
Be Kind
I’ve written columns in the past that suggest what to say and what not to say to a person with cancer. Many readers have found those
Bob Riter is the retired Executive Director of the Cancer Resource Center. His articles about living with cancer appeared regularly in the Ithaca Journal and on OncoLink. He can be reached at bobriter@gmail.com.
A collection of Bob’s columns, When Your Life is Touched by Cancer: Practical Advice and Insights for Patients, Professionals, and Those Who Care, is available in bookstores nationwide and through online retailers such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

I’ve written columns in the past that suggest what to say and what not to say to a person with cancer. Many readers have found those

Visitors often leave the Cancer Resource Center with words of sincere appreciation. They’ll say, “You were so helpful to me.” What’s noteworthy is how often

I regularly write about communication within a family when someone is dealing with cancer. American families are, of course, often blended families. People remarry. Connections

A Question Not to Ask a Friend with Cancer I sometimes write about the goofy things that people say to individuals who have been diagnosed

A Health Professional in the Family Sooner or later, someone in your family will be diagnosed with cancer. If you’re a doctor, nurse, scientist, or

If your loved one has cancer, you may sense an obligation to be strong. The phrase “Be strong” is branded into our brains, but I

A cancer diagnosis changes your life and the lives of the people who love you. It can be especially challenging for your loved ones because

I’m often asked how to be a friend to someone with cancer. I generally answer this question by encouraging them to be good listeners and

If anyone deserves a guaranteed place in heaven, it’s people who support a loved one who has both serious mental illness and cancer. This is

I have been thinking about gift suggestions for people who are being treated for cancer and for those who have recently completed treatment. As a