Cancer - 7 Tips On What To Say To Someone Who Has Just Been Diagnosed With Cancer

By Connie Ragen Green

When you first hear that a friend or loved one has cancer you will be shocked and saddened. But then you must see this person and you realize that you don't know what to say to them.

Here are 7 tips on what to say to someone who has just learned they have cancer:

1. Offer to help them become an advocate for their illness. People often have no experience with cancer and need help learning the terminology and available treatments for their specific kind of cancer. Medical and technological advance make it necessary to do much reading and research to keep abreast of the latest findings.
2. Ask them if they need help with a certain task that takes time, strength or energy that they are most likely short of right now.
3. Stay positive and speak often about upcoming events. Keeping them thinking about their former, more normal life keeps the stress level down while they are undergoing treatments and recuperating.
4. Keep them focused on the future. Talk about events that will be taking place in the coming months or even a year from now. When they can visualize the future it seems more likely that they will be a part of it.
5. Don't assume that they will be too tired or too sick to participate in a social gathering. Always invite them and let them have the option of canceling, even at the last minute, if necessary.
6. Just let them talk about whatever is on their mind. Being a friend means listening to what the other person wants or needs to talk about, without interrupting or being judgmental.
7. As quickly as possible, get them back to their regular routine. If they can return to work and resume their typical daily activities, at least part of the time, they will be on their way to recovery.

Use these tips when a friend or loved one is diagnosed with cancer, and you will be helping them in untold ways.

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