Finally, I decided I could take it no longer, and when people started a cancer story, I would interrupt them, smile, and say, “Does this story have a happy ending? Because if it doesn’t, I don’t want to hear it.” That reply really stopped people in their tracks, and I didn’t have to listen to any more hopeless cancer stories. You may want to adopt my approach as well. Many patients tell me they have and that, surprisingly, it worked quite well, even though some folks’ mouths dropped open at the shock of being asked to stop talking midsentence! Eventually, you may be fine to listen to any and
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