What do I say to someone with cancer?
When you find out they have cancer, it’s scary.
You want to help, but nothing feels right. What if I make it worse?
We give you practical tools for the conversations no one prepared you for.
The front of the card shows the usual way. The back shows a better way for both of you.
Click the card below to flip it.
Wow! What a great idea. This deck instantly helped me when approaching a friend going through chemotherapy. Instead of fumbling for the right words, I was armed with tools that helped me show up with empathy and clarity.
I’d recommend this to absolutely anyone who cares about someone facing cancer.
Here are the basics:
1
Notice how you feel.
2
Breathe. Relax your shoulders.
3
Notice the person. Not the cancer, the person.
4
Be curious. Listen more, talk less.
If that’s not enough to get you going, keep scrolling. We have tools to walk you through it.
What do you need today?
What would you say if you were in the room right now?
Practice in the Uncomfortable Conversation Simulator before the moment is real.
No AI chatbot—just realistic situations and thoughtful feedback.
Click the image to give it a try.
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Letters Without Armor
Thoughtful essays and Q&A about handling difficult situations.
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Heat is a cancer survivor, educator, and creator of Cancer Conversation SOS.
I’m a combination of empathy, sweet, and salty, tied together with energy and conviction, and I’m able to help in ways you won’t find anywhere else.