06/02/2026
It’s okay to not know what to say, but reaching out with something as simple as “Hey, I just want you to know that I’m thinking of you” can mean a lot. 🎀
Can I tell you something I think a lot of people carry around?
Most people do not regret reaching out to someone with cancer. They regret not doing it.
They regret the text they never sent because they didn’t know what to say. They regret the phone call they kept putting off because life got busy. They regret assuming someone else was checking in. They regret thinking, “I’ll reach out next week,” only to realize weeks turned into months.
The truth is, when someone is diagnosed with cancer, the people around them are often afraid of saying the wrong thing. But from the cancer side of it, there usually is no perfect thing to say.
A simple “How are you doing today?” works. A funny meme works. A heart emoji works. A quick “I’ve been thinking about you” works.
You do not have to fix anything. You do not have to make it better. You do not need some profound wisdom that suddenly makes cancer disappear. You just have to show up.
Cancer can be incredibly isolating, and not just because of treatments, appointments, or exhaustion. Life keeps moving forward for everyone else while yours feels like it got flipped upside down. Days become measured by scans, blood work, treatment schedules, and waiting for results. It can feel like you’re living in a completely different world than everyone around you.
The people I remember most are not the ones who had the perfect words. They’re the ones who stayed.
The ones who kept texting after the diagnosis announcement was old news. The ones who asked about scans. The ones who remembered treatment days. The ones who treated me like Jess, not just a cancer patient.
If someone crossed your mind while reading this, maybe that’s your sign to send the text. It might mean more than you’ll ever know.
For those living with cancer, what’s something a friend did for you that you’ll never forget?
