Help do's and don'ts
Have you ever wondered how to help a friend or loved one living with cancer or undergoing cancer treatment? Here's a list of helpful do's and don'ts
Have you ever wondered how to help a friend or loved one living with cancer or undergoing cancer treatment? This list of helpful do's and don'ts was developed by Ovarian cancer survivor Linda Greeff and the CancerCare support group in Cape Town.
Please do:
- Say 'I'm here for you'. and make sure you are
- Ask 'When can I take you for your next treatment?'
- Ask 'What's your favourite meal?' and then deliver it!
- Offer a shoulder to cry on without trying to fix or make things better
- Allow the space to cry together, and the space to laugh together too
- Say nothing: sometimes just keeping quiet is best
- Send random happy messages
- Arrange a special treat (mani, pedi or facial )
Please don't:
- Pretend that nothing is wrong: having no hair is NOT a fashion statement!
- Stay away because you don't know what to say
- Repeat other people's cancer horror stories
- Say 'you're going to beat this' (you really don't know!)
- Say 'be positive' or 'be strong'
- Offer any advice
- Play 'oncologist' - (we pay specialists!)
- Try to take over. Remember dignity is key.
Offer
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