How to help

• Suggest movies your friend can watch at home or bring over a movie to

watch together

• Bring over a treat (favorite candy or coffee drink or anything else your

friend can tolerate)

• Treat your friend the same. Keep telling your friend about your life and

joke around with them.

• Don’t withdraw even when this is hard for you. Your friend needs you to

be responsive.

• Don’t ever compare your friend’s situation with someone else who

has cancer.

• Recognize that sometimes your friend can’t respond to you the way you

might like

• Research information about a service or program if your friend asks

• Pick up a prescription or run other errands

• Walk the dog or care for your friend’s pet

• Send funny cards, texts or notes to your friend.

These nonprofits match trained mentors with people who have been diagnosed with cancer:

Firefly Sisterhood:

to foster one-on-one connections with women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and inspirational survivors. Visit fireflysisterhood.org or call 612-412-7713.

Friend for Life:

a network of trained cancer survivors and caregivers who provide one-on-one emotional and psychosocial support to people recently diagnosed with cancer and their loved ones. Visit friend4life.org or call 1-800-374-3634.

4th Angel Mentoring Program:

a peer-mentoring service provided by the Cleveland Clinic Foundation Taussig Cancer Institute that matches patients or caregivers with trained volunteer mentors who have undergone similar situations. Visit 4thangel.ccf.org or call 1-866-520-3197.

Imerman Angels:

provides free personalized one-on-one cancer support for cancer fighters, survivors and caregivers. Visit imermanangels.org or call 1-866-463-7626.