We would all like to have control over our health, and our future. Being told that you have cancer can make you feel fear, panic, uncertainty and despair, and you might feel that you have lost control of your life. Cancer can take away our certainty that we know what is going to happen to us. This loss of control can feel very threatening and frightening.

Finding out about the cancer and its treatment can help to give you back some feeling of control and can help you to feel more confident about the future. You can ask your doctor or nurse to tell you about your cancer and its treatment or you can get information from some of the listed organisations.

Some people want to know everything possible about their illness. This can help them to explain things to their family and friends. This understanding increases their confidence and can also help them during talks with their doctor. Sometimes there may be a choice of treatments. Then it is helpful to get your doctor to explain all the benefits and disadvantages of each treatment so that you can make the choice that is right for you. You can also discuss these issues with the nurses at Cancerbackup. With more information, some people feel more involved in their care, and, therefore, they feel more in control generally.

Some people prefer not to know all the details of their illness and want to leave all treatment decisions to their doctors. If this is how you feel, then just explain this to your health care team.

If you talk about what you really think and feel with your health care team, this can help them to focus on the issues that are important to you. Then you will really benefit from conversations with your medical team.

Reliable sources of information

You may find it difficult to get all the information that you need from your doctor or the nurses looking after you. Your own health care team is in the best position to help you and answer your questions, because they have the most information about your situation, your cancer and your general health. However, there are other sources of support and information. It is important to get information from a reliable source, as many people still believe myths about cancer. Some well-meaning people may want to tell you about awful experiences of cancer that are not relevant to your situation at all.

You can get reliable information from the nurses at Cancerbackup or the other listed organisations. These organisations often provide helplines, booklets, videos and audiotapes. There may also be a website with specific information about your type of cancer. Cancerbackup can give you details of these.