Family & Friends

Family Matters (National Cancer Institute)
from "Taking Time: Support for People With Cancer and the People Who Care About Them"
Addresses the ways in which cancer may affect your family members and your relationships. Topics include: changes to your roles in the family, spouses and partners, children, adult children, parents and close friends. [undated]

Relationships & Cancer (People Living With Cancer)
Discusses how cancer can change the way you related to your family and friends and the way they relate to you. Topics include: the importance of communication, spouses and partners, friends and family members, and changing responsibilities and roles. [4/04]

Who Can Ever Understand? Talking About Your Cancer (CancerBACUP)
Addresses issues related to talking about your cancer. Topics include: why it is difficult to talk about cancer, the benefits of talking, who should you talk to, how to ask for what you need or want, how to respond to other people's reactions, how to tell other people, talking to your doctors, asking for information, hints for resolving conflict, and talking to children. [4/04]

Guide for Cancer Supporters: Step-by-step Ways to Help a Relative or Friend Fight Cancer (R.A. Bloch Cancer Foundation)
Part I of this guide provides excellent advice for relatives and friends on how to provide support for a cancer patient. Chapters include: Understanding the Patient, Making a Decision to Fight, Getting in Charge, Knowledge, Medical Treatments, Considering the Prognosis, Replacing Depression, and Suggested Actions. Part II provides a brief overview of cancer treatments, but is a bit dated (c.1995), so don't rely on this section for treatment information. Part III offers tips to "casual" supporters (such as neighbors and business associates) of cancer patients on how to best offer support. [1995]

What Do I Tell the Children? - A Guide for a Parent with Cancer (CancerBACUP)
Outlines steps to take to help your children understand your cancer experience. Includes specific suggestions on why, who, when, how and what to tell a child. Offers insight into understanding children's thoughts and feelings, and brings up relevant issues for consideration. [9/99]

CaringBridge
Website provider offers free, easy-to-create, private web sites that help connect friends and family during significant life events. CaringBridge authors quickly and easily create personalized Web sites that display journal entries and photographs. Well-wishers visit the page to read updates and leave messages in the guestbook.