There are a lot of women in my cancer support group who refuse to accept the terminal part of our diagnosis. They like to say things like it’s a chronic illness that can be managed; that they will live a long, full life despite being stage 4. While I agree that we can live longer with this disease than ever before, particularly a lucky percentage with the right response to drugs, we are, in fact, terminal. I think the reason it bothers me is because this attitude discounts the struggles of those of us who don’t respond well to treatment. This is definitely not a chronic illness for me. I have psoriatic arthritis, but it’s not going to kill me. This fucking cancer is going to kill me. It just really frustrates me and makes me want to leave the group sometimes.