Question:
Answer:
For the person with cancer, he may benefit most from simply being listened to. Allow the person to vent his anger and fear without blame or contradiction. Offer the person whatever support you can, whether emotional, financial, or in the form of practical care. Anger, whether with God or with other human beings, is something many people with serious illness experience. The more support they have from those who love them, the more likely they are to get past their anger over their circumstance.
Much the same could be said for someone whose loved one has cancer, although in that case, the person may also be feeling distraught over the possibility of losing his loved one. Again, a person in this circumstance needs a chance to vent and needs whatever support can be offered, including a chance to take a break from caring for the loved one if that person is feeling overwhelmed.
The person who is simply angry with God that cancer exists is the only one with whom it might be appropriate to engage in a philosophical discussion about the mystery of suffering. For a primer on that subject, I recommend reading Peter Kreeft’s book Making Sense Out of Suffering.