What should I say... Options

[blaarg]

So one of my good friends just found out her Mom has cancer. This is the closest that anyone I know has had it, and I was wondering if anyone knows the best thing to say/do (because, "I'm so sorry" can only go so far.)

This is all new to me, so I was just seeing if anyone had any good advice.

[Mommy]

A super close friend of mine had her mom pass away last mother's day of cancer. Her mom fought cancer for 3 years even though she was originally only given 3 months to live. Her mom is by far the strongest person I have ever met. She fought hard to stay alive for her 4 kids. I didnt know what to tell Sarah when her mom passed away. I mean, Sarah dropped out of high school when she was 15 to take care of her mom and work to support her family. I spoke from my heart. I told her that her mom was such a wonderful person and that I was glad I got to know her. I told Sarah that I know her mom was super proud of her for everything she did for her... bathed her, changed her diapers (towards the end the cancer spread to her brain and they couldnt afford to keep her in the hospital), raised the 3 little ones (one of the kids was 2 when she was diagnosed), worked, paid some of the bills.... I just spoke from the heart. While her mom was going through it, I just made sure to always talk to her. A lot of people stopped talking to her because they were afraid and didnt know what to tell her when they talked to her. Dont do this to your friend. Sarah would always tell me how much she missed everybody and couldnt believe that everyone pretty much stopped being her friend. It was super sad. Just tell her you are there for her, support her, take her places to get away every once in a while, maybe send her mom some flowers, and hope for the best.