It wasn't too difficult for me because in a way I'd been through it all before--with alcoholism. When I told my best friend, she screwed up her face & said, "Are you going to do the alphabet? Don't do the Big C!"

Some people just can't handle bad news, especially someone else's. I've found that sometimes it helps to say to them, "You dont need to do anything. I just didn't want you to hear this from someone else." I know, you shouldn't have to make it easier for them.