I had an interesting, yet not surprising, thing happen to me while out for a fun night a couple of weeks ago. My husband and I had gone out to listen to a live band and have a few drinks and enjoy a cool breeze on the lake. I went with my bandana under a baseball hat combo and was really enjoying the music and night out. The band had finished it's first set and my husband got up to use the restroom while I sat at the table taking in the fresh air. I looked around and noticed a man walking towards me, looking directly at me, which startled me a bit since I did not know this man; he bent over to say something in my ear (there was radio music playing so it was hard to hear) and so I leaned in to hear the words that followed "YOU CAN BEAT THIS". Well, my first reaction was to say "excuse me?" and he went on to explain that he'd had cancer three years ago and he went through chemo and his 6'3" frame got down to 119 lbs...I didn't want to interrupt, since this is a sensitive matter and I didn't want to seem uninterested in his story, I listened until he finished. I gently placed my hand on his arm and replied "Honey, I don't have cancer, I have alopecia...it's an auto-immune disease that results in my hair falling out" and I went on to say "Congratulations on your victory, I am fortunate enough not to be sick; but thank you for your kind words anyway". I don't really think he knew what to say but he thanked me and went on back to his table. NOW, why did I feel guilt for NOT being sick...it's like I have to say "I'm sorry I'm not sick" or "it's ONLY alopecia"...well, I've come to terms with my Alopecia but I still feel like a victim of it and even though (thank God) I'm not sick with a life threatening disease, it IS a disease to me and I hate that I feel like I need to downplay it to other people who've assumed I had cancer, just so they won't be embarrased for their assumption. I felt happy about the way I handled it but I'd be lying if I said it didn't make me a bit self conscious the rest of the evening.