Cancer - keeping a routine and talking it through

I have really tried to work out how best to talk to my neighbour with cancer as best I can and when I have time to (trying to not upset her when I only have time to say hello!). I have discovered that our conversation tends to follow a general pattern (with some opportunity for variation). What tends to happen is: key questions such how's it going/how you doing? what you been up to? isn't the weather cold at the moment, where I'm going and how I am. If all those questions are covered I find she is generally content. Sometimes there's room for variation if i manage to spark a sense of humour by funny enough not always trying to be funny, but also trying to be assertive in conversation, by taking the lead and taking control, which is also surprising since she's a remarkable lady defeating 2 cancers and going strong and doing 7 mile walks 25 years later when she's in her 80s - quite remarkable! I so admire her and feel so guilty if I don't have time to make an extended conversation to lighten things up a bit for her!