What Do You Say To Someone Diagnosed With Cancer?

What do you say to someone diagnosed with cancer? This is a good question. Most people don't know what to say or do. Some people say "what can I say" and others just stay away from you because your very sick and they don't know what to say or do. It is a very hard situation to be in, especially when it is someone close to you. Does anyone give a second thought to the carer and what they are going through? Also the fact that they might need support. They try to be strong for the cancer patient and in the meantime suffer in silence because they don't want to upset the cancer patient. Not only do they have to look after the patient and take care of things, they also have to watch and see what the cancer patient has to go through every single day. When I first got diagnosed with breast cancer my aunt said, "What can I say? I will light a candle for you." I had lots of family support at the start with people wanting to do everything and not leave me on my own. When Kevin came to Ireland everyone backed off so he didn't have much support at all. My Aunt got diagnosed with terminal cancer and I knew exactly what to do only because I had cancer myself. When I saw her I hugged and kissed her and thats all I had to do without saying a word. My advice would be: Don't stay away. If you don't know what to say, don't say anything. Just tell the cancer patient that you are there if needed. Don't try to take over and make decisions for the patient. Listen to what he or she wants. Just because they are sick does not mean that they cannot make their own decisions. Offer some support to the carer and maybe take some of the pressure off them. Another thing I'd like to say is when your a cancer survivor the problems just don't dissappear. Sometimes you have problems for years after. Continue to offer your support even when treatment is over. Don't just assume that because the cancer is gone, everything is fine.