What Not To Say When A Loved One Says They Have Cancer
websitebuilder • November 16, 2019
Sometimes the best meaning people say the worst things when faced with news of your cancer diagnosis. We've all done it; stuck our foot in our mouth without meaning to.
Just a few of the things this author says to avoid include:
- Be mindful of not implying fault
- Don't compare to someone else you know who has or had cancer
- Avoid platitudes
That could leave you wondering what you should say, but the advice is straight forward. Be prepared to listen, and just keep showing up.
Learn more about the support that The Beloved Foundation offers by reaching out.

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.