Remember, Cancer is Expensive!!

Posted November 21st, 2019

Not a week goes by that I don’t see a blog or Facebook post asking how to help a friend with cancer. People often suggest many tangible things, but rarely money. Given our focus on the financial side of cancer this month, I’d like to clear up some things and provide a suggestion. There aren’t many […]

How to Say the Wrong Thing

Posted April 18th, 2018

I’ve heard so many unbelievably wrong things throughout my cancer career, I’m no longer shocked. Some comments are so wrong they aren’t worth noting here—they’re not likely to occur to most people. Would you tell a cancer patient you wish you could have chemotherapy because you need to lose weight? No? Because you know that’s […]

Bob Riter

Don’t Assume You Understand

Posted July 29th, 2015

When Donna Berich tells people that she has skin cancer, they sometimes say, “Skin cancer? Oh, everyone gets that.” Well, not quite. Few people have skin cancer like Donna and others who have Basal Cell Carcinoma Nevus Syndrome (BCCNS). It’s common to think of skin cancers as falling into one of two categories: Melanomas which […]

Bob Riter

Send a card: A gesture that makes a difference

Posted April 14th, 2015

How can you help a friend who has cancer? Send a card.

Bob Riter

Caregiving Friends May Need a Break

Posted February 20th, 2015

I received a call last week that went something like this: “My friend has cancer and she wants me to visit on a regular basis. When I do visit, all she does is complain about how awful her life is. I dread these visits and go only because I feel guilty if I don’t. I […]

Carolyn Vachani

How Can I Help My Friend Going Through Cancer Treatment?

Posted September 5th, 2014

Despite all the advice, there is one thing that almost all people going through cancer treatment will experience: cancer is EXPENSIVE.