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The odds are in, and they’re not in our favor: ⅖ of us will develop some form of cancer over the span of our lives. The figures don’t make the news any less shocking; this is a disease that thousands of charities and organizations across the world are trying to combat on a daily basis, and as long as we have been around for, cancer has too. It doesn’t just affect us humans – our pets can get it too. It destroys lives and can tear families apart. So when a loved one is first diagnosed, it can feel like your world is falling apart – but what can we do to help both them and us take a step away from this awful feeling?

 

Relive and Relieve

People who have been diagnosed with cancer don’t want to constantly relive memories from the past – they want to get out there and start living their lives again. Should their health be good enough for them to be able to travel, then please do so. See as much of the world as you can, take in as many sights as you can see. But let’s set one thing straight – the cancer doesn’t have to be terminal for you to feel you have an excuse to do this. It could just be the (absolutely horrible) kick that you needed to get moving and start truly living your life. Relieve yourself of the stress, even if just for a little while; life is too short to sit and mope.

 

Reassure

Although there are many people that get diagnosed on a daily basis and die as a result of the cancer, there are so many more that live to tell the tale. Even if the odds aren’t in your favor, reassurance that everything is going to be alright (even if not with you – maybe your family, your home, your pets) is something that will never not be welcomed. Even if you or your friend don’t want the reassurance, the offer of it being there is worth more than its weight in gold.

 

Laugh

Don’t forget to surround yourself with the great things, people or shows that make you happy. It’s fine to joke about what lies ahead, whether it’s breast augmentation or chemotherapy, as it takes away from the harsh reality of it all. You’re not being inconsiderate, you’re just making light of a really bad situation; laughter can alleviate even the most unbearable of moods.

 

Get the Facts – Or Don’t

Some people choose to learn about what they’ve got, some people don’t. You can get everything explained in layman’s terms or as complex as you’d like. There are some who take on different variations of treatment without learning the ins and outs and some who refuse it altogether. The choice is completely yours, and if you don’t feel entirely comfortable with something then there are other options available to you. Take it as the ‘no news is good news’ route – do whatever you feel is right.