Managing the emotional impact of cancer: Information for people who are undergoing or have finished their cancer treatment : University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

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Acknowledging the emotional impact

Getting a diagnosis of cancer and managing treatment and side effects can have a big impact on your emotional wellbeing. It’s common to feel a range of emotions which may change day-to-day or over time. You may have different emotions at different times and of varying intensity – this is normal but can be unsettling.

You may also notice physical effects such as changes to your appetite, tiredness, pain, a lack of interest in sex or poor sleep. Experiencing any of these can further impact your emotional wellbeing.

Your emotions may overwhelm you at times. But there are some things you can do to help with that. To start, try to recognise and acknowledge how you are feeling at any moment. Once you’ve done that you can take small steps to support your emotional wellbeing. We have outlined them on this page and we hope you will find them useful.

The benefits of talking

It can be challenging at first to talk to someone about how you feel. If you’re able to overcome this, you may find talking beneficial. It may stop you from feeling alone, help you to solve a problem, make a decision, or help you to feel less frightened or anxious. It can also help you to feel supported.

Who can I talk to?

You may have a close friend or family member you can talk to. Or you may find it easier to talk to a healthcare professional, such as a support and information specialist, nurse, doctor, or someone who works on a charity helpline.

Talking to another person who has cancer can help because they may be able to understand how you feel. Some cancer charities can match you with someone else who has cancer or you could attend a support group.

If you have ongoing emotional issues that you can’t resolve, ask your hospital doctor, nurse or a support and information specialist to refer you to a UCLH psychologist or psychotherapist.

Feeling in control

There are some things you can do to feel more in control, which may lift your mood. These include healthy eating, being physically active and sleeping well. You can get more information about these topics on our Health and wellbeing resources web page.

Distractions

Distracting yourself can help you to cope better in the short term. For example, you can distract yourself by watching tv, doing a puzzle, making origami or reading a book.

If you feel stressed or low, you may spend less time doing things that make you feel better. So, try to remember to do things that you enjoy.

Complementary therapies

Complementary therapies can help to relieve stress, improve your sleep and manage side effects of treatment, which can all help you to cope better. The complementary therapies we currently offer include aromatherapy, massage, reflexology and relaxation. Visit our complementary therapies page to find out more about the therapies we offer or call 020 3447 8663.

Ask your hospital doctor or nurse, or a support and information specialist to refer you to our complementary therapy team.

Mindfulness, meditation and relaxation

Mindfulness, meditation or relaxation exercises can have a positive effect on your mental health. Mindfulness can help you to focus on the present, stop worrying about the past or stop feeling anxious about the future. Meditation can help your mind to be clear and your emotions calm. And relaxation techniques can help to calm and relax your body and mind. They are particularly helpful if you feel stressed or anxious, or have trouble sleeping. Visit our health and wellbeing resource page where we have listed some organisations offering mindfulness, meditation and relaxation exercises, podcasts and videos.

Being positive

It can help to feel positive but it’s not possible to be positive all the time. If you try to feel positive all the time it may be harder for you to recognise the challenges you are coping with. It’s ok to have days when you don’t feel positive. If you feel low or worried, just acknowledging these feelings can help. Research shows that finding one thing you are grateful for can help to lift your mood even during difficult times.

Starting treatment

Starting treatment can be a challenging time. You may be coming to terms with your diagnosis, managing hospital appointments and learning new things about your cancer and treatment. Getting accurate and reliable information can help you to feel more in control. It can also help you to make the decisions that are right for you.

Ask your hospital doctor or nurse, or a support and information specialist to give you more information about the things that are worrying you. Only use trusted websites like Macmillan Cancer Support, other UK cancer charities or the NHS.

If you are starting chemotherapy or targeted therapy, please watch our three videos available on our website: uclh.nhs.uk/chemo. They include information about what to expect, and how to manage side effects and the emotional impact of cancer treatment.

After treatment finishes

The time after your treatment has finished can also be challenging. You may miss the regular contact you had with your clinical team. You may also find it difficult to know how to move forward, especially if you are still dealing with treatment side effects. Your friends and family may expect you to recover quicker than what’s realistic too. And sometimes you may also be putting that pressure on yourself.

If you are struggling to cope after treatment speak to a support and information specialist. They will give you advice and information about groups and courses that are for people who have recently finished treatment.

Other support

Visit the Mind charity website: mind.org.uk
Read the Macmillan Cancer Support booklet ‘How are you feeling?’. Order online from be.macmillan.org.uk
Visit our health and wellbeing resources web page: uclh.nhs.uk/msis-hwb and prehabilitation web page: uclh.nhs.uk/prehab

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust cannot accept responsibility for information provided by external organisations.