Emotional Support

My sisters husband was just diagnosed with Stage III melanoma.  I would really like some advice on how to be supportive through this.  I'm not really sure how men deal with these issues vs. how women deal with them.  Women will talk about it.  What should I say to him?  I don't want to be too grim, but I don't want to be super cheer leader either.  Any advice is appreciated.   

Just be there for him and let him know you care. Call often, it's important to know you are not going through this alone.

Good luck to him 

Just be normal. Having family & friends around to just be company, helps

the patients mind stay busy and not dwell on their disease.  Cook dinners

run errands, help with trips to the doctor.  There is nothing for you to say,

let the patient initally bring this up and then the door opens for your talk

about treament, etc.

 

On 4/20/2007 Qualitytv wrote:

Just be there for him and let him know you care. Call often, it's important to know you are not going through this alone.

Good luck to him 

 

Thank you so much.

Thank you so much

My husband has stage IV melanoma. He thanks me all the time for being realistic about it. He has always been the positive cheerful person. His e-mail is cheerful.com. He gets tired of his friends trying to be cheerful and telling him he will be OK. He tells me it helps him to be able to talk openly and honestly about it. Facts are facts. And the facts are not good. But most of the time I just ask him how he feels and he will bring up the subject of cancer. I wish you and your loved one all the best.