One other side of the bright and cheery attitude is, people see you smiling and cracking jokes they may think "it's not that serious, he doesn't seem to be suffering at all". I know that when I went to visit my co-workers at the office or out on the job, They really didn't understand why I wasn't back at work. I was just too damn cheerful. Then I went home and threw up.

David R. 65 yr old male non-smoker, light drinker, stage 3 or 4, depending on which doc you ask, scc rt. tonsil, 2 nodes, 7 weeks radiation and chemo. No surgery. Teatment ended 3/20/08. PET scan 8/08 showed no cancer.
And now, as of oct, 2010, caregiver to wife, Linda, with breast cancer.
May, 2013, Linda diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer. Enuf already.