Some people cope with cancer by carrying on as normally as possible and don’t want to think or talk about the disease and its impact on their lives. This is just another way of dealing with the situation and can work well for many people. If that’s the way you feel, then it can help to say quite firmly to the people around you that you would prefer not to talk about your situation, at least for the time being. It may be difficult for your family or friends to understand that you need some time to deal with what has happened.

However, continuing to avoid the situation may lead to problems later. In the long run, it can help you to acknowledge the changes the cancer has caused in your life and think about what will help you cope with these changes.