Poll of the Day > Did I handle this ok? (Customer with cancer)

(+) Yeah! (+)

So I clean carpets. A customer I cleaned for today has cancer and just had chemo done, though she didn't mention it really, a different family member did very briefly, but she (the one with cancer) knew I knew about it. Anyway, I didn't really say anything about it. She was in good spirits and had a lot of people supporting her, but I wasn't sure if I should let her know her and her family are in my thoughts and best wishes, or just not bring it up so as not to draw attention to it.

In the end, I didn't say anything. I had a nice conversation with her about the weather and her grandkids and then mentioned to her to have her carpets cleaned in the next year or two so it doesn't fall too far behind with dirt. Was that ok? I'm so bad in those types of situations
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Yes.

ForteGX posted...

Was that ok?

Yes. Often folk with illnesses and/or disabilities just want to be treated normal or at least as normal as they possibly can be. They don't want the illness and/or disabilities to define them.

They also wouldn't want some stranger pitying them. If you were a regular and she got to know you well then a card or something would be fine but you're not and although it seems a nice idea to say what you were going to say I'd imagine for some folk it would be generic and even disrespectful because you don't really know them.
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Ok good. Thanks guys
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You did good.
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Yes you did.
If I had a possibly fatal disease I would probably talk about it as little as possible or don't want to be frequently reminded of it all the time.
Like said above; sick people want to be treated as normal people.

A guy at my work has cancer as well and every time I meet him I try to talk about more positive things in an attempt to distract him from his disease for a while.
His cancer has spread all around his body and it's not looking good.
And it's a real shame because he is a really nice guy. He has a 7 year old son and is only in his 50s.

I also deliver meals for old and sick people everyday(my current job) because they're too sick and weak to make their own lunch and dinner.
Some of them look really weak and they struggle to move around their in home.
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