How to Support Someone with Cancer

Do you have a family member or a friend who has been diagnosed with cancer?

Have you been wondering how you might be able to provide support or do anything to help?

Often we don’t know what to say other than, “Let me know if there is anything that I can Triage Cancer Blog Supporting a Friend with Cancerdo.” While well-intentioned, an open-ended offer of support is unlikely to be followed up on. It can be more helpful to offer to do specific things for your family member or friend.

There are a number of helpful lists of suggestions available in the resources listed below, and we offer a few additional ways to offer practical help, here:

  • Practical help
    • Attend medical appointments and take notes
    • Sort mail
    • Sort medical bills, insurance company paperwork, and medical records
    • Make follow up calls to providers and insurance companies
    • Complete appeals paperwork
    • Apply for financial assistance programs
    • Pay bills
    • Create a spreadsheet of tax deductible medical and dental expenses (http://triagecancer.org/blog/tax-time-is-coming) to make tax time easier
    • Research clinical trials or treatment options
    • Schedule appointments
  • Errands
    • Provide transportation to medical appointments
    • Go grocery shopping
    • Drop off prepared meals
    • Pick up prescriptions
    • Pick up/send mail/buy stamps
    • Pick up dry cleaning
    • Pick up thank you cards (for your loved one to send to others who have helped)
  • Babysit
    • Pick up children from school
    • Take them to extracurricular activities
  • Household chores
    • Cook
    • Wash dishes
    • Do laundry
    • Vacuum
    • Dust
    • Change bedsheets
    • Change lightbulbs
    • Organize a closet
    • Rake leaves
    • Mow the law
    • Water plants
    • Feed/take care of pets

Resources

Supporting a Friend Who Has Cancer: www.cancer.net/coping-with-cancer/talking-with-family-and-friends/supporting-friend-who-has-cancer

Helping a Loved One with Cancer Long Distance: www.nccn.org/patients/resources/life_with_cancer/managing_symptoms/long_distance.aspx

These websites also have tips on how to help family members and friends and have great tools like calendars to schedule meal delivery, transportation to treatment, and more:

www.MyLifeline.org
www.CaringBridge.org
www.Lotsahelpinghands.com
www.foodtidings.com
www.takethemameal.com

Don’t be hurt or offended if your friend or family member doesn’t ask for your help or declines your help when you offer. Even if your friend or family member doesn’t need help, your willingness to be supportive will be appreciated.

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