Hi,
I am not familiar with the term anplastic, so will leave that to a more knowledgeable member. I can relate to your 2nd concern about when/how to offer help. It sounds like you are doing exactly whatyou should~being a good, supportive friend. People react differently to a cancer diagnosis & it sounds like your friend is trying to maintain his independence which also means control. That's his way of coping right now & that is fine, he may need you more in the future when he starts to feel bad. Maybe just take your leads from your friend. Ask briefly about the cancer & determine from his reponse how far to go; invite him to dinner~eating may soon become a chore. For right now, just keeping in touch with him may be what he wants & needs. When my husband was 1st diagnosed, he carried pictures of our recent honeymoon with him so he would have something besides the cancer to talk about with people! That was his way of maintaining a sense of normalcy in the midst of chaos. Good luck & you sound like a good friend!