Article

False Cancer Reassurance Hurts

Author(s):

Gregory Carroll, PhD

Dismissing or minimizing patients' doubts and worries can make them feel worse.

Please don’t tell me

you know I’ll be fine.

Wishing isn’t knowing.

The journey is mine.

Words, though meant to console,

pierce my heart, dull my mind

while soothing the source’s

emotional bind.

I can’t know for sure

what others may feel.

Their calm may be earnest,

their confidence real.

My speech is halting.

My joking feels lame.

Emotions collide,

camouflage the brain.

Restless, unsure

and numbingly slow,

my thoughts drift along

with my old self in tow.

The healing takes time,

a new normal I’m told.

The new part makes sense.

When does normal take hold?

Wishing isn’t knowing.

The journey is mine.

Please don’t tell me

you know I’ll be fine.

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