One of the most common feelings people have is loneliness and a sense of being on their own. This isolation can affect people at different times in their illness – when they are diagnosed, during treatment and afterwards. Anyone affected by cancer may experience loneliness and isolation.

There can be many reasons why people feel alone. Coping with the feelings and changes cancer brings can be a lonely experience. Having to cope with changes to your appearance such as losing your hair or losing weight may add to the sense of isolation. It’s feeling different to other people that can be so hard.

You may feel lonely even if you’re surrounded by family, because you feel that no one really understands what you’re going through. People react differently. Some people respond by wanting to fight and not let cancer ‘take them over’, others allow the doctors to take control. Some people prefer to feel in charge of their own wellbeing and support themselves in a variety of ways. Everyone’s different and there is no ‘right’ way of behaving.

Often the sense of isolation is made worse if you find it difficult to talk about how you feel and what you are going through. It can be hard to talk friends and family about how you really feel; you tell them that you’re fine, when you feel very different inside. You may find yourself giving people other reasons for not being yourself, such as 'just feeling tired'.

If you can find the courage to talk to just one person about how you feel, it can be the first step towards helping you to feel better. The less you talk about it, the more cancer may become all you think about. And the more alone you can feel.