Here is my favorite technique:
“First treat a woman like a person, then a princess, then a Greek goddess, then a person again.” -Shawn (Psych)
Treating some like a person first is really the most important thing. Everything else is optional but people like to be treated special for a while before being a person again.
Want to see something sad look at the divorce rate for women who are diagnosed with cancer. Its so common that most doctors and support groups talk about it after the diagnosis. So I am not surprised but still disgusted.