Some things are just hard to talk about. If cancer is part of your life story, it can be difficult to know how to tell others. You may not know what to say, or how to answer the questions that come your way.
Hear 5 Mayo Clinic experts share their advice for talking about cancer — and how to have a response ready for anyone who asks.
We asked Mayo Clinic experts: What advice do you give people for sharing a cancer diagnosis?
Judy C. Boughey, M.D.: It's really important for patients to share their cancer diagnosis with their close family members and close friends because this is going to be a time where they need their support.
Marcia W. Johnson, L.I.C.S.W., M.S.W.: I think that's really personal. I think that people need to share whatever they are most comfortable sharing. You have the right to share whatever information you want to.
Adam M. Shultz, CEP: Some really thrive with just their core support people. Other individuals really have a very wide supportive network, colleagues, friends, maybe even social media.
Dawn M. Mussallem, D.O.: Talk with your social worker. They many times can help guide you with how to bridge that gap when you're going to start talking with family, friends, co-workers in an appropriate way.
Dr. Boughey: Listen to what your friends have to say, but always take into account that their situation may be very different from your situation. One of the things with breast cancer is it's very common, so most people know someone who has been affected by this disease. Their friend's friend's experience may have been very different depending on breast size, tumor size, nodal involvement, tumor biology.
Shawna L. Ehlers, Ph.D., L.P.: What I tell people is, you know the full experience, like nobody else can. And the people closest to you know the abridged version. And I ask them to push that all the way out to the one bullet point you could put on CNN, put on the headlines on the news at night. And if you have that one bullet point that you carry with you all the time, you have a response for anyone.
Get expert health tips delivered daily when you download the Mayo Clinic App.