When asked how they are, patients with cancer often find it simplest to say that they’re fine. Unfortunately, that may be far from the truth.
BY Kathy LaTour
PUBLISHED November 13, 2019
Kathy LaTour is a breast cancer survivor, author of The Breast Cancer Companion and co-founder of CURE magazine. While cancer did not take her life, she has given it willingly to educate, empower and enlighten the newly diagnosed and those who care for them.
The best laugh we ever had in support group was about the word “fine.” This was shortly after we came up with a list of the emotional stages people go through during a cancer journey. The first stage, Rabbit Caught in the Headlights, is rather self explanatory — fear immobilizes us as we wait to be mowed down by cancer.
Then we hit the Doctor Bonding stage, when we’re in active treatment and feel that our docs are our best friends. We know all the terminology and where to park at the hospital.
It’s during this time that we also enter the Fine, Fine stage, meaning that’s what we answer when asked, “How are you?” It’s a question usually asked by someone you barely know at some kind of gathering that includes both good friends and people who are new to you. “I’m in treatment for breast cancer,” you might think. “How do you think I am?”
But you answer that you’re “Fine, fine.”
Then we hit the Doctor Bonding stage, when we’re in active treatment and feel that our docs are our best friends. We know all the terminology and where to park at the hospital.
It’s during this time that we also enter the Fine, Fine stage, meaning that’s what we answer when asked, “How are you?” It’s a question usually asked by someone you barely know at some kind of gathering that includes both good friends and people who are new to you. “I’m in treatment for breast cancer,” you might think. “How do you think I am?”
But you answer that you’re “Fine, fine.”
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