Cancer is scary. It’s even scarier when someone you know and love has it. Imagine how difficult it is for them. You want to be as supportive as you can. You want to be a shoulder for your friend to lean on through this life-changing news.
It’s hard to watch a friend go through cancer. You want to be there for them, but you also don’t want to push boundaries and make them uncomfortable. You may also feel helpless because you cannot magically cure the disease for them. At the end of the day, your friend needs constant support.
Although you might not know what to say to your friend, or how to act around them, you can be there for them. There are many ways to help such as fundraising for a friend with cancer.
With supportive family and friends, cancer patients might think more positively. Emotional support can lead to a better quality of life for them. Being able to help your friend in this battle will motivate them in the long run.
Cancer is a hard road to travel alone. With friends by their side, your friend will feel loved and supported. We want to help you know how to help a friend with cancer. Keep reading to discover different ways you can make your friend feel better.
5 Ways to Help a Friend With Cancer
If you have a friend who has cancer, there are many ways you can provide support. Here are some ideas on how to help a friend with cancer:
1. Help with Errands
If you know someone who is going through cancer treatment, offer to help with errands. This can be a big help, especially if they are not feeling well. Cancer treatments can be physically and emotionally draining. Something as simple as running errands can show true support. A few errands you can help out with include:
- Picking up groceries or other necessities
- Helping with yard work or chores around the house
- Running errands like going to the post office or picking up dry cleaning
- Taking their dog for a walk
- Driving them to appointments or cancer treatments
2. Send Them Thoughtful Letters
You can show your friends that you love them by sending thoughtful letters. When you write from your heart, your friends feel the deep feelings you have for them. A letter can be a great source of comfort to a friend dealing with cancer. If you don’t know where to begin, here are some ideas to help you get started:
- Tell them how much you care about them and how much you’re thinking of them.
- Offer your support, and let them know that you’re there for them.
- Share a memory that you have of them.
- Tell them about something funny that’s been happening in your life.
- Encourage them to keep fighting, and tell them that you believe in them.
- Promise to keep them in your thoughts, and let them know that they’re not alone.
3. Fundraising for a Friend With Cancer
Cancer treatments can be very expensive. These expenses contribute to a lot of stress for cancer patients and their families. Fundraising for a friend with cancer is a great way of showing support. It can help ease some of the different expenses they have now, such as:
- Treatment: Many cancer treatments are very expensive. Health insurance may not cover all the costs.
- Other cancer-related expenses: These include travel costs, specific nutrition, and helping the family.
- Support: Many cancer patients feel isolated and alone. Fundraising can help them feel connected to a community of people who care about them.
4. Be There for Them
One of the best ways you can help a friend is to listen. They may want to talk about their diagnosis, treatment plan, or how they are feeling. Let them lead the conversation and be there to offer support and a listening ear. Try to offer them the silver lining in every situation. Always be there to offer encouragement when things get tough.
Maybe they don’t even want to talk about their cancer. It helps if you can spend time with them and get their mind off of their situation. Maybe they just want to do activities you did together before the diagnosis.
- Watch a movie
- Start a show together
- Play board games
- Talk about memories
5. Help With Their Health
Of course, you cannot offer your friends a cure for cancer. However, you can make sure they still maintain a healthy diet. Remind them to stay hydrated and eat healthy foods. You can also do simple exercises together like a leisurely walk.
You can also help with their mental health by finding ways to relax and de-stress. Good options are doing simple yoga together and practicing mindfulness. You can also help them find a suitable therapist if they want one. Another terrific stress reliever is to visit and play with animals.
If you need some inspiration for your medical fundraiser read 6 Effective Medical Fundraising Ideas.
How to Help a Friend With Cancer
If your friend gets diagnosed with cancer, it is easy to feel helpless. You want to try your best to support them, but you could find yourself not knowing what to do. It can also be hard to see someone you love in this situation. Now you know how to help a friend with cancer. A few ways are by helping them with errands and offering them emotional support.
Setting up a fundraiser for them is also an excellent way to provide support. Cancer treatments are expensive and so are travel costs. Fundraising for a friend with cancer will not only help with expenses, but you can bring a sense of togetherness in this hard situation. Bringing family and friends together through a fundraiser is a great way to help your friend with cancer.
Read our fundraising tips and fundraising ideas to help make yours a success.