Cancer is an illness that not only creates complications for one person but changes the lives of many over the course of the diagnosis disease and treatment.

What should you not say to a terminal cancer patient. What to say and not say when someone tells you they have cancer. This person may also be called a health care proxy agent or surrogate. Second its fine for patients to bypass the brutal details of their illness even if the evidence shows.

Additionally if you want to send a message with religious tones make sure it matches the recipients beliefs too. We should stop using the word dying. Learning how to listen involves concentrating on both verbal and non-verbal cues without judgement and interrupting she said.

Dont describe them as dying. For the person with the disease this probably is. Just let them know that you are available when and if they want to.

Dont ask what you can do to help or say Let me know if you need anything Many. Anxiety about saying the wrong thing may encourage you to say nothing which can feel disappointing. A health care power of attorney is a person the patient selects to make health care decisions if he or she is unable to.

If someone you know is going through this know that your support is valued. Steer clear of anything that sounds like cheerleading such as Youll be okay or Youll get. But in fact its important to remember that whilst the persons time might be limited they are still very much alive.

Dont make light of a patients physical changes by saying things like At least you finally lost those extra pounds Dont talk about other patients with. There isnt much of a silver lining to a blood cancer diagnosis so avoid saying things like It could be worse or At least it isnt. Once someone has been given a terminal diagnosis its natural to think of them as dying.