What Not To Say When A Fiend Says They Have Cancer
websitebuilder • November 29, 2019
It's the same for most everyone. Sometimes it's hard to know what to say, especially when faced with unexpected health news. Although it can be hard, this list of what not to say may help you.
- Don't comment on how they look or seem to you
- Don't comment on changes to their appearance
- Don't make 'knowledgeable' comments about treatment
- Don't make comparisons to someone else with cancer
- Don't claim to understand their feelings
- Don't say it's "only" a kind of cancer that may be considered "better" by some
- Don't ever say "don't worry"
Instead, be there to support and listen to their feelings. Offer assistance, and mean it. Just continue to be a friend.
Beloved Foundation exists to support caregivers of loved ones with cancer in their journey. Reach out
for information on how we may be able to help.

Alex Trebek, must loved host of Jeopardy!, has stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Earlier this month he spoke candidly about how he has been doing since he diagnosis a year ago. He also talks about how happy he is to have reached the one year survival marker, which only 18% of those who are diagnosed reach.

"I never think of you as someone who had cancer" was said to Liza Bernstein after multiple cancer diagnoses. Later, during her third experience with cancer, in a haze of exhaustion and despair, she realized that it was impossible for cancer not to be a part of her identity. She asked herself, "Why should I cower in the denial of my experience because it inconveniences others?" From that moment, Liza decided to use her experiences and her identity for good, to help others. And she has continued to do just that since that moment in time.