scare them away, you simply say "it is the most pain i have ever experienced, it hurts constantly." after all, many patients have already lost a great may friends because of the disease and they don't want to lose more.
if they are a loved one you try and protect them. you don't want them to know how bad it is. you don't ever want them to truly understand how much you suffer because you know how much they would then suffer as well. many times your answer is simply, "i am fine. it is nothing i can't handle." once in a great while you may let them know how truly 