"As I write this, I’m five years post-diagnosis and officially in “survivorship” care – I now go in for follow-up only once a year. And I have to admit, with cancer further and further in the rearview mirror, it’s easy to get back into denial mode when it comes to death – “I’m going to live forever!”

But we need to acknowledge death, talk about it, whether we’re a terminal patient, a just-diagnosed Stage I patient, or someone entering “survivorship.”

Recently, there have been the beginnings of a movement to help us all get real and have “the talk” about death.

So let’s get talking. Even if it’s scary and awkward, having this talk will greatly increase the chances that your end-of-life wishes are honored.

Death Over Dinner and The Conversation Project are organizing a week-long National Dinner Party to Dine and Discuss Death April 16 through 22".