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When a friend or family member is diagnosed with breast cancer, many people don’t know how to react—or help. What can I really do? Will I say the wrong thing? Do they even want my help?
While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, it’s important to support your loved one throughout diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. Studies suggest that people with breast cancer who have support from their friends, families, and even online groups have better outcomes following treatment, as well as higher rates of survival. Increased support from family may also help to prevent depression following a breast cancer diagnosis.
Not sure how you can help? We spoke with Ioana Hinshaw, MD, a medical oncologist in Denver, Colorado, to learn the best ways to help a loved one with breast cancer.
Sources: American Cancer Society. Being a Friend ... + 4
- American Cancer Society. Being a Friend to Someone with Cancer. October 10, 2023.
- Corovic S, Vucic V, Mihaljevic O, Djordjevic J, et al. Social support score in patients with malignant diseases-with sociodemographic and medical characteristics. Front Psychol. 2023 Jun 1;14:1160020.
- Kroenke CH, Michael YL, Poole EM, Kwan ML, et al. Postdiagnosis social networks and breast cancer mortality in the After Breast Cancer Pooling Project. Cancer. 2017 Apr 1;123(7):1228-1237.
- Kroenke CH, Quesenberry C, Kwan ML, Sweeney C, et al. Social networks, social support, and burden in relationships, and mortality after breast cancer diagnosis in the Life After Breast Cancer Epidemiology (LACE) study. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2013 Jan;137(1):261-71.
- Anxiety & Depression Association of America. Toxic Positivity. September 23, 2022.
