Does anyone understand why people even pass along negative stories to survivors? Isn't it common sense to make positive and upbeat statements? I would never say to anyone that my uncle, brother, mother, etc. died from this or that disease. I too like to talk about the amazing strides cancer treatment has made in the past decade or 2 - give people HOPE because as Donnarose said, it is easy for us to get "paralyzed with fear" over horror stories that well-intentioned but uninformed folks relate to us. Be as buoyant as possible so the survivors and close family members don't sink.