Many cancers can now be cured, and treatments have become easier to cope with. However, the moment you are told you have cancer is almost always a time of deep emotional crisis and distress. In fact, most people say that they have never faced a bigger and more frightening challenge in their life.

It is very important to realise that there is no single ‘correct’ way to cope with cancer. This section can give you some general guidelines that you may find helpful. But how you talk to people about your cancer will depend very much on your own personality and how you usually talk to the people around you.

Talking about your cancer can help you to feel closer to the people who matter to you and can help you to cope with the difficulties that cancer can cause.

Don’t be worried if the examples or illustrations used do not fit in with your own style – you can adapt them to suit yourself.

Our nurses can give you information about all aspects of cancer.