More on to Tell or Not to Tell

This is a topic that we all have spent some time on. Do we share our cancer story with friends, relatives, and colleagues? We all have different answers, and different reasons for them.

I believe that my past post and even this much earlier prior post and these poignant comments and these too were among my most provocative of discussion.  Worth re-reading.

So finally the main stream press is catching up to us. However, I humbly suggests that our discussions were more erudite and helpful.

The BBC takes a gentler and less probing look at the issue in this still worthwhile article.

I like how the article finishes quoting French minister, Dominique Bertinotti, who recently revealed her battle with breast cancer.

I quote:

So why has Bertinotti decided to talk after eight months of almost absolute silence?

"To help change the social attitudes towards this disease which is terribly distressing. To show that you can have cancer and still continue to work. So that employers understand that long sick leaves are not necessarily the best solution. So that there is less fear and more understanding," she said.

"Choosing to remain silent is a private matter. As a minister, my only question was to find out if I was able to fulfil my mission. And I have."

Would if it were so for all us. Sadly it isn't always. Sharing our cancer story can be risky business as you can see in some of the comments on my prior posts.

On a different note, expect several video interviews with CLL experts including more of the interview with Dr. Sharman to be posted here over the next week as a warm up to ASH.