The toughest part of cancer is hearing the words “You have cancer," then fully absorbing the message: “I have cancer, and I could die. Who’ll take care of my kids (my mother, my father, my spouse)? I’m not ready to die!” Everything that comes after that–be it drugs, drugs and surgery, drugs and surgery and radiation, or whatever the combination of potential cures–is a challenge laid atop that initial shock. But the one experience we ALL have in common is that moment when we think we’ve heard our own death sentence; and for all of us, it’s a devastating, defining moment in our lives.

So next time you hear yourself describing your treatment to other women who’ve also been through the cancer experience, stop and think: would it be better to listen to someone else’s story instead? Or to steer the conversation away from “I can go you one better,” to “Here are some coping strategies I’ve found when I start to feel the fear come back”? Think about it.

How do you deal with cancer competition? Leave a comment or write a SharePost!