Supporting a Coworker With Cancer: How Empathy and Help Make a Difference

What to say when someone shares their diagnosis

Start with honesty and care. A simple acknowledgment that you heard the news and are thinking of them can show genuine support. It also helps to create space for real emotions. Many people do not want to hear clichés telling them to stay positive or that everything is going to be OK. Letting them know you’re there for them and they can talk openly, or choose not to talk at all, allows them to lead the conversation.

Because needs change often, gentle check-ins can help you understand how to support them. Asking how they are doing today or whether you could do something to make their week easier shows you care without adding pressure. Validating their emotions and offering simple, concrete help is usually more meaningful.

What your colleague may be feeling behind the scenes

Cancer brings a mix of emotions and physical implications that can shift unexpectedly. Even on their best days, your colleague may be feeling worried, suffering from fatigue or dealing with uncertainty beneath the surface. Remembering that these highs and lows are common can help you approach interactions with patience and understanding.

They may also be leaning on their care team, support groups or loved ones to process what they are navigating. Respecting their boundaries, offering flexibility and avoiding assumptions about how they should feel can make your support feel more genuine.

Practical ways to support a coworker with cancer

Small gestures can ease daily stress and help your colleague feel cared for.

• Assist with transportation: Rides to treatment, prescription pick-ups or school drop-off can remove major daily burdens. Let them know you are available to help coordinate transportation when needed.
  
  
• Send ongoing notes of support: A handwritten card can brighten a difficult week, and sending another later on reminds them they are not forgotten as treatment continues.
  
  
• Put together a care package: A small box with comfort items or snacks can help colleagues who live farther away feel supported from a distance.
  
  
• Keep workplace interactions familiar: Include them in updates and conversations when appropriate, but give them the flexibility to step back or re-engage based on how they are feeling.

Offering support once treatment ends

People often assume the end of treatment is a time for celebration. For many survivors, it can feel complicated. Sometimes the hardest emotional processing begins after the final appointment. Relief may mix with fear of recurrence, exhaustion or uncertainty about what comes next. Continuing to check in, listen and acknowledge what they are feeling can help them move through this transition with less pressure. 

Caring for yourself while supporting someone else

Supporting a coworker facing cancer can take an emotional toll on you too. You may feel sad, worried or helpless while wanting to show up in the right way. Taking care of your own well-being allows you to offer steadier support. If you ever feel overwhelmed, consider using your organization’s Employee Assistance Program or other available resources.

Creating a compassionate workplace

Cancer reshapes lives, and the workplace can play a meaningful role in helping someone stay connected and supported. Through thoughtful communication, simple acts of help and steady empathy, you can help create an environment where your colleague feels valued from diagnosis through treatment, and at every step along the way.

If you want to learn how you and your organization can better support employees facing a cancer diagnosis, AccessHope can help.