Cancer Talk Week – why should we talk about cancer?

4 minute read time.

It's Cancer Talk Week and, in our latest blog, our editor Imogen talks about her experience as a Macmillan support line volunteer, highlights the benefits of talking about cancer and looks at some of the different ways people can start talking...

One evening each week, I stop being an editor and start acting as a frontline volunteer. I began taking calls on the Macmillan support line (MSL) over a year ago and it’s been a great experience in many ways. Most importantly, it’s helped me understand how hard it can be to talk about cancer.

Even on the support line, callers are often hesitant to begin that conversation – and many people may not call at all. That’s why we’re using Cancer Talk Week to open up about the loneliness that can follow a cancer diagnosis and explore why it’s so hard to talk honestly about it.

Why is it hard to talk about cancer?

Many of us don’t like talking about our problems because we don’t want to seem needy or may want to protect other people from being upset. We may think that our problems aren’t important enough to bother people with. But in reality many people will want to help.

Why should we try to talk about cancer?

Talking can have many benefits. Whether you have cancer or you’re a friend or relative of someone with cancer, putting your fears or concerns into words can help you make sense of difficult situations. Talking about cancer may help you:

  • feel more in control
  • feel less anxious
  • make important decisions
  • realise that your feelings are normal
  • stop your fears growing bigger
  • feel valued and supported.

It can also bring you closer together at a difficult time. Our information can help you start those conversations.

Picture and quote from Diane 'Talking about my cancer and the experience has been really important for me. The process of talking about my story with other people has made a difference.'

If you have cancer

Our free booklet Talking about cancer has tips and advice about starting conversations and sharing your feelings with family, friends and health professionals.

If you’d feel more comfortable talking to someone outside of your family or group of friends, give one of our cancer support specialists a call on 0808 808 00 00. Or, you could use our Online Community to talk about your thoughts and feelings with people who know what you’re going through.

Some people don’t want to share their feelings about cancer or its treatment. Be open with your friends and family when it’s hard to talk. Sometimes you may want to enjoy not talking about the cancer. Don’t be afraid to tell people when you would prefer to talk about other things.

If you’re a friend or relative

Just being there for someone with cancer is often the most important thing. Don’t worry if you’re not sure what to say – listening is just as useful. We have more information about how talking and listening can help your loved one.

Quote from Kit 'If you are not sure what to say, I love a smile or a hug - no words needed.'

Our free booklet Lost for words – how to talk to someone with cancer can help you better understand how your friend or relative may be feeling. It also includes a practical checklist of ways you can help.

Remember, our support line and Online Community are there for you too. Being close to someone who has cancer can feel just as isolating. You may feel guilty for being upset or try to hide how you feel to stay strong for your loved one. But your feelings are valid and we want to offer you the same support.

Join the conversation

To find out what people are saying about Cancer Talk Week, search for #GreenNotBlue on Twitter. Or you can find and share tips about talking over at The Source.

To see what else Macmillan's cancer information team has been blogging about, please visit our blog home page! You can subscribe to receive our blogs by email or RSS too.

We're with you every step of the way

The Macmillan team is here to help. Our cancer support specialists can answer your questions, offer support, or simply listen if you need a chat. Call us free on 0808 808 00 00.

Comments? Feel free to add them below (you need to be logged in).

Keep in touch Follow Macmillan’s cancer information team on Twitter @mac_cancerinfo

Anonymous
  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    Yes, I think we should talk more about cancer because silence is disempowering and could be fatal!

    Cancer sufferers are often made to feel like freaks, when in reality 1 in 3 of us will have a cancer sometime.

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    Cancer should be talked about , it can effect anyone. Also  by making people aware of risk factors for cancer and by talking  about other family members  who have had cancer , it may help in alerting  to genetic  inherited cancers ,

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    Hi, I have been diagnosed with anal squamous cancer, it's at stage 1. I am booked in for chemo/radio therapy next week but wondered if anyone had defeated cancer by using "nutritional" methods rather than chemo/radio.

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    Hi my mum was diagnosed a couple of weeks ago with kidney cancer, it's come out of the kidney spread to the arenal glands and spots on her lungs. I'm finding this incredibly hard to deal with as we are like best friends I'm strong when I'm with her, but breakdown when I get home I love her with all my heart and just want her to be ok x

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    The more we talk about our cancers the better. If you had a broken leg, a migraine, a dodgy knee, a dickie heart or failing eyesight you would feel everybody would understand. The more you talk about your cancer the more people will get to understand. Of course cancer can be terminal but in the end we will all have to go sometime.