I have noticed that since I got the cancer diagnosis that people see the cancer diagnosis and not just plain me. Unless I have my shirt off you can’t see the changes that cancer has done to me so what is it about me that has changed so much that people change how they treat me? How can I convince people that I am much more than a cancer diagnosis, a source for cancer information? How do I get people to see beyond the diagnosis and just see me?
Don’t get me wrong if I find out about people that have gotten the cancer diagnosis I am ready, willing and able to help guide them where to get information, financial grants etc. I will talk to other people going through cancer diagnosis or if they have a family member or friend dealing with cancer. I have found that by helping other people navigate through the cancer diagnosis it is actually helping me. I have found that this blog is actually very therapeutic. Talking with other people faced with the same fears is very good for me and hopefully helps others.
The problem I am having is that there are people that I know that does not call me unless they need something that will benefit them. Since when did I turn into Breast cancer 411? Now these people are not calling me because they have cancer, know anyone who has it they are calling me asking me where they can sell items that they are making or want to make a profit off of breast cancer survivors. This truly bothers me. These are the people who were not here to help or support me while I was going through treatments. They just want to use my knowledge now to benefit themselves this I have a real problem with.