Keeping Your Cancer a Secret
Had a very good friend call me last night. First time in a while. First thought unfortunately was whom from our circle of friends has died now? Fun getting old.
But he was just calling to apologize for forgetting to invite me a recent get together of our gang. Then in passing he says, Oh I
got bladder cancer. I got on him for not calling me-veteran cancer guy of two primary cancers. He said he didn't even tell his family. All went well for him-but said he did not want to worry his family if it was no big deal.
People are funny. Your thoughts?
@Dan Franke - Wow - that someone would get a cancer diagnosis and not tell his family so not to worry them. I understand that logic but your family is there to support you. As bladder cancer many times returns he might want to give them a heads up now that things are in a good place, just in case that does change down the road. I do not know that I could have done my diagnosis, treatments and RC with out my family. In fact, I know I could not have. He is a strong person but we are not an island. My best to you and your friend. Linda ( moderator, Bladdercancer.net team member)
it is such a personal journey and no two people deal with things in the same way. Like Linda, I couldn't have done the journey alone. I think sometimes for men it's harder to open up and sometimes feel like they need to shelter people from things like this. Overall, this is changing and that's a good thing. He sounds like a very strong person and wish him well in his journey. I think give he hadn't told anyone up until now and now shared with you, shows what your friendship means to him and why he called you. Laura, Moderator, BladderCancer.net
@Dan Franke - what I find interesting is that for some treatments and tests, you are required to have someone with you. If you do not take a family member he must have had a friend. Hope he is doing OK and has brought his family in. My best Linda ( moderator, Bladdercancer.net team member)
