent remark: Bummer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ellen, no, I've run into some of the same people and heard versions of all of those too, just didn't know how much I could get away with in one post :)
      you are so right about offering something specific. That takes the burden off of me. I love when my neighbor Charlene says, "I'm taking you to chemo on Tuesday to give Jim a break, orTeala leaves her homemade "chemo reward" treats on the porch, when my good friend Claire bakes us cookies, or Janine is making Swedish meatballs, or Pat 's making beef stew or chicken pot anyway so it's no biggie to make extra for us. My sister didn't ask if I needed scarfs, she just picked a 1/2 dozen beauties and sent the. These are so many more examples I could share.
      thanks for your thoughts and for validating what I feel.
      best
      carol

      Delete
  4. You could probably use this as a basis for a new book called "What not to say".
    Of course, I'm trying to remember if I was the source of any of these faux pas.
    Dot

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dot, the opposite, your humor has more than once made my day.
      and, I do have a book idea, just not ready to share it here yet. :)

      Delete
  5. Me again. With an apology. In trying to be humorous yet acknowledge how strong and brave you were to share your honest feelings, it may seem I was minimizing the importance of what you had to say. Carol, that was the last thing I wanted to convey.

    You are an amazing woman! I often overlook that the written word is a tricky business and sometimes words may be taken as insensitive.

    Again, thank you for sharing and I am truly sorry if I hurt you.

    xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  6. Mary Anne, No worries, you have never written anything that upset me. I appreciate all of your support.
    And, Amen on words being tricky. :). Xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  7. My first post didn't show up for some reason. Apology stands <3


    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Carol. I remember that show-I used to watch it with my mother! You are right, sometimes adults do say the darndest things too. I'm sorry you had to endure those, but admire you for trying to increase sensitivity. It wouldn't surprise me if you were journaling this experience to share at a later time to help encourage others-so like you! I do read your posts and appreciate how you share. Sometimes I might be too quiet prefering the quietness to talking just to talk or say something "not helpful." Thanks for sharing you YOU feel. Please know I think of you SO often and am praying for you. I'm sorry I didn't say that sooner. Sharon

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sharon, thanks for letting me know you're out there praying and keeping up with my posts. You know me pretty well. I am journaling and have an idea cooking for how I might share what I'm learning (often reluctantly) on this journey.

      Delete
  9. Carol, I laughed when you railed against the royal "we". I came very close to punching a chemo nurse one day when i was at a particularly difficult period in my course of treatments. Thank goodness my fabulous mother saw what was happening and held my arm down. The surge had asked, "How are we doing over here?" I wanted to offer her my seat and let her get the treatment for a while so "we" could truly be sharing the experience.
    Along with the darnedest things you mention, the one that got me was the people who said things like, "It's God's will." or "God wouldn't give you anything you can't handle." Excuse me, I don't believe in a God that sits up in heaven and smites people with cancer cells. Nope.
    Overall, I think people don't realize how thoughtless they are being. They don't know what to say, so they fall back on platitudes. People are afraid of what the patient is going through and don't really want to get too close to that fear. When I was going through my cancer treatment, the best thing anyone said to me was, "How are feeling about all this?" then truly listening to what I said.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Elizabeth, and, I laughed at your story about wanting to sit that nurse down in the chair. Been there and felt that and it's so reaffirming to hear from someone else who has been through it. thanks for sharing. best, carol

      Delete
  10. It's pretty hard to imagine that some people can't figure out that the above comments are most inappropriate. I am a breast cancer survivor of 18 years. After being completely floored by the diagnosis and at the remarks of a rather callous surgeon that I had the ugliest type of tumor ("poorly differentiated"), and reading every book on the subject ever written, I became more comfortable with the whole cancer-does-happen concept. It changes the way you think about things and it's not all bad either. When I find myself lapsing into "poor me" thoughts, I remember what it felt like in those early days and think how I've become comfortable with having had cancer (not once nut twice, as I got uterine cancer two years later) and can adopt a live-for-the-day attitude. My thoughts are with you and thank you for sharing your cancer experience through your blog.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi Lynn, it does my soul so much good to hear from survivors. And TWICE!! I don't know what to say. Sorry you had to endure twice, and happy it is now far in your rear view mirror.
    I commend your courage in reading every book on the subject. I find I have to get my info just from my doctors. Reading or Googling gives me too much info that freaks me out. A good reminder that we all take this journey differently and reinforces what others have said is best to ask and listen to what is needed
    Hope all is good with you and your writing
    Best,
    Carol

    ReplyDelete
  12. Well said! Speaking as one of your good friends I would much rather know that what I said was helping or hurting. I think people do struggle with what is the right thing to say but as "the other half of my brain" has taught me, just ask open ended questions and be a good listener. Oh, and throw in a "listening check" every once in awhile just to be sure. Love ya! Claire

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. so, I just want to be sure I understand that you are saying the key is to ACTIVELY LISTEN?
      HAHA, love ya back carol

      Delete
  13. Carol, another awesome post from the trenches. I remember feeling similar rage when I was pregnant, which was a happy time for me, except for the running commentary about my body changes which were somehow socially sanctioned. Personal unfavorite "Are you sure there aren't twins in there?"

    I can also relate as I've been struggling with severe headaches this year, and when this comes up in conversation, people often have suggestions of what I should do to cure the problem. Which is well-intentioned, and sometimes helpful, but more often than not, just unsolicited advice that I don't need or want. I try to just smile, say thank you, and move on mentally, but managing other people's nonsense is hard when I'm not feeling well.

    A friend who's a cancer survivor thinks that people freak out around sick people because we remind them of their own vulnerability. I think this is a wise insight. So I try to remind myself of that, have compassion, and stick with people who understand. At least with headaches, unlike cancer or pregnancy, I can fly under the radar :) One thing to be grateful for!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Julie. Sorry to hear your headaches haven't subsided.
      I think people mean well when they offer advice, I just wish they'd ask first if I want to hear it, or at least pose the advice as a question, like have you consider ...
      I agree with your friend that people are often trying to reassure them self that there is a way to protect from cancer happening to them
      Miss you and good to see you here.

      Delete