Re: When work really hits home
 

Irvinefriend, I know you work as hard as you can to bring forth a new treatment that shows so much promise. I appreciate your mighty effort and letting us know the pipeline is far from empty.

My reading of the posts is not that "the industry" is so horrible - there is a difference between phraseology and the diligent work of an entire industry.

I, too, had to swallow hard when I began treatment for stage IV mets and it was called "salvage." I thought I had a better chance than that! But that term used by my onc to someone on the phone brought me up short. I had to try hard to put the term out of my mind, and find ways to stay positive about my chances. I was pigeonholed in a place I did not want to be!

Terminology hits us differently depending on our perspective.

Re: When work really hits home
 

Hi Julie,

You are doing an immensely important job and working so hard to save lives, give us new options and we are noticing that! I know it must be hard to get comments about the language used in the industry, because you are not responsible for that. I get that. And it's not fair to blame you for something you cannot influence. Just keep doing the fantastic work you are doing now, and keep us informed. You bring us hope in a landscape that sometimes seems so barren. We keep hearing about drugs that might help us in the future, but none of us knows how long we have until our treatments stop working. Please don't leave this forum. We need people like you.

I too tend to think that we don't fail a therapy, it fails us. It didn't help us live longer, with better quality of life. But we cannot expect people to get that. Not unless they experienced it and felt how harsh those words felt. We did not fail, the drugs failed, or the cancer failed to respond. But you are in no way responsible for the use of that kind of language in the industry you work for. I do believe that all those people giving all their energy and years of their lives for cancer research only have the best intentions. Perhaps a couple of them are in it for the money, but hey, they could have gone into banking and that would not have helped us, would it?

Please stay, or come back when you feel the time is right for you.

Love

Jacqueline

Re: When work really hits home
 

Julie,

You are a valued member of our community and we in no way feel you are responsible for unfortunate medical terminology.

Words hit people in different ways, and our responses to unfortunate terms can come from deep seated feelings and difficult life experiences.

I hope our words to you express our respect and caring for you.

Re: When work really hits home
 

Just want to make it clear that I thoroughly agree with every word that Sassy just wrote, Julie.

We all bemoan that phrase. I in no way what so ever, hold you responsible for such terminology.

We all love and support you, always.

Andi

Re: When work really hits home
 

I wanted to chime in and thank you for your dedication, Julie. I'm one that has enjoyed your posts. Hope you will come back when you feel up to it. My best to you.