Dealing with knowing someone with cancer...

Hi,

i don't really know how to start this so here we go a close friend and work colluege has very very recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer... she's been told she has 6 months to a year. it happened all very quickly and was a massive shock to us all. I am still in shock and I don't really think it's sunk in I'm around people who are constently crying and I just can't. I work closely  with her everyday and she is still continuing to come to work as that's what she wants and I think it's what we all want so we can be close to her. The thing is I'm trying to be there for her and stuff but I'm struggling to manage my own emotions which is so selfish I know, like what do I say to her? What can I say? I know nothing I say will make anything better but I just want to be able to say something to make this a little easier on her... but I guess I'm still hoping for some miracle which I know is not going to happen 

  • Hi Bmrh99 If your friend had a broken leg you would know what to say to her. Don't make such a big deal out of it, people constantly crying isnt going to make her feel better, try cracking a few jokes about it with her, she's trying to lead a normal life and you should enable her to do so. Prognosis are frequently wrong so she might live 2 or 5 or 10 years, and outlive colleagues who could die in the meantime from some other (than cancer) cause. This is from the point of view of someone with cancer, we just want to be treated like everyone else. Kim
  • Thank you, I'm trying to be normal as possible it's the people around me who aren't which makes me wonder am I dealing with this wrong? I'm sorry to hear about that Kim, best wishes x