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Wednesday, Feb 10th 2010
How to Help a Friend with Cancer
You're not alone if you get all tongue-tied and nervous when you try to talk to—or comfort—someone with an illness like cancer (or any other serious illness). I mean, I had cancer and I still have a hard time knowing what to say when it's someone else. When I was the patient, so many people either never said anything, afraid of saying the wrong thing, or ended up with their foot in their mouth. Like another mother from my son's preschool class who said absolutely nothing; instead she rapidly turned her grocery cart in the opposite direction and ran when she spotted me coming down the same aisle in the supermarket.
Or the woman who came to visit me after I had my mastectomy, looked quizzically at me and asked, "Why are you walking all lopsided?" Truly.
I'm not bitter, I'm really not. I realize it is a tough situation, and sometimes a no-win situation at that. That's why I reached out to Kelly Connors from Real Women on Health and proposed we tackle this tough topic. We got together with Lori Hope, author and speaker and another cancer survivor. Lori has written the wonderfully informative book, "Help Me Live: 20 Things People with Cancer Want You to Know".
In case you missed it, here's another chance to download the show, or listen to it now in the player below. I promise you'll come away with something new.
It helps to know what to say—not just to the other person you're saying it to, but to you, too.
Comments
Jul 12, 2011 15:Jul 3 | shaun dhillon said
cancer
Hi. I am a male, aged 53 from malaysia and recently I was told that I had stage 4 Rectum cancer.I recently had a colostomy surgery.I still can't accept the fact that I have cancer and my mind won't accept it but whenever I look at this bag of mine My tears just roll down my cheeks and I aks myself over and over, Why me?
May 11, 2010 21:May 9 | Cynthia Smiley said
Feb 12, 2010 18:Feb 6 | Jennifer Margulis said
we are going through this
we are going through this right now. It's very hard when a family member has cancer.
Feb 16, 2010 20:Feb 8 | Sheryl said
So sorry to hear that,
So sorry to hear that, Jennifer. I hope this might be helpful to you and your family in one way or another.
Feb 12, 2010 09:Feb 9 | Alisa Bowman said
I'm so glad you are
I'm so glad you are addressing this. Not only is it hard to talk with someone with cancer, but anyone who is struggling/suffering with nearly anything. No one teaches us how to deal with hardship of any kind, so we bumble around and do all of the wrong things--ignore it, try to make the person feel "happy," say stupid things like "it's for the best" and "it could be worse" etc.
Feb 16, 2010 09:Feb 9 | Sheryl said
Yes, Alisa, so true. No
Yes, Alisa, so true. No matter what it is - illness or a personal crisis - it's oftentimes so difficult to come up with the "right" thing to say.
Feb 11, 2010 22:Feb 10 | Katherine Lewis said
When in doubt ask
I have learned so much from my husband (a doctor who specializes in end of life care) about broaching difficult subjects. He has a few great phrases that leave the door open to further conversation but don't pry. One is obvious: "I'd like to hear more about that."
Feb 16, 2010 09:Feb 9 | Sheryl said
Katherine, So interesting how
Katherine, So interesting how so few words can open the door to a LOT of things that might not have otherwise been said. Thanks for sharing.
Feb 11, 2010 09:Feb 9 | Sheryl said
This is clearly a universal
This is clearly a universal problem and I'm so glad that everyone has shared their personal stories. Thanks for all the feedback. I think it's comforting to all of us to know that although we might have the best of intentions, it's oftentimes difficult to express it in the right way. Sometimes, as Susan pointed out, words are unnecessary and a hug goes a long way.
Feb 11, 2010 01:Feb 1 | Kris said
My best friend's son - my
My best friend's son - my son's best friend - was diagnosed with a brain tumor about 7 years ago. Truly. What do you say to the mother of a kid under ten years old who's diagnosed with a life threatening disease? I don't feel that I said the right things - ever - but she always knew that she and her son were in my heart. Happily, he's just reached his five year cancer free date, regardless of any stupid things I may have said!
Feb 16, 2010 09:Feb 9 | Sheryl said
Kris, I don't know if anyone
Kris, I don't know if anyone would know quite what to say about this awfully sad situation. But I'm so happy to learn that he is doing so well!
Feb 10, 2010 22:Feb 10 | Kristen J. Gough said
Kudos to you Sheryl that you
Kudos to you Sheryl that you didn't take anyone's attempts at comforting words--or their complete avoidance--too personally. Sometimes you just don't know what to say to someone in need, or you say the wrong thing with all the best of intentions.
Feb 10, 2010 19:Feb 7 | Meredith said
So good that there is a
So good that there is a dialogue about having a dialogue. It may sound funny but it's true. Thanks.
Feb 10, 2010 18:Feb 6 | Susan Johnston said
I agree that it's tough to
I agree that it's tough to know what to say to someone in this situation, so sometimes the best thing to do is offer a hug and let them know that you're thinking of them. Same goes for someone who's grieving.
Feb 10, 2010 14:Feb 2 | sarah henry said
"I had cancer and still have
"I had cancer and still have a hard time knowing what to say when it's someone else." says it all really, doesn't it?
We all shy away from difficult subjects -- death, divorce, disease -- come immediately to mind.
People do want to show they care, I find, they're just not sure how to do it. Kudos to you for leading the way.
Feb 10, 2010 13:Feb 1 | Alexandra Grabbe said
People acted the same way
People acted the same way with my elderly mom. She was bedridden, at 96, and loved seeing people, but suddenly everyone shied away. How stupid people can be! I am becoming convinced that the incredible increase in cancer, especially in cancer in younger people, is related to the increase in synthetic chemicals in our environment. The Silent Spring Institute is trying to figure out why the cancer rate is higher in some parts of the country, like Marin County, CA, and Barnstable County, MA, where I live.
Feb 10, 2010 12:Feb 12 | Christine said
Thank you for this. A good
Thank you for this. A good friend has been diagnosed with cancer multiple times and it is helpful to know what to say.
