When you find out you have cancer

How you might feel

Being told you have cancer can be a shock. Living in a rural or regional area may bring extra challenges. This section explains what can happen after a cancer diagnosis. It covers tests and scans, treatment, emotional support, and getting help closer to home.

Many people feel shocked and upset when told they have cancer. It's often a confusing and overwhelming time. You may have many questions and wonder what it means for you.

Almost a third of people in Australia live outside major cities. For people living in rural and regional areas, a cancer diagnosis may bring extra worries, such as:

• Will I have to travel to a city for treatment?
• Where will I stay if I need to travel for treatment?
• Who will look after my family, farm, pets or business while I am away?
• Will I get the same standard of care as people in the city?
• Will there be anyone nearby to support me?

It’s common to have concerns and feel upset after a cancer diagnosis. You can find help and support by calling Cancer Connect on 13 11 20. Our qualified professionals can listen to your concerns and connect you with support services.

What can happen next

After a diagnosis, you may wonder what will happen next. While everyone’s experience differs, many people follow similar steps. These usually are:

• more tests and scans to learn about the cancer
• seeing a cancer specialist (e.g. an oncologist)
• preparing for treatment
• having treatment
• managing symptoms and side effects
• life after treatment.

Some steps may take longer when you live in rural and regional areas. You may need to travel for some tests, specialist appointments and treatment.

You may also need to stay away from your home for short periods while having tests and treatment. Your healthcare team can help you plan for this, and financial help may be available. While you may be able to have some appointments by telehealth (phone or video calls), many people in rural and regional areas will have to travel to see specialists and have treatment.

Why more tests and scans?

You may have already had tests or scans. After a cancer diagnosis, doctors often need to do other tests to get detailed information about the cancer. This helps them plan the best treatment for you.

Tests may show:

• where the cancer started
• its size and if it has spread (stage)
• how fast it may grow (grade)
• your general health.

If you live in a rural or regional area, you may need to travel for some scans, like an MRI or PET scan. Your general practitioner (GP) or cancer care team can help arrange these. Find more information about travelling for treatment.

You probably won’t need every test (see Common tests and scans), but you will likely need some. If you’re unsure about a test or scan, ask your doctor to explain it.

You can also ask if some tests can be bulk-billed or done in the public system to help with costs. If you are travelling for multiple tests, ask if they can be done at the same time to reduce travel.

Common tests and scans

Blood and urine tests – Blood tests check your general health and sometimes show more about the cancer. For some types of cancer, your urine (wee or pee) may be tested to check if it contains blood or cancer cells.

Imaging scans – These use special equipment to take pictures of the inside of your body. Common scans include x-rays, ultrasound, CT, MRI and PET scans. They help doctors see the size of the cancer and whether it has spread. Scans are done in a hospital or radiology clinic. For more information, see Just diagnosed or call Cancer Connect on 13 11 20.

Biopsies – A biopsy is when a doctor removes a small sample of cells or tissue from an area of the body. This may be done with a needle, through a small cut in the skin, or during surgery. The sample is examined under a microscope to look for signs of cancer and what type of cell is affected.

Scoping tests – For some cancers, doctors use a thin, flexible tube with a camera on the end (called a scope) to look inside your body and examine your organs. Different types of scoping tests are used to check different parts of the body (e.g. a colonoscopy checks the large bowel, and a bronchoscopy checks the lungs).

Waiting for test and scan results

Waiting for results can be one of the more difficult parts of a cancer experience. Some people call this “scanxiety”.

For people living in rural and regional areas, this waiting time can feel even more stressful. You might face longer wait times, need to travel for tests, or need to wait for results while away from home. Ask your cancer care team how long results usually take, and who will contact you. Knowing what to expect can help reduce anxiety.

If you need support, contact your GP or cancer care team, or call Cancer Connect on 13 11 20.

Your healthcare team

Many different health professionals may be involved in your care. In rural and regional areas, your care is often shared between local and specialist services. This is called shared care.

Cancer health professionals you may see include:

• medical oncologist – treats cancer with drug therapies such as chemotherapy
• radiation oncologist – treats cancer by prescribing and overseeing radiation therapy
• cancer care coordinator – coordinates your care and works with your cancer care team
• cancer nurse – provides information, support and practical help throughout your cancer care.

The role of a GP

Your GP is often a central member of your healthcare team if you live in a rural or regional area. They can be your main point of contact for day-to-day health needs, and help coordinate your care between local services and specialists.

Your GP can explain your diagnosis and help you understand your options. They can refer you to specialists and allied health professionals (e.g. physiotherapist, exercise physiologist, psychologist, dietitian).

Your GP can also:

• help arrange a second opinion if you want one
• manage your general health during treatment
• be your contact person between specialist appointments and treatment sessions.

If you don’t have a regular GP, visit Healthdirect and go to the service finder, or call 1800 022 222.

Some rural towns have limited GP availability. If your GP leaves or you can’t get an appointment, contact your local hospital or community health centre. They can help you find another doctor or connect you with telehealth services.

What will happen to me?

This may be one of the first questions people ask after being diagnosed. Your doctor may talk to you about what to expect. This is called the prognosis. No-one can predict exactly how the cancer will affect you or respond to treatment, but your doctor can explain what usually happens for people with the type of cancer you have.

The doctor works out your prognosis by looking at your test results, the type of cancer, the stage and grade and how likely treatment is to work. They will also consider your age, fitness and medical history. A prognosis is never certain, and it can change over time. Some people don't want to know their prognosis. You decide how much you want to know.

If the cancer is advanced

Finding out the cancer is advanced (stage 4 or metastatic) when it's first diagnosed can be devastating. Treatment for advanced cancer is improving all the time, and sometimes it can be controlled for years.

Treatment may focus on supporting people to do the things that are important to them, controlling symptoms, and maintaining quality of life. Some people are referred to a palliative care team. Palliative care can help at any stage of advanced cancer.

For more information, see Living with advanced cancer and Palliative care. Listen to Cancer Council's podcast series The Thing About Advanced Cancer.

Caring for someone with cancer

Carers often take on more than people realise. In rural and regional areas, this can include driving long distances to treatment, managing the property or business and being the main source of emotional support.

In smaller communities, people often want to help but don’t know how. Let them know what you need, such as a meal, a lift or help at home.

You may be able to access respite care. This can give carers a short break – for a few hours, overnight or several days. Call Cancer Connect on 13 11 20 for more information. Carer Gateway can help you find what is available in your area (call 1800 422 737).

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and cancer care

For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the cancer experience can be more challenging – especially if treatment requires travel away from Country, family and community. You may worry about whether health services will understand and respect your culture, involve your family and support networks in decision-making, and meet your cultural needs throughout your care.

You do not have to face cancer alone. Many hospitals have Aboriginal health workers, Aboriginal liaison officers, or Indigenous care coordinators who can support you.

They can help you communicate with your healthcare team, access services, and ensure your cultural needs and preferences are recognised and respected. Ask your treatment team whether this support is available.

You may find it helpful to:

• bring family members, Elders, or trusted support people to your appointments
• contact your local Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (ACCHO) for advice and support
• call Cancer Connect on 13 11 20 for information, practical support and services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples affected by cancer.