Clinical social worker offers advice on the right way to talk with someone who has cancer

The vacations are a joyous event for most individuals. However for somebody with most cancers or different critical sickness, it may be a time of overwhelming nervousness and worry. And as household and pals get collectively, it is essential to indicate that you just care with out coming throughout as insensitive.

Lynne Vitagliano, a scientific social employee at Mayo Clinic, affords some useful recommendation to make these uncomfortable conversations much less awkward.

Many occasions, folks imply properly however do not know the appropriate issues to say to somebody with cancer.

“Each particular person is totally different. So it will be arduous to say that there is anybody proper query to ask or proper factor to say. What I believe is most essential is to convey real care and concern,” says Vitagliano. “Provide an invite somewhat than a query. So to say one thing alongside the traces of, “I have been pondering of you. I do know rather a lot is happening in your life. I am right here if you would like to speak.'”

Vitagliano says it is also essential the way you reply. And the perfect response is solely listening.

“Permit them to speak about their expertise with out feeling the necessity to form of soar in with your individual recommendation or solutions,” she says.

And it is essential to indicate that you just care with out coming throughout as insensitive.

“We wish to say one thing that we expect is supportive. So we are saying, “I am certain it will all prove OK.” Properly, we do not know that, and that is not essentially true. And so, by saying that, it virtually invalidates what they’ve shared with us,” Vitagliano says. “It isn’t as supportive as saying, ‘Wow, you’ve got been by way of a lot this yr. And I am simply blown away by your power. What can I do to assist?'”

2023 Mayo Clinic Information Community. Distributed by Tribune Content material Company, LLC.