I want to share with you part of a conversation I have quite regularly. It usually begins when someone says to me, "Did you hear, such-and-such has cancer. Isn't it terrible?" and I might say something like,"I heard. Did you know I had cancer?" "Oh really? When was that?" "In July 2003." "Oh my God. Are you all right now?" "Yes, thanks, I am." "Did you have treatment?" "Chemotherapy and radiotherapy." "Wow, and you have how many children?" "Four." "Oh, that's awful. I can't believe it." And then, the inevitable. "And which breast was it in? Did you have to have a mastectomy? Read more >