These are the friendly greetings that turn PC sufferers into liars. Most people who ask these questions don't really want to know but you have to reply and the simple response of "fine, how are you?" turns as all into liars because "fine" we definitely aren't.
I am 80 with advanced PC and Atrial Fibrillation which can't be treated because the drugs required would reduce the effectiveness of Relugolix. My usual answer to people I know, but with whom I don't want to go into details, is either that I check each morning to see what is still working or that I am still upright and putting one foot in front of another. Both honest answers but rather verbose.
I'd be very interested to hear how others respond to these greetings without becoming a liar.
Hello Ever hopeful
Yes, been there got the t-shirt. Friends who know me, know and we talk openly about it but sadly only someone else with their own cancer diagnosis really knows the truth. My two stock answers are "average" or "yes thanks - still got a pulse". to anyone I don't wish to engage with.
In fact - it's a great place to introduce a blog from 2023:
When good intentions hurt: Exploring Toxic positivity and conversations about cancer
and there's more:
and even more:
When good intentions hurt: Exploring Toxic positivity and conversations about cancer
and one last one:
Toxic positivity and cancer: why listening matters .
I am sure we have all had the "how do you manage?" - "how ill are you?" - "are your children helping out? - have you got a blue badge? - can you feel the cancer growing 
?.
Funny thing about me is I was unable to hide my diagnosis as I was in hospital and I decided I had to "come clean" with my group of so called "friends". One couple just vanished from our group and we later found out "they don't do cancer". Idiots! (I hope they have good medical insurance!).
There you go - plenty of food for thought.
Best wishes - Brian.
Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm
Strength, Courage, Faith, Hope, Defiance, VICTORY.
I am a Macmillan volunteer.
I wanted to air my frustration and feelings in probably the only forum I could.
That's the great thing about this group - you can say what you want, you are among others who know, and it's a safe space. No one judges anyone here.
Another instance of something that happened to me:
I was doing my radiotherapy, sat in the waiting room, it was one of the later fractions and we had been having a debate on the group about should you ring the bell at the end of your 20 fractions. The bloke next to me started talking and asked about my visit -"number xx out of 20" how about you "5 fractions to extend my life" - well that floored me, anyway we got chatting and someone rang the bell and we all clapped.
The bloke next to me said "whatever you feel when you finish your treatment ring the bell for me - as I won't see this summer and will never ring it!
YES I rang the bell and being on Hormone Therapy I was in tears in Reception - that was January 2023 - I often think of the bloke I met once for ten minutes.
Life is so unfair, so cruel at times. - Lets all enjoy what we have and cherish our family and friends.
Kind regards - Brian.
Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm
Strength, Courage, Faith, Hope, Defiance, VICTORY.
I am a Macmillan volunteer.
