Advice- friend with cancer

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-17-2004
Advice- friend with cancer
5
Tue, 07-10-2007 - 10:52am

A former co-worker of mine has battled three rounds of cancer. Each time they tell her she is cancer free, she starts feeling great and gets back to her life, then she finds out the cancer is back in a different form. She had skin cancer, lung cancer and brain cancer. I just found out that she has brain cancer again. She started working from home about two years ago after getting lung cancer so I don't get to see her much. And now that she is on medical leave and I switched jobs, I don't get to talk to her on the phone.

My question is, when I send her a note or something to let her know I'm thinking of her, what is the best thing to say? When you are sick with cancer that keeps coming back, what would you want to hear from friends? I want her to know that I am here and praying for her and want to say something to cheer her up, but I also do not want to act to light about the situation. I have faith that she will fight through this again but I am also scared for her-- how many times can a body go through this? She's such a wonderful person and I want to be there for her.

Thanks for any advice.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Tue, 07-10-2007 - 5:53pm

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Hi


She is so lucky to have a friend like you.

Hope everyone has a great Summer!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-17-2004
Mon, 07-16-2007 - 5:02pm
Thanks. She has a very large family so I know that she and her husband have more help than they know what to do with. I found a few funny cards that I know are right up her alley of humor, so I'll just keep sending short notes. I think I mostly just get hung up on what to say and what to not say. I'm going to keep sticking with short and sweet- something that will hopefully bring a smile to her face and a short distraction from everything going on.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 07-18-2007 - 9:20am

Hi Narina


Oh that sounds perfect.

Hope everyone has a great Summer!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-17-2004
Tue, 08-21-2007 - 3:25pm
I wanted to give you all a happy update- my friend got in touch with us last week and is doing a lot better! I don't have the details yet but her spirits are high and she is inviting a few of us out soon for lunch to celebrate that she is doing better :-) She mentioned that the silly cards updating her on things like our pet's were a huge help in getting her out of a funk. Thanks for the encouragement to send the fun cards and keep things light!
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 08-22-2007 - 1:04am

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Oh what great news.

Hope everyone has a great Summer!

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