HOW TO TALK TO SOMEONE WHO IS LIVING WITH CANCER

BE DIRECT: "My experience is that people with cancer are desperate to talk about it out loud and in everyday English," says psychotherapist Chip Somers.

- AMY PACKER

"Better still is for the person without cancer to be direct and say to their friend, 'Listen, I am in a bit of a muddle. How do you want me to talk about this?'. They may be feeling absolutely powerless about their illness, so give them a bit of control over how it is discussed. People are different. Some may prefer not to talk about it, but at least give them the choice. "Admit your difficulty and let them set the rules they are OK with."