Gene Simmons’ Run-In With Eddie Van Halen After Throat Cancer Diagnosis Reminds Us Cancer Conversations Can Be Hard, But They Don’t Have to Be

Related: Wolfgang Shares Video of Dad, Eddie Van Halen, Just a Week After He Passed From Cancer, That Reveals Rocker's Dream Collaboration

“Years later, I ran into Eddie on Sunset Blvd. This was after he caught the disease and I didn’t know what to say to him,” Simmons tells People. “Should I grab him and hug him and tell him how sorry I am? Should I put my hand on his shoulder? He brought it up. He said, ‘Hey man, I got cancer. What are you gonna do?'”

Instead of having a deep conversation about the news, Van Halen made light of the situation and offered to celebrate their fortuitous reunion over a hot dog. “He just sort of shrugged,” Simmons says. “He was like, ‘Hey, wanna get a hot dog or something?’ And he just walked off not looking for sympathy or anything. He really seemed to enjoy life.”

 

Talking About Cancer Isn’t Easy

It’s not uncommon to feel uncomfortable when talking about cancer. It can be a tough subject to discuss, and oftentimes people will not know what the right thing is to say. However, support is critical during a cancer journey, and what you say can really make a difference on a patient’s process.

“People often don’t know how to handle a friend who has had a diagnosis,” Breast cancer survivor Catherine Gigante-Brown tells SurvivorNet. “My advice to them is basically just be yourself. The person has not changed just because they have cancer. It’s important to be there for them and not ignore them just because you might not know what to say.”

Related: Embrace It, Talk About It, And Focus on Getting Well

Handling a cancer diagnosis is hard enough, but feeling like your friends are uncomfortable being around you adds even more pressure. In order to assure your loved one you’re there for them, here’s a few helpful tips.

• Be yourself
• Don’t bring up personal stories about cancer
• Make them laugh
• Don’t distance yourself just because you’re uncomfortable
• Be there for them and let them vent

Breast cancer survivor Catherine Gigante-Brown explains how to talk to your loved ones battling cancer

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