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How to act with recently diagnosed friend?

Page last modified on: September 11, 2008
Question from Xan: My best friend was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. She's always been such a strong, independent person. I don't know what to say to her, but I don't want to lose her either. Help!
Answer —Marisa Weiss, M.D., president and founder: The most important thing is to be there for her. Make yourself available to take her where she needs to go, and be there to listen and to support her. And when you are hanging out with her, she'll let you know how you can be most helpful. Just knowing that you care and that you're there will make an enormous difference to her. What a great friend she has in you! There are a lot of places within the Discussion Boards at Breastcancer.org where women list the things that would help them the most.

On Wednesday, May 21, 2003, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Taking Care of Yourself. Anne McTiernan, M.D., Ph.D. and Marisa Weiss, M.D. answered your questions about exercise and nutrition, and other things you can do to nurture your body, along with strategies for finding emotional support, boosting your mood, and feeling good again.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Patricia A. Ganz, M.D.Patricia A. Ganz, M.D. is a medical oncologist and a professor in the schools of medicine and public health at UCLA, and is director of the division of cancer prevention and control research at the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center there.

Marisa Weiss, M.D. is a radiation oncologist specializing in breast cancer and the founder, president, and guiding force behind Breastcancer.org.

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