Am I a different person before and after cancer? Yes, most definitely. But what about the little things that come into our lives everyday? Did I chill out at all? I would have to say yes to that as well - ah, sometimes.

Do I need to clean the kitchen or should I go to the beach? I always like to have an immaculate kitchen so this is a tough one for me! I could call myself a neat freak except that I have messy drawers but everything on the surface has to look perfect.

So, my advice is -- Go to the beach!

I do have an easier time post breast cancer, saying to myself - ah, do it tomorrow, whats the big deal, its such a nice day.

Cancer has taught me that its ok to be messy sometimes, who cares! That is one of the many changes I have seen in my life.

I ask myself -- Am I smelling the roses? --as the old saying goes. I think I am. I really am.

The girls I know at the Young Survival Coalition website have discussions on many topics about the impact of cancer on our lives. Sometimes though someone comes up with an idea to lighten things up. Here are the most popular things we don't want to hear from our doctors...

1. When complaining to my plastic surgeon about the funky shape of my tissue expander, he said "Well, its sort of like a beach toy that is not fully inflated yet".
2. When asked to take part in a clinical trial suitable for stage II cancer I asked my oncologist "So that means I'm stage II then?". He said "Yeah at least!"
3. After taking samples of my tumor, my physician asked "Do you want to see them, they look like little tiny pieces of angel hair pasta?"
4. After discussing plastic surgery for breast cancer my plastic surgeon said "You know they are never going to look real".
5. When discussing with my oncologist about getting my port removed he said " Well, I guess we can put it back in if we need it".
6. Talking to my oncologist he says, "Well everything is fine, for now"
7. My primary oncologist asked me "So, who is your primary oncologist?"
8. My plastic surgeon remarks "I hate making nipples".
9. Arriving to get a mammogram a few years after a breast cancer diagnoses. "Why are you here?".

Jana Rosenblatt aka Ultra Chick, diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer, maintains a website resource for women facing cancer and going through chemotherapy and radiation called Chemo Chicks. It is a community created for women to share experiences, find practical products and read articles that offer information and resources.

One of the sections within Chemo Chicks is Excuse Me?! It's not easy being a cancer patient. The reasons are obvious, the list is long. But what is sometimes equally difficult is dealing with the incredulous things other people will say and do when they find out you have cancer or when you are not looking your best as a result of cancer treatments. Over 40 women have contributed stories about the well-intentioned but -- bless their hearts -- insensitive stupid things people can say.