A 24-year-old woman, known as u/superspreader90 on Reddit, shared her experience on the subreddit “Am I Overreacting?” after her best friend of 10 years scolded her for missing her birthday celebration due to a chemotherapy appointment. The woman had to cancel attending her friend’s 25th birthday dinner and drinks after her chemo treatment was rescheduled to the same day. The friend’s response was deemed insensitive and selfish by many Reddit users, who overwhelmingly supported the original poster (OP).
The post included a text exchange between the OP and her friend, where the friend questioned whether the OP could still make the reservation at 8 p.m. despite knowing about the chemotherapy treatment earlier in the day. The friend dismissed the side effects and suggested that the OP was using her health issues as an excuse to skip an important event. The OP expressed her concerns about being too tired and nauseous to attend and offered to have a mutual friend pick up the birthday cake and gifts she had bought for her friend.
Chemotherapy is a treatment option for systemic lupus erythematosus, a chronic autoimmune disease that can require chemo to suppress the immune system to reduce inflammation and organ damage. The treatment can cause tiredness, nausea, heart palpitations, and other side effects that can affect a person’s ability to attend social events or maintain a normal routine. The friend’s reaction to the OP’s cancellation highlighted a lack of empathy, understanding, and emotional maturity in their friendship, according to expert Navi Hughes, a child psychiatry nurse practitioner and therapist.
Reddit users overwhelmingly supported the OP and condemned her friend’s reaction, advising her to cut ties with someone who didn’t respect or support her health needs. Many users shared similar experiences of cutting off people who trivialized their health issues and emphasized the importance of prioritizing one’s health over social obligations. The consensus was clear: the OP deserves friends who value and prioritize her well-being over temporary social events or celebrations.
The situation highlighted a deeper issue in the friendship beyond the missed birthday celebration, as true friendship is built on respect, empathy, and reciprocity. The lack of trust, empathy, connection, and emotional maturity in the friend’s reaction showed a lack of real connection and support for the OP’s health needs. The OP’s experience resonated with many readers who shared their own stories of dealing with unsupportive or insensitive friends and highlighted the importance of surrounding oneself with people who value and respect their health and well-being.
