Over the past couple of months there has been a tendency for people to either avoid talking to me about their problems, or else they stop themselves in mid-whinge and apologise because my problems are clearly so much more serious than theirs.
I honestly don’t see it that way. And when people handle me with kid gloves it makes me feel like there’s something wrong with me. Well, I mean, other than the obvious (the cancer, not personal weirdness 
). It creates a barrier somehow. As if, just because I have a serious health problem, I have lost my ability to sympathise and, more importantly, empathise with others. Which is not the case at all.
It’s lonely enough at times, being here and dealing with the chemo and my fears and all that. So I just want to say that it feels good when people treat me like I’m still a ‘whole person’ because it makes me feel like I still belong and that I haven’t been separated and confined to some isolated place surrounded by eggshells.
I know this is done out of thoughtfulness and caring, but if you really do care about me then you’ll let me still care about you too … okay? If I’m ever feeling overwhelmed and unable to listen properly then I’ll let you know. Deal? 
