Information for when you’ve just found out you’ve got cancer
If you’ve arrived here, that means you’re looking for more information after reading our Your Diagnosis booklet. We know a cancer diagnosis is a lot to take in, and we hope you’ve found the booklet helpful with lots of practical advice and useful tips.
Your Diagnosis was created together with Teenage Cancer Trust and we worked closely with young people who have experiences of cancer to make sure it was created with young people, for young people.
You’ll find links below to further information on certain topics covered in the booklet that may be helpful at this stage of your diagnosis.
How do I talk about my cancer?
There’s no right or wrong way to speak to your friends about cancer. Plus, not everyone will react the same or in ways we expect. But here are some tips that may make the experience easier for you.
How to tell your friends you have cancer
Treatment side effects
Everyone reacts differently to cancer treatments, and side effects will depend on many things dependent on your own situation. This list of common side effects may prepare you for some you may experience.
How bad will treatment make me feel?
Mental health support
Cancer can affect your mental health and wellbeing too, and whatever you’re feeling right now is completely valid. Here’s some information and support that may help you, as well as these contacts for your emotions and mental health.
Your feelings when you’ve been diagnosed with cancer
Fertility
This may be something you hadn’t planned on considering at this point in your life, but if your treatment may affect your ability to have children, it’s worth thinking about your options and this information may help.
Will cancer and treatment affect my fertility?
What about my job?
Managing work on top of cancer treatment can seem daunting, but you have certain rights that give you legal protection and there is plenty of help available to support you with this. Find work advice on the button below.
What about my education?
Cancer doesn’t have to get in the way of your education aspirations. Take a look at the information on your rights in education and what support is available to help you on the button below.
I still have questions…
If you have any more questions or just need to talk to someone, our social work team is ready to support you. Message us via Live Chat at the bottom right of this page or call our team from Monday – Friday 10am-4pm on 0300 303 5220. You can also drop an email to getsupport@younglivesvscancer.org.uk.
How do I talk about my cancer?
There’s no right or wrong way to speak to your friends about cancer. Plus, not everyone will react the same or in ways we expect. But here are some tips that may make the experience easier for you.
How to tell your friends you have cancer
Treatment side effects
Everyone reacts differently to cancer treatments, and side effects will depend on many things dependent on your own situation. This list of common side effects may prepare you for some you may experience.
How bad will treatment make me feel?
Mental health support
Cancer can affect your mental health and wellbeing too, and whatever you’re feeling right now is completely valid. Here’s some information and support that may help you, as well as these contacts for your emotions and mental health.
Your feelings when you’ve been diagnosed with cancer
Fertility
This may be something you hadn’t planned on considering at this point in your life, but if your treatment may affect your ability to have children, it’s worth thinking about your options and this information may help.
Will cancer and treatment affect my fertility?
What about my job?
Managing work on top of cancer treatment can seem daunting, but you have certain rights that give you legal protection and there is plenty of help available to support you with this. Find work advice on the button below.
What about my education?
Cancer doesn’t have to get in the way of your education aspirations. Take a look at the information on your rights in education and what support is available to help you on the button below.
I still have questions…
If you have any more questions or just need to talk to someone, our social work team is ready to support you. Message us via Live Chat at the bottom right of this page or call our team from Monday – Friday 10am-4pm on 0300 303 5220. You can also drop an email to getsupport@younglivesvscancer.org.uk.
My cancer toolkit
Hopefully everything you’ve read so far has helped to get you started on understanding what might be ahead. When you’re ready, there’s also our online, go-to place for everything young people with cancer might need, at any stage in their cancer treatment. Take a look now or head over and bookmark it for the future.