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If you have cancer you may desperately want to talk… but you may worry about burdening your friends and family.
Will they be able to cope if you get upset or angry? Will I be able to cope if they become distressed? How much do I tell them? Will they want to hear what I need to tell them?
Talking about your cancer can be a difficult thing to do... but there are some things that might help:
- talk to your Clinical Nurse Specialist - ask their advice with how to talk about cancer with others, they may be able to offer tips or support you talking things through with a close relative
- talk to others who have been through a similar situation - sometimes it is easier to talk to someone who has personal experience of cancer, although it is important to remember that everyone's experience is individual. Some people use chat pages or online forums specifically for people affected by cancer, e.g. Macmillan Cancer Support's 'online community'.
- use the information available - there are a number of leaflets and books on talking about your cancer which offer practical tips and ideas that you may find useful.There are alsobooks on other people's personal experience of cancer.
- talk to a counsellor - on the Island, there is a counselling service specifically for people affected by cancer. For more information click here or telephone Manx Cancer Help on (01624) 679544.
Macmillan Cancer Support
The Macmillan Cancer Support website has information on how to cope the different issues associated with talking about cancer. This includes practical advice to help people talk about their needs and feelings, and advice on how to talk to children. This information is also available in a range of free booklets direct from Macmillan Cancer Support or from the Macmillan Cancer Information Centre and covers the following topics:
- Talking about your cancer
- How are you feeling
- Cancer suvivor's guide
- Talking to children when an adult has cancer
- Cancer, you and your partner
- Relationships, sex and fertility for young people affected by cancer.
- The emotional effects of cancer
- Your feeling after cancer treatment
National Cancer Institute (USA) - Taking time: Cancer will change your life
This website offers useful advice on coping with feelings and concerns, including sharing your feelings about cancer.
Book - Love is a journey: Couples Facing Cancer (ISBN 1420828614) by Jan Latona
This book covers the effect cancer can have on a relationship, and includes tips on talking about cancer. This book is available to borrow from the Macmillan Cancer Information Centre.
The Macmillan Cancer Information Centre also has a range of books about other people's personal experience of cancer. These often cover the possible issues associated with talking about your cancer.
Please don't forget...
Your Clinical Nurse Specialist or the Macmillan Cancer Information Centre are available as a support to you. They can listen to your concerns, and offer information and support to help your situation.
