"At least it's not cancer"

People have implied that I should be grateful that I have Myalgic Encephalomyelitis instead of cancer.

I want to talk about this, because I had cancer when I was younger and now I have ME. Honestly, cancer was easier on me. I had a larger support network. Everyone knows about cancer and understands the seriousness, few people know about or have even heard of ME. Too many people have died of cancer, but there are treatments and a lot of research continues to be done. There are no cures or treatments for ME beyond pacing, and there is alarmingly little research. People were kinder when I had cancer, no one suggested it was made up/all in my head/just anxiety. I know that cancer is hell, I've lived it.  I wouldn't want it again. I've now had ME longer than I had cancer. My cancer ended, I was able to get back to my life. Now that I have ME, I am never getting my life back. I'm stuck in this living death until I die. In the meantime, I worry that my ME will get worse and I'll go from moderate to severe.

I'm not saying ME is worse than cancer. Every case is different and unique. Obviously I wouldn't rather have terminal cancer. I'd rather have neither.

Finally, illnesses should not be pitted against each other. They're all bad. Even people with cancer may think "at least I don't have x, y, or z." Instead of comparing illnesses, just be kind and try to be compassionate.