1. Please don't tell me that all I have to do is stay "positive" or strong". It's so dismissive. There is no strength without weakness, there is no positive without negative. Lets give each other permission to feel whatever it is we are experiencing in the moment.
2. Know that you are not legally bound to use a funeral director. Take ownership of what you would like. Talk to your family and friends about what you would like. You'd be amazed at what is possible... enjoy and use your imagination.
3. Try to use the right language when talking about death and dying. We don't lose somebody. They didn't pass on. They died. Or they are dying. I understand that using the correct language helps with the grieving process. We seem fearful to use the word death and dying.... we need not to be scared.
4. When I was ill, people didn't know what to say. I would ask that people say something rather than nothing. Even if it's something like: "I'm so sorry, I have no f@#king idea what to say". It would have been refreshing to hear someone say that to me.
5. I wish people knew that can be healing to talk about death to those who are terminally ill. I've seen too many people not talking about the elephant in the room, when you can see that the person who is dying is crying out to talk about what's going on.
Diagnosed with breast cancer, Sara Cutting (known as Fizzy Snood) faced the prospect of losing her curly blonde hair during the rigours of chemotherapy.
But rather than let it get to her, she decided to embrace baldness by taking a selfie every day – and showing off a spectacular hat each time.
She makes her own headwear from anything she can get her hands on, including cakes, board games, a teapot, radio, lampshade and even kitchen roll.
She then uploads smiling selfies to Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, where she has thousands of followers.
And to cap it all, the idea has helped raise over £30,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
Now in her fourth year of the challenge, her treatment has finished and her hair is starting to grow back – but she has decided that she likes being bald and plans to stay that way.
Her selfies have generated many fans online, with offers of ideas coming in from as far as Australia. She has already worn hats by designer Philip Treacy.
Sara was once a dancer and a builder in Brighton.
@FizzySnood