Do you know what to say or what to do when a friend, relative or acquaintance has cancer?
Chances are, like many of the people who interacted with Lynda Wolters, you may not. Ms. Wolters, author of the recently published book "Voices of Cancer," was found in midlife to have a relatively rare and currently incurable cancer called mantle cell lymphoma.
"Because people had no idea what to say to me, for me, or about me, they often avoided me instead," she wrote, prompting her to reach out to strangers in support groups for spiritual strength.
Those who did speak to Ms. Wolters too often said something unhelpful or off-putting like "Call me if you need anything" or "How are you feeling?" In her blog, she sought to reassure hesitant friends: "I would rather see your face and the pain and fear in your eyes than to have you feel too unsure and awkward to see me. I would rather hear about you, your work, your life, your kids and your puppy's antics than I would about my sickness."
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https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/13/well/live/what-to-say-to-someone-with-cancer.html?
