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After responding to a comment from a member and a considered friend I would like to make this very heart-felt plea to all.
Please, please do NOT shun, avoid, deride,etc, etc, those around us who are battling cancers, DO NOT see them as being Contagious nor as Social 'Lepers', etc, etc.
They are Neither of those, they are suffering and fighting for their very lives against an unseen enemy within them, you CANNOT catch cancers from them, they do NOT need your derision, etc, etc, instead they need your friendship, your kindness, your empathy, your understanding and, above ALL else, your support.
Adverse comments, reactions, etc, etc, are extremely harmfully, damaging and often destructive to them both emotionally and psychologically, far more than they will show or will want to show, so be a kind, caring, supportive person and in doing so you may just help to remove the wrongful and terrible stigmas they are forced to suffer under.
Thank You.

#empathy
Triphid 9 Sep 23
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0

Level 8

Well I had stage 3 cancer almost 10 years ago and I've been in remission since. But I never ran into anyone treating me like I'm contagious. They would have to be just plain stupid or willfully ignorant. I do know that well meaning people say a lot of really dumb things to people with cancer... and I believe I heard them all. Especially the ones who kept telling me I had to stay strong and positive. Let them try being strong and positive when they're sick from chemo and their hair is falling out and they don't know if they're going to live or die. And then there's the one who says "My friend/mother/neighbor died from your kind of cancer"

3

Level 9

What? Who? Where/when? Although I have had political & other substantive differences on here with others, i find it hard to believe Any of them would act like you describe! Very hard indeed

I'm with you. But I haven't had that experience (yet) so I just believed what he said.

I will not name name/s but he is 100% wrong with assumptions based solely, so it seems, upon a pattern that only he has seeming observed.
Cancer/s are a thing that can attack anyone, anytime BUT they are by means communicable/transmittable, etc, etc.
2

Level 8

I was shocked by the public backlash when my husband was battling his cancer. All I can guess is when it's staring you in the face, it's tough to hang on to one's denial (that THEY could get it, that it happens to healthy, decent people, etc).

Zster Level 8 Sep 24, 2020
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4

Level 7

I'm just shocked that this is something that needs to be said. Who does those things? 😠

Trust me there are such nasty, low-life arse-wipes out there who do think, believe and say such cruel and horrible things, sometimes quietly to those with them, often quite loudly and aimed directly at the cancer sufferers, especially those children/young teens as my late daughter experienced.

@Triphid arseholes. 😡

@Cyklone Unfortunately, though I agree 110% with your description of them, arse-holes, imo, is too kind a word to describe them aptly and we don't have a word/s quite apt enough in our languages to cover them as they should be described.
4

Level 7

Are there still people who think that cancer is contagious or socially unacceptable??? Really? The worst I've heard has been along the lines of "How did you get it?" which is also obnoxious.

Yes, negative comment are harmful and just plain rude! I'm surprised that anyone would need to be reminded of this.

Yeah we heard comments like that as well, even heard one from a so-called, enlightened Baptist Preacher who asked Lorrae if she "May have caught her cancer from sitting on a Public Toilet seat."
Lorrae, being her ever so often outspoken self, simply laughed loudly and replied, " I've got Lymphoma you idiot, not the bloody Clap, give me a break."
5

Level 9

As a cancer survivor myself....well said!

Thank you, and may your cancer NEVER rear its ugly head again.

@Triphid Thank you, I've passed the 15 year mark, & you're right, ugly head it is!
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