Easy Read

Feelings and cancer

This information is about feelings you may have when you have cancer. It tells you who you can talk to and ways to feel better.

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Introduction

This information is about how you might feel when you have cancer.

A person seated beside an older person who is holding a walking stick, with an open booklet between them. 

You can ask someone for help to read this information.

Three circular portraits of different people. 

You may have many different feelings. This is okay. Your feelings can change every day.

Feeling shocked and angry

A man in a blue shirt speaking with a seated woman in a purple dress; the man is holding a booklet.

Being told you have cancer can be a shock.

a woman looks worried

You might find it hard to believe.

A man in a blue shirt speaking with a seated woman in a purple dress; a speech bubble with question marks in it is above the woman's head.

Doctors may use words you don't understand.

A person wearing a dark cap, glasses, a blue shirt and a brown jacket. 

You may feel angry because having cancer:

  • does not feel fair
  • changes your plans
  • may change you.

Feeling alone and isolated

A person wearing glasses and a yellow shirt standing beside a window. 

Having cancer can make you feel alone.

a diary showing the word 'holiday' crossed out and replaced with 'chemo'

You may feel isolated from family and friends.

a woman in a headscarf

You may feel like you have been abandoned.

Feeling worried and guilty

A person leaning on a walking stick with one hand resting on their lower back. 

You may feel worried about:

  • pain
  • feeling sick.
A person sitting upright in a bed with a glass of water on a bedside table. 

You may feel scared about not getting better.

A person seated on a sofa with one hand covering their eyes.

You may feel guilty because:

  • your family is upset
  • people have to take care of you.

Feeling sad

A person seated on the edge of a bed with one hand resting against the side of their face.

Having cancer can make you feel sad. It's normal to feel sad on some days.

A monthly calendar titled ‘May’ with fourteen dates crossed out in red. 

But feeling sad for more than 2 weeks is called depression.

A person seated alone beside raised garden beds, holding a walking stick. 

Being depressed means you may not want to do things you used to enjoy.

 

A person lying on a green sofa with their eyes closed and their arms resting on their stomach.

If you are depressed, you may:

  • sleep a lot or have trouble sleeping
  • not want to eat, or eat more than usual.
A person seated in a chair, holding a tissue to their face, with glasses resting on their lap. 

You may also cry a lot.

A person holding a mobile phone to their ear. 

If you think you might be depressed, talk to your doctor.

Why talking can help

Four people seated around a table with one person turning away from the others. 

Talking can be hard.

Two smiling people standing side by side, with one person looking at the other person.

But talking can help you:

  • feel better
  • feel supported.
A woman in an uniform with a name badge standing beside an older man with a walking stick.

There are many people you can talk to, like:

  • family
  • a friend
  • your carer.

Talk to other people

A set of two images; a portrait of a man and a group of 5 people sitting in a circle.

You can talk to someone who had cancer. You can:

  • talk to 1 person
  • join a group.
Two people seated facing each other, with one person holding a clipboard and pen. 

You can talk to a counsellor or social worker. They can listen and help you feel better.

A man in a blue shirt seated at a desk across from a woman in a purple dress, with a computer monitor on the desk.

Ask your doctor to help you find a counsellor or social worker.

What you can do

two people look at a factsheet

Learn about cancer.

A person walking a brown dog along a path beside trees and hills. 

Move your body.

A group of four people are sitting around a table, the table is set with a jug, cups, plates and a bowl of salad.

Spend time with family and friends.

A person wearing a hat and gardening gloves, planting seedlings in a raised garden bed. 

Do things you enjoy like listening to music, cooking or gardening.

Two hands holding a plate containing salmon, mashed potato and green vegetables.

Eat healthy food.

A person seated cross-legged with their hands resting on their knees and eyes closed. 

Meditate or pray.

For family, friends and carers

Four people seated together on a sofa, with a black and white dog beside them. 

If you are caring for someone with cancer, you may have lots of different feelings too.

Three overlapping circular portraits of different people. 

Caring can be rewarding, but it can also make you feel:

  • stressed and worried
  • angry
  • lonely and sad.
a smiling telephone support person

You can ask for help too. Call Cancer Connect on 13 11 20 to find out about help for carers.

Where to get help

You can get help with your feelings in different ways.

You can talk to your doctor or nurse about seeing a:

  • social worker
  • counsellor.
a woman brings another woman a cup of tea

If your faith, culture or community is important to you, you can talk to someone from that group.

More information

More Easy Read

Read more Easy Read pages like this one

More details about emotions

Read our longer information on emotions and cancer

Read information in other languages

We have Easy Read and other information in Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Korean and Vietnamese

Call Cancer Connect

You can speak to us on the phone. We can help you find free cancer information and support. Call 13 11 20 Monday to Friday.

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