To be fair, some people can't handle those sorts of things. I struggle to deal with peoples pain in regards to life threatening or terminal diseases. I have a mate who, although we are not really close friends just friends of friends but we like each other anyway, he's got the dreaded terminal C, probably wont see xmas. I find it incredible hard to talk to him, I fear what to say to him when "How ya goin mate?" can mean so much more than just that, if you get what I mean?
I tend to try and avoid him if I can, it's easier (for me) and yes I feel bad about it, I feel like a weak prick even to admit it.
Cools people have different reactions to what everyday life can dish up.
Unfortunately Cancer is f**king rampant in our world. Everyone knows someone who has had it, lost out to it or is fighting the kent of a thing.
Mate my advice for what it is worth. Just be natural around him. Be like you were before the dreaded diagnosis. Over time I've spoken to several people that had now gone and they usually understand how it effects those around them (friends of friends etc) and most just like to be treated as if they were okay. Treated normally. No bullshit play it straight.
Years ago we had an old workmate who was a real knockabout sort of a bloke who had the Big C and beat it for 9 1/2 years and then it returned and took him out. Towards the end we went to visit him in hospital. The mate with me says "How are you going mate?" and the poor bugger says from his hospital bed with a big laugh. "How am I going." "I'm f**ked, be dead in a month" then he started laughing about it and just told him to not f**king worry about it. He got a 9 1/2 year 2nd chance so he'd had a bit of a win. He was going out laughing.
Then recently we lost a friend who had breast cancer. Her hubby (both good long time friends of mine) was diagnosed with prostrate cancer. I asked her one day how was Jeffo (his nic) was going and she said he was great, but you wouldn't believe it, the Docs have told me I have breast cancer. The poor thing lasted about 1 year after that.
She was a different type, happy healthy and full of life but when the f**king thing took hold of her and the treatment and subsequent body weight loss, well, she didn't want any visitors, just family, towards the end. She wanted people to remember her as she was and not what the C had turned her body into.
I like most have seen too much of f**king Cancer and its effects. Kent of a thing.
Cools my advice, just be Cools when your paths cross again and if you f**k up you f**k up. I bet it won't worry the other poor bloke. He would be more than likely happy to see you again.
Life is too short to worry about what you might say to him.
