I heard this amazing TED talk by Amanda Bennett on the topic of denial and living with cancer.
I can’t stop thinking about this statement in her talk:
“So what the experts call “denial,” I call “hope,” and I’d like to borrow a phrase from my friends in software design. You just redefine denial and hope, and it becomes a feature of being human. It’s not a bug. It’s a feature.”
It just makes sense. I try to be clear and honest with my patients and their families. I provide the most up-to-date information, data, treatment options etc. Sometimes this is overwhelming, frustrating and with no clear right answers. However, I always want to leave the consultation with hope. Hope that everyone in my life can live their life to the fullest.
Denial vs Hope: Confronting Cancer