Experiencing Stage 1/Grade 1 = "Play Cancer"

Sorry.  Deleted post.  I'm trying to say only good things today.

Yes it is insulting.  Had a good friend of my husband and myself who said did they catch it early? When I said yes.  Well that is not so bad then.  Put it down to ignorance.

 Because of my screwed up pathology, I was upset about not knowing exactly what tumour size was.  My MO said that it didn't really matter.  Once the cancer is invasive not in situ it has the smarts to have spread doesn't matter so much about size.  So now I am just concentrating on making sure I am doing everyything I can to keep it from coming back!  Don't think of it as playing.  As someone said so eloquently on another thread.  "this isn't about saving our breasts, but our lives.

Corrinne - First, as you know, there is nothing playful about invasive cancer, regardless of the grade or stage.

Early on in my treatment, I endured similar comments and I was devastated by them.

As time passed, I learned that through BC you learn a lot about the character of the characters in your circle of friends and relatives.

Sometimes the things some said were so shocking and just plain cruel I couldn't even come up with a response.

Hopefully, there are others in your circle who will amaze you by their kindness, caring and understanding.

I found it interesting that I could never have predicted who would fall into which category. Believe me, there were some real surprises!

Corrine, we have a similar diagnosis yet very different treatment.  I opted for a lumpectomy, rads and tamoxifen. Even though I have not heard the words "play cancer", it has definately been insinuated that because I did not have either mastectomy or chemo that I am the lucky one.  Lucky that "they" found the cancer early.  "They" did not find anything, I found it by doing exactly what we are trained to do (slef exam).  Yes, I still have my breast, the one that now looks like someone took a small ice cream scoop to it and left a crater.   My nipple now points slightly to the left.  I think I look like someone who has a lazy eye that does not look straight on (no offense intended, just an analogy),  And on top of that I now have this a sunburn in a place the sun should never see.    I could go on and on.  In the end, like you, my "play cancer" has altered my body, my mind and my whole life.

I agree with YSA who said she is not so scared of THIS cancer. I have said to every one of my Dr's that THIS cancer does not scare me so much since it is caught, removed and being treated. I am scared of the potential "floater" that some how slips through, I am scared knowing that my body is now pre-disposed to cancer, I am scared knowing that I personally cannot check my ovaries, brain, cervix and uterus for lumps.  I am scared for the potential side effects of rads and tamox.  I am more scared of NOT taking rads and tamox.  Yes, our "play cancer" has left all of us disfigured both physically and mentally.  We all will carry this burden and fear of recurrance for the rest of our lives.  Adopting what Leah said.  Next time someone says I have an easy cancer, I'm going to tell them, "Tag, it's your turn."

Ladies, we are woman, hear us roar.  Wishing the best to all of you. 

exellent reply!!!!!!!!!

While I personally like the suggestion of educating them with a 2x4, I understand you may have to tolerate the idiots if they are indeed relatives. You are a better woman than me as I would not have been able to bite back a nasty & sarcastic remark. (((hugs)))

I suppose those are the same people who think a gun shot wound in battle is a play wound. Hmmm...guess the person would think it was a game if it happened to them. Thats is absolutely unacceptable. I am so sorry that happened to you. I have relatives like that and before cancer another issue came up and I told them that their language and comments were unacceptable. They decided not to ever speak to me again after several other incidents and my having to correct them in a court of law. I am happy to have them out of my life even tho that was their decision but you have to make your own decisions if you are able to ignore the comments or if you want to tell them the comments are unacceptable and demeaning and de value the life of every person who has struggled with this disease whether its a lumpectomy or stage IV.

And, to my sister who said "well, it's too much for me to handle, call me when your all done" (meaning with my treatment)....well, sis, it's been nice knowing ya! But, since it's never "all done" I guess I wont be calling anytime soon.

I heard the same thing. A friend just recently said " oh yeah your right breast is sore because you had that breast cancer thing". I am coming up to my 3 yr anniversary and have chronic pain from radiation, I still cannot stand to have my breast touched and shield it in large crowds or big hugs. I could not believe she dismissed it as that cancer thing. I hope she never has to truley understand how cancer changes your life forever! Even my husband has told me to get over it and that was 6 months into it. Everyone deals with it in their own way.