Today I became "The woman with cancer"
I was out at a sporting event with friends, a sport I would normally be very active in but am not at the moment so I went to support a few friends. It was the first time I noticed being avoided. A wave from behind the closed window of the car or the other end of a room. Then I became self conscious about the people who I had spoken with and started to wonder if I was making them feel uncomfortable so I went home. My close friends were grand, it's just the people you meet when you're out. I know I'm being sensitive but it did hurt a little. I'm not contagious, if my arm was broken there would be no problem, I'm not terminal, I look and sound the same. They would happily chat to me if they had flu (which I always resent, btw!) and that would be fine, apparently.
So, what happened to my identity, how did I lose it, when did I become Cancer and not Trish? 
Hi Trish,
So sorry you were treated this way. It is a horrible feeling to be avoided or labelled - I am sure most here will empathise. It is a shame you felt you had to go home, you have every right to be out and it is not your problem if people feel uncomfortable around you, rather theirs! but it is difficult to handle and we feel vulnerable when we are going through treatment. One or two of my friends seemed only to see the cancer, so I avoided them and spent my time with close friends who were more supportive, chatting about normal things as we always do.
Karen