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Step 1
Offer emotional support. Be patient and encouraging. Right now your friend may feel like the world has come to an end. By listening to your friend's fears and offering a shoulder to cry on, you may relieve some of the tension that she is feeling.
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Step 2
Offer advice only if asked. Never tell your friend what you would do if you were in her shoes. The simple fact is that you are not in her shoes and the choices may be different based on the situation surrounding the diagnosis.
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Step 3
Offer to go to doctor appointments with your friend. Sometimes having a second pair of ears to hear what the doctor is saying can help, especially when it comes to asking questions. Sometimes your friend may be overwhelmed by what is being said and may not hear everything she is being told.
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Step 4
Ask your friend what she needs and help out in whatever ways you can. Sometimes it may just take a "what do you need" to help out in ways that you may not understand. This could mean the world to your friend.
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Step 5
Arrange babysitting, help with household chores, or meal preparation when your friend has doctor appointments or treatments to go to. Just knowing that someone will be there to take care of the household work or her family can be a huge stress relief off of your friend's shoulders at the time.
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Step 6
Setup a fundraiser. If your friend does not have great insurance or will have to endure long trips to get to her appointments, then a fundraiser may help with offsetting the costs. Money can be a huge stressor, and just being there to offer a little bit of help can relieve some stress.
