Someone I Love Has Breast Cancer. What Can I Do to Help?

If your friend or family member has been diagnosed with breast cancer, of course, you want to help them in any way you can. But it can be hard to know what kind of support you can offer. Here are some ideas.

Practical Support

Many people with breast cancer will want to continue with their ordinary lives while undergoing treatment. Side effects from treatment, however, can make it difficult to carry out everyday tasks. Here are some examples of things you can offer to help with:

• House cleaning

• Laundry

• Grocery shopping

• Providing meals

• Driving children to or from school or activities

• Babysitting

• Picking up medications

• Dog walking

• Gardening

• Driving your loved one to or from hospital appointments

• Accompanying them to appointments to take notes or ask questions

Be clear about the amount of support you have the capacity to provide. Rather than saying to them “Let me know what I can help you with,” provide specific tasks you can do for them, like cleaning their living space or picking up take-out for dinner.

Emotional Support

A breast cancer diagnosis can bring about many intense emotions, like anger, depression, sadness, disbelief, and fear. You can provide emotional support by simply sitting with your loved one, allowing them to talk about what they are going through, and listening patiently. You can hold their hand or give them a hug if it is appropriate. Resist the urge to offer solutions, fix things, or encourage positivity.

Some people may not want to talk about their diagnosis or treatment at all and would rather have a distraction from thinking about their condition. They may want to talk about everyday things, like their favorite TV show, or music, or their hobbies, or maybe they want to hear about your life. Let your loved one guide the conversation.

Another way you can support your loved one is by having your own breast cancer screening. Contact us to schedule a mammogram.