The diagnosis of the disease is likely to be crippling in itself, causing untold fear, anxiety and misery over an unknown,  dreaded or hopeless future.

The patients are likely to be worried not only about their health, but also about their family, friends and perhaps even something as seemingly unimportant as their looks on their hair, when a doctor pronounces this terrible sentence. In these circumstances, it does not serve anyone for you to shy away from the victim – things are bad enough for them as it is!

In fact, your support and encouragement could be key factors in keeping the sufferers spirits high, as there seems to be little doubt that a patient in good heart is probably more likely to recover than one who is less favoured.

So, what can you do to help a cancer sufferer? Well, perhaps not surprisingly there are a wide range of things that you can do to make your friend or loved one feel more at ease.

1. First, think and stay cool. Don’t do anything different! That’s right, treat them the same way as you always have done. Don’t be too hesitant or treat them too gingerly, as though they might break or fade away. At the same time, don’t overdo it, however, by talking too much or perhaps playing too roughly with children who may be physically fragile. Just treat the person the same as you did before. Of course, if the prognosis is poor, you need adapt your attitude accordingly and not treat the sufferer like a fool by glossing over serious implications.

2. Be a good listener. Often a person with a serious medical condition that may, indeed, prove to be terminal may simply want to reminisce about the past, discuss future plans, or share difficult emotions. By making yourself available to listen can provide a fantastic and most generous source of support. Don’t try to push or pry, however. Just be prepared to wait until the person is ready to talk.

3. Offer simple practical assistance. When you have time available, be a great friend and perhaps run errands or bring in a home-cooked meal. Pooping the mail in a postbox, doing the grocery shopping, and dropping kids off at sporting events can save the sick person’s time and all too precious energy. Depending on how well you know the victim, you might want to help by spending a few hours each week cleaning their house, baby-sit, or cooking meals for freezing for future consumption.

4. Provide a transportation service, especially if the victim is weak or unable to drive, or if family members are not available to provide this service. Getting around is one of the greatest challenges facing people whose serious medical condition has caused them to become less mobile than they were previously.

5. Just generally try to be as upbeat and encouraging as you can. Send a funny get-well card, an inspiring note or even a amusing email, if you cannot access the victim in any other way.

6. Try to get other people involved in your efforts to assist the sufferer, as seeing a variety of different people will certainly be better for their spirits than seeing the same person time after time! Variety is the spice of life, after all, and never more so than when the patient has little choice about whom they see..

Of course, this is not a complete list. This is just a general guide. Use this guide and modify it to suit the environment.