When
Someone You Know Has Been Diagnosed With Breast Cancer
-- Courtesy of Breast
Cancer Action
A
diagnosis of breast cancer is a very difficult thing to
hear. Women, and men, who hear the words “you have
breast cancer” can experience a myriad of emotions:
fear, anger, betrayal, powerlessness, resentment, loneliness.
More than anything, s/he needs support and encouragement.
This is where you can make a difference.
If
you are reading this fact sheet, you’re already ahead
of the game. Your friend is fortunate in that s/he has
someone who cares enough to seek out information to aid
in this extremely difficult time. You can help your loved
one and here’s how:
LISTEN
More than anything, newly diagnosed patients need someone
to listen. They need to express their fears and they need
to process mountains of information. If you need to freak
out — and you will —please don’t do it
in front of a newly diagnosed person. Talk to another
friend instead.
DO
Offer a shoulder to cry on. At the appropriate time, you
might remind her that many people survive diagnosis and
many people live to a ripe old age.
DON’T
Ever say what you would do in her situation. The fact
is, you’re not in her situation and you really don’t
know what choices you would make. S/he will need to talk
and be heard. Every situation is different. There are
many different kinds of breast cancer and many different
decisions to make.
DO
Give advice only when asked. You might instead offer to
do research on treatment options and/or for more information
on the disease.
DO
Offer to accompany your friend to doctor appointments.
Suggest taping doctor’s discussions. Help prepare
a list of questions for the doctor. Doctors give a lot
of information during those first appointments.
DO
Offer to drive your friend to and from treatments.
DO
Organize friends/family to help with household needs such
as, babysitting , housecleaning and food preparation.
This will give your friend the personal time she needs
right now.
DO
Get support for yourself when you need to. Do something
nice for yourself.
DO
Join BCA! Help us change the reality that 1 woman out
of every 8 will develop breast cancer in her lifetime.
Get involved! Join a task force! Everyone can do something
— besides worry — about this dreaded disease
Courtesy
of:
Breast Cancer Action
For more information, contact BCA at
55 New Montgomery, Ste. 323
San Francisco, CA 94105
415/243-9301 or toll free 877/2STOPBC.
Or check out our website at http://www.bcaction.org
Learn how to do a breast
self-exam and do it monthly.
Breast cancer can bring on a whole new set of stressors, find out how to learn to adjust and when to seek help.
Read
about breast cancer and
breast cancer
screening.
It can
save your life or your mother's life or someone else's.
Helping
Someone Diagnosed With Breast
Cancer
Breast
Cancer and What You
Eat
Risks
of Breast Cancer and Second
Hand Smoke
Some Fast Cancer Facts
