Hello Nadsthomps, 

I just wanted to welcome you to Cancer Chat. I am so sorry to hear about your sister. It's such a difficult time at the moment and it can be limiting with the types of things we used to be able to do which may have become more restricted since the coronovirus outbreak. It's really nice though that you want to be there for your sister and I am sure she appreciates that you are thinking of her and that you want to be there for her. 

We have information on our website on how to support someone with cancer which you can read here. It contains some good tips on being a good listenener for example which I hope will be helpful to you. Obviously, some of these will need to be adapted to the current climate but I hope it will give you some ideas on how to offer emotional support to your sister at this time. 

I will now let our members come and give you some of their own suggestions based on their individual experiences to help you support your sister during these challenging times.

Best wishes, 

Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

Hello Nadsthomps

I am so sorry about your sister. That is a crushing diagnosis and it comes as a real shock I know I was just numb when my mum was diagnosed with advanced colorectal cancer in March. I just went dizzy couldn't eat couldn't sleep .. nothing. I'm worried about oesophagal cancer myself as I have difficulty swallowing food sometimes is that a symptom of this? It maybe just stress but after this Covid thing finishes I'm getting every cancer test I can get my hands on as cancer has destroyed my family I'm only 35 and want to be here for my daughter and hubby. My mother's diagnosis has really shook me. I wish your sister well -will they try her on another chemo? Sometimes people live a lot longer than their prognosis I keep that in mind myself about my mum (no prognosis yet but at stage 3 or 4 it won't be good I'm certain).. anyway , take care and be safe  x