Before Christmas I realised that this What Now site was actually causing me a lot of distress. I know that a lot of the original people have posted (although most of these eg Matt's letter) were removed, but this site is no longer what it was under Cancer Backup, ie a site where one could exchange emotional support, and where one could debate ideas, and put forward tips. Of course as the site got bigger it was bound to attract all sorts of people. I have still be answering messages via my What Now profile, but today i noticed that 8 new postings had been made on my last blog. As I thought it would be impolite not to leave some thanks I went to look. Instead of friends/support I found that it was another series of attacks upon me from Seanty. SEANTY: Please note that I am NOT vegetarian. I eat fish. Vegetarians do not. The average time of survival from INITIAL DIAGNOSIS for Stage IVB of my cancer is 6 months. I have to date survived 2 years and 5 months, so I think that my diet has been a helpful factor. However I note that your attitude is one of glee that my cancer might have started to progress again (note, it has not come BACK because I have never been in remission). When I joined this site last March it was a place where we felt that we were fighting cancer together - now it has become a place where you fight any point of view which is not your own. You claim sole responsibility for ridding the site of quack snake-oil salesmen, when in fact we were perfectly able to do that beforehand. You once wrote that if you had terminal cancer, you would have better things to do than post on here. In fact, people who are largely housebound rely a lot upon their computers, and up until you started being the pit bull terrier, people on What Now gave me enormous support and encouragement, helped me through the hardest times, and I have made a lot of very wonderful friends through this site. Fortunately we gradually set up alterative lines of communication. When I decided to leave before Christmas, I did not do an "I'm Leaving" posting, because I didn't want to make a scene. However as you have "danced on my grave" as it were, I am posting this. I have found that being away from your aggression has given me a sense of peace and decreased the stress. I am flagging this for Thomas so that they now know why I ceased using the site. With love to everyone else, and here's hoping that you each triumph against your cancer in your own way. xxxxx Penny
