When someone you love is diagnosed with breast cancer, it can be a frightening and shocking experience. Many people have also told us that hearing that a loved one has breast cancer has left them feeling useless, frustrated and angry.

However you first feel when you hear someone has been diagnosed with breast cancer, you can take comfort in knowing that there are many other people who have felt as you are, and also realised that there is something they can do about it.

Every person who is diagnosed with breast cancer will react differently and need different things from their friends and family. The tips we give here are a few of the essentials we hope will help. Let us know if there is something else you think we should add.

A few of our tips if a friend or family member has breast cancer

Keep talking. Don’t shut down, but keep talking to the person you care about and ask them what they need. It may be for you to be normal and continue as you have been in a friendship which is important to them, or it may be that there are practical things you can help with like lifts to the hospital.

Keep loving. Unconditional and giving love is one of the things we recommend to people diagnosed with cancer. It is also important that you keep loving and supporting as you always have done.

Research, research, research. Knowing the options open to the person you care about in their treatment course is very important. Support them in asking all the questions they have about their diagnosis and any recommended treatments. There are always options and choices open to everyone, and being sure to understand the likely outcomes associated with all of these will help the person you love to make the very best decision for them. It may not be the decision you would make, but if they are informed, support them.

Feed them. Nutrition is really important during cancer treatment and to stay well. While ensuring they maintain their weight, feed them with the essential nutrients they need to stay well and on top form.

Know that breast cancer is not a death sentence. It will have an impact on the lifestyle of your friend, but the person you love may go on to live for many more years. Particularly if she adopts an integrated approach to recovery and to staying well.

What else?

If you would like more information about the different treatments and how you can help, then we suggest the book: Breast Cancer, 50 Essential Things You Can Do. We provide this free of charge if necessary, but where possible ask for a donation. If you would like a copy, please email us: enquiries@cancerrecovery.org.uk Please put ’50 Essential Things’ in the subject title and let us know that you are asking because your friend or family has been diagnosed, as we will send a slightly different pack to that we would send to someone undergoing treatment themselves.