This is for sickle cell and cancer patients who have had a BMT!!!!?!
Question: Does anyone stare at you because you wear a mask into a store? What do you do to not be afraid when people ask you? Please reply!
Answers: Does anyone stare at you because you wear a mask into a store? What do you do to not be afraid when people ask you? Please reply!
Yes, I have had lots of people approach me. Most of them get whats going on now that today seeing this is more common (in that there are more cancer patients and any one neutropenic is supposed to do this, which includes most cancer patients for atleast a few days during their treatment).
However, once you tell them you have cancer, they are very apologetic.
If you dont want people asking, walk through the store briskly with an unfriendly face. The less approachable you look, the less people are gonna feel gutsy enough to say something.
I kind of go for the shock factor anyways, and now one of my passions is to educate people on stem cells, in that that is what a bone marrow translant is. I found that the mask got peoples attention, you rope them into your story, and now one more person gets what stem cell research and treatment really is where it comes from and what can be done from it, and what its not.
I have also learned to have several witty comebacks for people saying rude things about the buzz hair cut, or stay away shell infect you all that. The witty toung can make you feel really good when your having a bad day and that cat call insult was just the last straw. Although, I always felt bad afterwards because its wrong to act like that and I know it.
Well, I haven't had a BMT but a friend of mine has. On her masks, she wrote: Don't stare. It's rude.