Yes. Once you understand from experience you certainly can have a deeper sense of emotion and empathy for other people's experiences. It's community now. That I understand. And yes cancer sucks. The experience as you just described it I would say is inevitable unless somehow one manages to stay emotionally distant from the humanity part of this experience and I don't know how to live like that. I don't think anyone is adequately prepared for the amount of loss and grief associated with a cancer diagnosis because its not just all about your own losses and grief. Although there are more than enough of those. So how common is it? I would say very. I dont know how you can avoid it if you are a caring feeling person. The how do you deal with it properly for me is to try to balance it with all the good things about life. Im not talking about toxic positivity. Im talking about cultivated loveliness of community. Deeper understanding of people and pain and the double edged blessing that is. I think you know what I mean just from the way you framed it in your explanation. I am far from a pollyanna but I find that even crazy painful stuff has blessings, eventually. ❤️

Well said!

Ladies. You are brilliant and the info you have shared was stated beautifully and will help so many. Cancer is heartbreaking. Thank you all for sharing.

Cancer survivor grief is very real. We often become very close to those we know that have breast canceror any cancer. Some survive but we lose some of those we love and it is often very difficult.. it makes us realize how very fragile life really is. Counseling is very helpful. The BC journey is very difficult at times and we need all the help we can get. It takes time, a lot more time than we expected but with the right resources we move on. Please stay in touch. Wishing you the very best. Endless hugs!