It is ok to tell people who are not experiencing your side effects what your truth is. Don’t let their discomfort or lack of understanding that the end of treatment isn’t the end of recovery diminish your truth. 

Surviving is just the beginning! One of the biggest truths is that treatment is not the end of the journey.

For many of us this new reality includes chronic pain, neuropathy, cognitive challenges, anxiety… The list of possible common long term side effects is long. Another truth about that is that unless they have been through it most people just don’t get it.

Unfortunately, people have a lot of opinions too. I am a person. I admit it. I too have opinions. As cancer survivors navigating challenges we now are managing for a much longer time than we initially bargained for, we stop telling people who don’t get it the truth.

This came up a few weeks ago, @lyndeechapman shared in the comments for one of the truths how someone reacted when she told the truth about how her mom was doing and the news was challenging. She questioned why the person asked if they couldn’t accept the response. Always a good question.

We cannot change people’s reactions to us. We can be prepared for our reactions to them.

You may recall my response to people who ask why I did not treat my cancer with a raw food diet… which is not scientifically validated. I always ask people how that went for Steve Jobs. Don’t get me wrong here, food is important. But there is no validated research that shows it cures cancer. Mainly because very few people are willing to forgo any treatment other than raw food consumption to participate in that study.

If someone asks how you are and you tell them today is a tough day because of xyz…. and the response is not great or the person tells you my personal favorite… well you are alive… I give you permission to say … Yes, yes I am. You asked how I was and I gave you an honest answer. I am sorry that made you uncomfortable. 

Let’s take our power back.

That is my challenge for you today. Think about the challenging reactions you have gotten from people that surprised you and brainstorm how it might look different the next time. Drop it in the chat. Remember we all learn from each other’s experiences! Especially the challenging ones.

Continue the conversation in the facebook group Surviving is JUST the Beginning or follow me on Instagram.