Cancer backup online resources

Financial and legal issues

This section has been written as a guide to people who have concerns about their finances and for those who are looking into making a complaint. Although Cancerbackup cannot advise you specifically on your financial concerns, this information will give you advice about what you can do and sources of financial help to which you may be entitled. Exactly what you need to do will depend on your individual circumstances. This will include the type and stage of your cancer, as well as the treatment that you need.                                

General information on talking about cancer

If you have been told that you have cancer then you may find it very difficult to talk about what’s happening to you and how you feel. Most people with cancer find it awkward and embarrassing (or uncomfortable and even painful) to talk about their illness with their family and friends – as well as with the nurses, doctors and other professionals looking after them. If that’s what you are feeling, then this section has been written to help you.This section offers some simple advice that will make you feel more comfortable about asking what you want and need to know. It will help you to talk about what you are feeling, if you want to.It can also help you to understand why your friends, family and even your doctors and nurses may find talking awkward. It gives tips on how you can help them – even though you may feel that they should be helping you!This section aims to help you:       understand the most common reactions to being told you have cancer        understand what your friends and family may be feeling        find a sensible and practical approach that will help you to talk about your cancer more freely and easily.In this way you can get the emotional support that you need.It is very important to realise that there is no single ‘correct’ way to cope with cancer. This section can give you some general guidelines that you may find helpful. But how you talk to people about your cancer will depend very much on your own personality and how you usually talk to the people around you.Don’t be worried if the examples or illustrations used do not fit in with your own style - you can adapt them to suit yourself.

Talking to children about cancer

This section is for people who have cancer. It discusses how to talk about cancer with children aged from two to sixteen. It outlines the steps you can take to help your children understand what is happening to you and help you through this difficult time in your family life. The information is also appropriate for guardians, grandparents or carers who have cancer.

Talking to someone with cancer

Many people find it difficult to talk to a person who has cancer. This section provides information about how to talk, help and support them.

Work and cancer

This section aims to help people diagnosed with cancer cope with any work issues they may face. It may also help employers to support employees who have cancer. It aims to help people with cancer to find the information they need to understand how cancer and its treatment will affect their ability to work. It gives information on employment rights. There is advice about coping with the effects of treatment, such as tiredness, and tips on talking about cancer with your employer and colleagues.Much of the information in this section is aimed at people who are employed in a company (whether large or small), but there is a section on people who are self-employed and the information on financial issues applies to people who are working for themselves or for an employer.

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