Attitude and all that...
In her beautifully poignant manner, Betsy has written of the well-intended, but often, cobbling, comments of friends during her difficult time in treatment.
Indeed, the attitude of the patient is vitally important during the period encompassing initial diagnosis, selection of therapy (or no active therapy) and treatment. For myself, I was steadfastly positive from the moment that I was told of diagnosis. I consciously did not allow a single negative thought to creep into my awareness.
Fortunately, my wife, Louise, had the same frame of mind. Indeed, we often made fun of my plight. We called our humor "KEMOCOMEDY". It was a delight to chuckle with one another.
Importantly, our attitude was contagious and, I believe, affected those caring for me--my treating oncologists, the nurses, the oncology social worker and the kind staff members in the treatment facility. Above all, I would like to think that our attitude was helpful to those other patients receiving therapy alongside me.
Mort