How do people handle cultural and societal taboo about cancer?

Hello FaceOfBoe 

You ask an interesting question and I can only give you my answer from personal experience. 

I received my Prostate Cancer diagnosis 3 years ago - I was devastated at first, but I have a large circle of friends, some knew I had been in hospital but not why. I spoke with my family and as I am an "outgoing type" I thought it best to share my diagnosis with everyone and keep them up to speed with my journey through the treatment.

All was well at first but two couples almost at once when they found out I had cancer "disappeared", never to be contacted or seen again!! - Why I ask, it turns out that they just don't want to be associated with cancer (we found this from friends of the "friends").

I still to this day wonder why - would my cancer make me more popular in the group as people asked questions? did they think they could catch it? Perhaps they thought I was unclean to catch it? 

I put it all down to pure ignorance - and you know what - life is good for me and I can carry on without them, but I often wonder what they are doing now - because cancer affects 1 in 2 people, they will soon run out of friends.

So there's my answer to the question - I just get on with my life and  as you said 

FaceOfBoe said:

. Plus i do no harm (as far as I am aware) so....WTF?

I hope my "ramblings" help.

Best Wishes - Brian.