By Bruce Feiler — 2011
Here are six things you should never say to a friend (or relative or colleague) who’s sick. And four things you can always say.
Read on www.nytimes.com
CLEAR ALL
“It’s cancer.” When you hear the two words you dread most from someone you care about, you know at once that your friend’s life has been turned upside down. Whether she’s a good friend, a best friend, or just an acquaintance, you want to be supportive.
When Dr. Arthur Kleinman, an eminent Harvard psychiatrist and social anthropologist, began caring for his wife, Joan, after she was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, he found just how far the act of caregiving extended beyond the boundaries of medicine.
According to the American Cancer Society, cancer diagnoses in the U.S. take place at a rate of over 1.8 million per year, or roughly one every 17.5 seconds. One out of every three women and one out of every two men in this country will get cancer in their lifetimes.
On May 1, 2015, Valarie Kaur delivered a keynote at the Pentagon's second-ever commemoration of the Sikh faith. Kaur spoke on "Seva" - selfless service in the Sikh religion.
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These intimate stories by cancer patients and their loved ones, medical professionals, and friends, are a must-read for anyone affected by cancer. Writers share all their experiences—from the initial diagnosis, to breaking the news to loved ones, to discussing the effect on home, school, and work.