Disclosure part II: how people respond!

[Jennifer Toth]

A few weeks ago I wrote about how I handle the issue of disclosure and telling people about my experience with cancer.  I figured I’d follow that up with a post about how other people respond when I do tell them, since I’ve gotten some hilarious responses like... 

-“Wow, congratulations!  Can I give you a hug?” (not to stereotype, but this one usually come from middle-aged women haha)

-“… … … … …” *and more awkward silence and more awkward silence and more awkward silence with a dropped jaw* (cashier at Trader Joe’s who asked why I decided to study nursing in college… I gave the abridged “I spent a lot of time in the hospital when I was younger” answer and he continued to ask why)

-*handshake* or *high-five*

-“Wait, how did you have breast cancer if you don’t have any boobs yet?!?” (A girl in my ballet class when I was probably 7 or 8)

And the most common response of all…

-“Wow, that’s so cool!  I mean, not cool, but you know what I mean!”

 

While people’s reactions are sometimes awkward and sometimes flat out weird, I tried to find the humor in it and tell myself that nobody is trying to be rude, they honestly just don’t know how to react.  And despite all these crazy reactions, 99% of people I tell are completely respectful and don’t freak out or say strange things.   

Anyone else have stories like this?  What’s the strangest reaction you’ve gotten when you told someone about your history of cancer? 

[Allison DeSoto]

I have pretty much gotten the same reactions that you have.  I hate when like general doctors or random people give me a knowing look, full of sympathy and sorrow.  I completely understand why they would react that way but it makes me sad about the realities of my diagnosis and experience with it and I don't want that!!  I don't go blabbing about how I had cancer but if it comes up I'm not afraid to mention it, and observing their reactions is actually interesting to me since I am going into psychology lol

[Kane Weinberg]

I can't say I've had any extremely strange reactions, but the awkward silence and hugs from middle-aged women definitely ring a bell.

[Natasha Bear]

Ahahahahaha....so true....I get a lot of different reactions.  I decided not to tell people because I always got those pitying reactions from people, but I kind of miss the different reactions. Thanks for posting!!