Breast Cancer

Whether your friend or family member is newly diagnosed or in the midst of treatment, she's unlikely to be wowed by vague offers or having to do your thinking for you. She has enough on her mind; she has cancer. She may not want that tuna casserole or to hear about what treatment your Aunt Phyllis had either.So how can you help? There is no one-size-fits-all answer. That's why we turned to survivors for our list of support dos and don'ts. Our patient-generated advice is sorted into three stages— Diagnosis, Surgery & Treatment, and Recovery —identified by Maureen Broderick, a licensed clinical social worker who has worked with cancer patients and run cancer support groupsHere's what you need to know.Health.com: 10 Celebrities Who Battled Breast CancerLearn to listen"One of the most important ways a friend supported me was by listening to me as I decided what to do," says Orinda, Calif. writer Victoria Irwin, 57, who had a lumpectomy and radiation earlier this year. "When I was in decisi...

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