How to Comfort a Friend With Multiple Sclerosis and Cancer

When a friend is diagnosed with cancer in addition to an existing multiple sclerosis condition or vice versa, the news is often shattering and unbelievable. There's little you can do for a friend in a situation like this except provide him with the right kind of comfort at the right time.

Instructions

• 1

  Express what you feel about your friend's cancer and multiple sclerosis conditions and don't try to say more or less than you feel. In almost all cases, you should express sympathy without being overwhelmed by your own emotion since the focus of the comfort should be on your sick friend.

• 2

  Take your friend out to do something she enjoyed in "normal life." If your friend is too sick to go out bring a favorite food, a selection of nostalgic movies or something that can be used to pamper your friend (such as a new cologne or some makeup) to provide some material comfort.

• 3

  Speak about alternative treatments for the symptoms of the two diseases, such as acupuncture to relieve the pain of multiple sclerosis or various alternative therapies to help the nausea caused by cancer treatments. Talk with other cancer or MS patients you know to get recommendations for treatments that might help make your friend feel better but stay away from offering alternative "miracle" cures that might give your friend false expectations.

• 4

  Discuss your own life and problems so your friend feels like he still has power to help other people in their everyday lives. Ask your friend for advice as you did before your friend was diagnosed with the two diseases and keep your friend updated about the things you spoke about.

• 5

  Use humor when you feel like it to comfort and cheer your friend up but be careful not to say anything inappropriate. The most important thing, though, is to not censor yourself when you speak with your friend since your friend is likely to pick up on the fact that you're treating her differently on account of the cancer and multiple sclerosis.