More on Foot in Mouth Problems
Posted 2/27/2012
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Writing about the stupid things that people say has been fun, and has resulted in great emails and responses from some of you. Apparently, this is a very widespread problem (although we already knew that). One woman sent me this similar article by Diane Mapes. Hope you enjoy it. Per usual, I give you the beginning and then a link:
Breast cancer causes foot-in-mouth disease in others
While battling breast cancer, Diane Mapes hears the good, the bad, the you gotta be kidding me
By Diane Mapes, Health writer msnbc.com contributor
Updated 10/28/2011. When I was first diagnosed with cancer, I was a wreck. I tried my best to keep it together, to keep a muzzle on my hyperactive mouth, but inevitably some highly inappropriate comment would come tumbling out.
"Would you like paper or plastic?" a grocery clerk would ask.
"I have breast cancer," I'd answer. "They found three masses and now they're saying the masses are tumors and that I have to have a double mastectomy. I didn't even know how to pronounce mastectomy until this happened! Oh... uh... paper would be great."
Euphemisms are us
After a while, though, I didn't have to worry so much about the inappropriate things I was saying because others were coming up with their own questionable cancerspeak.
Don't get me wrong. My friends and family (and even a few kind strangers) have been there for me 100 percent -- bringing by meals and flowers and homemade pies; taking me for walks and checking in to see how my 173 doctors' appointments went that week.
It's just that getting sideswiped by cancer -- not to mention spending all of your time thinking and talking and waiting for test results about cancer -- can make a body oversensitive.
Not to mention testy.
I certainly was the first time somebody made the mistake of wishing me well on my "journey."
My journey? I wanted to yell at them. I've got breast cancer. I'm not going to Acapulco!
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