According to the National Cancer Institute, approximately 238,000 men will be diagnosed with new cases of prostate cancer this year. Prostate cancer is leading incidence in the U.S. of this terrible disease.

Second on the list is breast cancer, which will effect greater than 234,580 women and men. The daily batle against cancer is an enormous one, as about 13.7 million Americans are currently living with cancer or have a history of cancer.

So whether you have a loved one, friend or co-worker dealing with cancer, just as important as the medical treatment they undergo is the emotional support they receive.

Dr. Niki Barr is pioneering cancer psychotherapist and was quoted, “Friends, family, co-workers – they can all play an important role in helping a cancer patient’s recovery simply by providing emotional support.”

Once someone is diagnosed with cancer, it’s critical they receive social support to help them deal with the disease and let them know they are not alone. In a National Institutes of Health report, it’s been proven that social support such as emotional support, does positively influence health outcomes.

Barr continues, “Even if you’re not among the person’s closest friends or family, you can help far more than you imagine simply by being encouraging and supportive.”

During her career, Barr has learned from her patients there are several commonon things that consistently do benefit them:

• Make your offer of help specific. “Call me if you need anything at all,” puts the burden on your loved one – who already carries a tremendous burden! Instead, you might offer to make dinner for her family on Wednesday night and ask what meal everyone enjoys. Or volunteer to drive him to his doctor appointment on Monday afternoon. This makes it easy for your friend to politely accept or decline your offer, and it ensures you provide the assistance you feel comfortable providing.

• Sometimes saying nothing at all says everything. If your friend or loved one wants to talk about her treatments, complain about his situation, or not talk at all, being a good listener or simply a quiet presence speaks volumes. When a person complains, many of us jump to “help” by suggesting solutions. That’s likely not what your friend or loved one is looking for. As my patients have said time and time again, sometimes they just want to get it all off their chest. An empathetic listener is all the help they need.

• If you’re not sure what to say, err on the side of being positive. Don’t say what you don’t know – for instance, you don’t know that everything is going to be just fine. But if you admire your loved one’s strength or sense of humor, if your friend’s attitude inspires you, tell them so. We all benefit from hearing a sincere compliment.

• Not sure what to talk about? Follow his lead. Some days, my patients want to talk only about their illness, the treatment they’re undergoing, and how they feel. Other days, they want to talk about anything BUT cancer. We all have days when we’re immersed in our own lives and other days when we want to be distracted – or to just feel normal.

According to Barr, “When a person who’s going through what may be the most difficult, stressful event of their lives knows that you care, it makes a difference. If you’re truly at a loss for words, it never hurts to simply say, I’m thinking about you.”

Niki Barr, Ph.D. founded a pioneering psychotherapy practice that’s devoted to helping cancer patients in all the various stages of the disease.

She also works with their family members, caregivers and friends. Barr adds, “I remind my patients often to refuse to listen to cancer ‘horror stories,’ so please, don’t tell those!”

At age 44, Jane Schwartzberg is the co-author of the new book titled, “Naked Jane Bares All” that is told with humor and candor and describes how Schwartzberg learned to embrace life when she was down for the count.

Jane Schwartzberg was only 31 years old and a newlywed when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer. Jame underwent treatment and eventually was declared cancer free.

Sadly, when she she turned 42, the cancer returned. Schwartzberg has stage 4 metastatic cancer. It’s a disease that unfortunately has no known cure.

But to turn a bad situation into a more positive one, Jane Schwartzberg says having a terminal illness has changed the way she lives – for the better. A true survivor shares her life lessons and is an inspiration to us all.

As her condition has stabilized , she lives every moment aware of “this cloud over me.” Nonetheless, Schwartzberg is very determined not to allow it to steal the laughter, meaning and fulfillment from her remaining days.

Jane says. She offers these suggestions – learned the hard way – for living your best.

· Make a “bucket list” – no matter how unlikely an item may be to fulfill. After being blind-sided by the pronouncement that the cancer she had beaten 10 years ago had returned – enraged – Jane slumped into a depression for three months.

Jane has desired wish “I want to take Larry David to lunch.” As a huge fan of the Curb Your Enthusiasm star and Seinfeld creator, she got her dream t come through and ended up flying to California for a 52-minute lunch with her idol. Far from depressed, she remembers thinking, “I am the luckiest person walking this Earth!”

· Remind yourself every day to love life. Every day is a gift – for any of us. And if we’re not loving that gift, we’re our own worst enemy.

“We have little control over how our lives unfold; the unpredictable happens and suddenly you’re on a course you never guessed lay ahead,” Jane says. “That does not mean you can’t live a fulfilling life and continue to do what you were put here to do.”

· Choose the people with whom you spend time. We’re not obliged to spend time with people who don’t make us feel good or, worse yet, make us feel bad! Our time is the most valuable commodity we have and, for all of us, it’s limited.

“I spend my time with the people I love – the people who are most precious to me,” Jane says. “I don’t have time for people who aren’t genuine, who are negative, or always angry. I love to laugh and I strive to be 100 percent in the moment every moment.”

No matter what the adversity a person may be facing, no one should waste a moment of our temporary time on Earth. Enjoy your life to the fullest because there are no guarantees. Jane Schwartzberg is testimony to doing just that.

The World Cancer Research Fund just released its findings based on reviewing 7,000 studies related to exercise, diet, weight and cancer.   Nine teams of scientists conducted over five years of study to produce the report.

Dr. Walter Willett, a nutrition expert, says, “We need to think about cancer as the product of many long-term influences, not as something that just happens.”

Much of the report’s findings are well established recommendations, such as watching what we eat, getting plenty of exercise and rest.  The key is how all the factors integrate together and the collective effect on cancer. Full article