Here are three basic ways to help someone who has cancer

1. Talk and LISTEN to your friend with cancer

When you know someone has a cancer diagnosis an easy option is to avoid the friend or avoid the subject. This happens a lot. We know that it is not easy to know what to say. The most important advice, however, is not to avoid your friend when they may need you most and to pay attention to clues when you speak with them.

2. Give your friend with cancer your time, by offering to help in specific ways

Saying, “I am here if you need me” or “let me know if you need any help” might not be viewed as a sincere offer of help and it is often hard for someone to ask. It is better to make concrete offers of help such as “can I get your shopping for you” or “let me drive you to the hospital”

3. Remember their partner and children.

Offering to help the family and with family chores can take a lot of stress away. Often the family members are forgotten. Simply asking how a partner or child of someone with cancer is can show you are supporting the whole family.