Why can people, including those of us with breast cancer, often act as if breast cancer is easier to live with than it is?

Within many societies in the world, and the UK is no exception, the women's tend to make light of the emotional impact of traumatic experiences on us. Most of us have been brought up to believe that to dwell on suffering is an indulgence, and the women's shouldn’t do it. This sets up a conflict in us, including those of us with breast cancer. As a result, family, friends, colleagues and the health professionals supporting us, most of whom will have been brought up similarly, will tend to collude in the myth that awful traumas in our lives are easier to cope with than they are.