You Look Great!

I’ve read articles about what NOT to say to cancer patients. Each article I’ve read always has this phrase in the “what NOT to say” column: “You don’t even look sick, you look great!”  Maybe there is something about the tone. Maybe if someone says it in a negative or hateful way, then that would definitely be inappropriate. But I’m just going to be totally honest here. I LOVE hearing it when someone tells me I look great or that I look healthy. If that’s how you really feel when you see me, I want to hear it and you can tell me a hundred times LOL. I promise will love it just as much after the hundredth time as I did the first time you said it. :o)

Speaking of what NOT to say, here is my list of phrases:

-You look pale
-You look too thin
-Chemo is as bad as the cancer
-I drank a special tea and now I’m cancer free
-Cancer is a money maker and “they” are hiding the cure from us!
-Why are you still using a cane?
-You have the best kind of cancer
-At least you don’t have [insert any other kind of disease or ailment here]
-You’re doing better than I am!
-I’ve had the same kind of chemo you’re taking and it didn’t work
-Did the doctor say how long you had to live?
-I hate [insert doctor’s name, hospital name here]; they let my [insert speaker’s family member/friend name here] die

I guess it just depends on the person and the kind of personality they have. Some people don’t want to hear any of it, and others need a lot of encouragement. What helps me the most is when people tell me they are praying for me. And again, I like looking good LOL.  Some of the people I’m in treatment with look really pitiful. I’m not saying I look like a model for good health, but at least I’m up and moving around, with some energy. I’m very thankful for that.