Would you tell the "real" story?

Why would you put the journalling in a separate album? Or do you mean you would re-scrap the picture and put the second page into another album instead of the PL album?

I don't think there's any reason NOT to include the real story behind the photo. It's not sensitive or private or humiliating or anything. I think it adds quite a bit of meaning to the photo and your son's story.

I am all about being real in my scrapbooks. I personally love story telling in my scrapbooks. I think you should tell the story and don't think it would be confusing at all.

ETA: I agree with ashley. It would add quite a bit of meaning and background to the photo. I was trying to say that...but I can't seem to think straight today. Lol!

I think that's a wonderful true story, and it is definitely worth telling. Yes, you're going through something really rough right now but it's a great way to talk about it without getting into the sad details.

{{{hugs}}} You've clearly been through a lot!

My opinion: I would tell the whole story. Write what you think about when you look at it, why these photos mean so much to you. It doesn't have to be drawn out or sombre... as simple as "Considering how his cancer treatments interfered with his ability to enjoy food, it was awesome to see him so utterly in love with this hot dog!"

Think about it-what is the objective of leaving it out? If I understand your reference that you've already scrapped about his illness in another album, then clearly it's a topic that you've decided you're comfortable sharing in the scrapbooks. Once you've gotten to that point (and I'm sure there are a lot of feelings taken into account when decided how and when to share), I think it only enriches your life story to include the whole picture whenever you have the opportunity. When his kids and grandkids look at this NYC scrapbook, they will realize, "Wow, dad/grandpa went to NYC with cancer? He still had fun. He was really strong." It won't matter if they haven't seen the other scrapbooks, or whether they already knew that he had cancer when he was young. This information adds a whole layer to this story: how meaningful the time spent together was, how much strength everyone in the family had, how important these memories are and that the memories they make today are just as important. Don't leave it out.

I know lots of times I hide the journalling if it isn't something I am comfortable with everyone reading. That is what I would have done in a situation like yours. Sometimes I have also written a few lines on the back of a page as well.

I go somewhere between depending on what story I want to tell.  Sometimes I stick with the generic journaling, sometimes I give the whole story, and sometimes I go the route of hidden journaling.  That part is very subjective, so I would ask yourself whether that is a part of the story you want to tell.  I am all about being "real" in my albums, but that doesn't mean I include every bad (or good) detail.

I would document it- he's a survivor and that's great! This experience like all experiences help to shape who he will become and THAT's the important story!

Your situation is the perfect fit for the bi-fold cards. It's a great story that should be recorded. By using the bi-fold cards it takes a little effort for someone to read it which most people won't do, but your son's story will be recorded along side the photos.

I think it's a story worth telling.

Sometimes I will use hidden journaling for a story that some people couldn't handle reading, but this doesn't really sound like one of those times.

I would do what makes you most comfortable. If you want the album to be more about the trip and not about the fact that he was sick at that time then leave it out.

That said, his illness is an important part of his life story and I would probably scrap that picture and story at some point for him to have. I can understand how it could be difficult though and maybe right now isn't the right time for you to do that.

I would tell the story too, even if it was hidden.

And Vickie, I too had ovarian cancer, and Taco Bell hit the spot with me too! Weird!

Oh, you know me, Missy, I'm the middle of the road gal.

So I'd probably go somewhere in between the whole longer back story, and just a generic caption.

Will your pages ultimately be in an album in such a way that other pages mentioning his cancer will be seen before this one? If so, then I would mention that the medications made him hungry and why he really craved hotdogs, just like you said in your OP, but I wouldn't feel the need to tell the whole back story about his actual cancer there.

I'd figure people already knew the start of the story of his journey to recovery, and this is just one way in which it touched his every day life.

But ultimately, tell what you want people to know. And if you think it would be best to add more info, go for it!
Trust me, as the owner of envelopes of photos of people I don't know and photos that leave me confused about what the heck was happening here, there's probably nothing wrong with a little extra info on any given page.

I'd tell the story. Your son has a great attitude towards his illness and it will mean more to the reader to know the background story. I'm sure when his grandchildren are reading it, they will be interested to know about it. I'm one who journals it all - the good and bad, the easy and hard.