I've been thinking about tweeting my thoughts on this for a while but then worry about getting it wrong. I'm going to do my best to articulate myself well.

As a person who has had cancer, the terms 'brave', 'fighter' 'you can beat this' are problematic. I know people mean well but cancer isn't about being brave. You either survive it or you don't.

Saying 'she beat cancer' or 'she fought it' suggest that those who died from it or still have it, aren't as determined as others. When I was sick, these kind of comments weren't helpful. Silences don't need to be filled with waffle.

Words like 'I'm here for you', 'I'm sorry you're going through a hard time', 'what can I do to help?' felt much more meaningful.

Also, shaving your hair off is not liberating. It is a bitch. I truly realised I was a cancer patient on that day.

Nobody's even going to see this because I'm such a little fish but ah well, I felt it needed to be said.

I feel so overwhelmed with people's kindness towards this thread. Opening up makes you vulnerable so I feel courageous today dare I say it

I honestly mean this. If anybody wants to talk, I'm here to listen.