Hi Colin,

I find I just tell people. Random taxi drivers, any relative, old friends that I may contact etc. I'm quite open about all my ailments and take an interest in the ailments of others who I speak to.

Many times people will ask 'How are you', when you meet them, generally expecting a non-committal 'Ok'. I tell 'em and go into as much detail as the situation calls for.

I'm in the lucky situation where i have a cognitive impairment which means I don't care about having cancer or the other stuff I've got, so talking about it doesn't phase me at all. And being so open about it may render it not so frightening to others and allow them to talk about it. Many people are so frightened of offending a cancer sufferer that they cease contact, whereas openness makes everything easier.

For example, if I see someone with a false leg, I'll ask them about it, show an interest. Being disabled/ill can be very isolating so I make the effort where I can. I once had a lady in my taxi who talked for about an hour and a half. She had cancer, her husband had cancer and kept stabbing himself, she was a carer for her mentally ill daughter . . . everyone of her family was either seriously ill or falling apart in some way but she seemed very blase about it all. In the end we were both in hysterics.

For me, everything is about how I feel at this moment in time.

I've no idea if anything I've said can be of any help and I appear to be burbling somewhat now, so I'll just wish you the best.

Regards

Taff