How to Talk to Someone With Cancer
When I got the news in my oncologist’s office that I had stage IV cancer, he uttered the words…something to the effect of “we knew your numbers were high; it’s not good news.” They didn’t send us home with a pamphlet on how to manage life with cancer, how to talk to your (adult age) kids, family, or friends. We left with nothing but the salt of our tears still in our cheeks. The absolute toughest conversations were that day. My favorite (West Coast) Aunt was in town for Thanksgiving. We summoned her from my sister’s house. My daughter was out-of-state, my other two boys were working. Eventually we had a quorum in the family room in front of the unlit fireplace. I couldn’t make eye contact and used similar words; “it’s not good news” eventually making eye contact with Aunt Marge who had lost two partners to cancer. Since then, I’ve grown to accept my situation (most days,) and try and live by the mantra of the podcast ( The Butterfly Pavilion Podcast ) that I started with my daughter to...
