Of course it is very frightening when your friend or relative has been told they have cancer. However, you can help in the ways mentioned in this section. Remember that information can reduce fear. You can help your friend to get the facts into perspective. By listening to what your friend is most concerned about and by helping them find the right information and understand it, you can be a vital part of your friend's support system. That is a very important thing that one human being can do for another.

If you feel that you would like more information about your friend or relative’s type of cancer or their treatment, you may like to contact Cancerbackup for relevant booklets and factsheets. We also have a section about the emotional effects of cancer, which can help you to understand some of the feelings and emotions that the person with cancer may have.