Breast Cancer Support: Food and Friendship

The sharing of food has always been key to human survival and there is much more than a physical or nutritional component to the act. The offering of bread is a celebration of life and a central ritual in a wide variety of the world’s religious traditions, sustaining the soul as well as the body. Food has the power to heal simply by bringing people together.

If you have recently received a phone call from a friend breaking the dreaded news of her breast cancer diagnosis, you are probably wracking your brain as how to best support her over the coming months of treatment. It would be perfectly natural or instinctive to place feeding her or her family at the top of your list. However, it is important to make sure that your help does not become a burden to your friend in any way and end up defeating the best of your intentions.

If you want to remain a welcome sight on her doorstep during the arduous months of her treatment, there are a few thoughtful considerations you should make before taking on any action. The first would be to determine if cooking help is indeed something that would be welcomed. Sometimes there is another family member who was counting on this assignment to help keep themselves focused during this challenging time. Maybe laundry, cleaning or running various errands would be more helpful to the household in that case. These are often tasks that are overlooked by those offering regular assistance.

If after inquiring, you discover that dropping off cooked meals is really something that will be appreciated, make sure you ask about food allergies and preferences. Your friend, her spouse or children can let you know of some of their favorite food types and perhaps give you a few recipes that can get you started in the right direction. Keep simplicity and nutrition in mind. The goal is to keep people feeling healthy and loved, not to set new haute cuisine standards. Don’t forget to respect any vegetarian or religious food requirements.

Deliver meals in non-returnable containers. Individual sized servings pre-wrapped for the freezer is often a good idea for a family that must stay on the go while Mom is not up to par. Keep in mind that the breast cancer patient is going to have her dietary ups and downs in response to her treatment and plan to inquire about these along the way so that you can add some special accommodations for her as necessary.

Enlisting mutual friends to help with the cooking and delivery schedule can make this a beneficial community experience for everyone. You can get friends together for a cooking party, making numerous casseroles or self-contained meals to stock a freezer. This can be a fun-packed event bringing everyone closer while fulfilling an important need. Ensure that your friend and her family know you do not want them to be weighed down by any notion of Thank-you notes. Her return to wellness is the best thanks anyone could receive.

Brit has been in the fight against breast cancer for over 10 years. She directs web community support for the Fight Like A Girl Tee Shirt Store and publishes breast cancer survival stories: Fighting Breast Cancer.