I started chemotherapy 6 months ago and the doctor said it isn working and that Ive “failed” chemotherapy. I tried very hard to do everything they told me…what did I do wrong?
A. The use of the word “failed” is unfortunate because it is the chemotherapy that failed, not you. Our society is filled with so many “can do” and “take charge” messages that people may think they have more control over disease than they actually do. This belief can cause a lot of guilt, both when people get sick and when their therapies may not work, because it seems as if both could be our fault. You most likely did nothing wrong — and everything right — during treatment.
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