Bob Riter

Caregiving Friends May Need a Break

Posted February 20th, 2015

I received a call last week that went something like this: “My friend has cancer and she wants me to visit on a regular basis. When I do visit, all she does is complain about how awful her life is. I dread these visits and go only because I feel guilty if I don’t. I […]


New Year’s Wishes

Posted January 7th, 2013

I like to give myself a magic wand in the first column of each year to grant wishes to those affected by cancer.


The Transitions of Cancer

Posted November 21st, 2012

My job is to listen to people affected by cancer and to help them however I can.


Groundhog Friends

Posted November 9th, 2012

I’m often asked how to be a friend to someone with cancer. I generally answer this question by encouraging them to be good listeners and to be present for their friend in every sense of the word. The best friends are what I describe as “groundhog friends.” Remember the movie Groundhog Day with Bill Murray? […]


Why Aren’t They Doing More?

Posted November 7th, 2012

I sometimes get asked various versions of this question: “My father has advanced cancer, but they don’t seem to be treating him very aggressively. Why aren’t they doing surgery to remove the metastases in his lungs and liver?”