Cancer information for everyone: Introducing our new Easy Read Resources!

As part of a broader effort to increase equity in cancer support, we’re making cancer information accessible to everyone with our new Easy Read resources. These resources are designed for people with low literacy, intellectual disabilities, and those who speak English as a second language. This initiative puts clear, supportive guidance within reach for all. 

You can now access a 2-minute animated video and five Easy Read fact sheets as web pages or downloadable PDFs on our website. Hospitals and treatment centres can also order free print copies. 

Receiving a cancer diagnosis creates an incredibly stressful time for anybody. For those with low literacy levels, including Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities, a lack of accessible information makes a difficult time even more challenging. 

Especially when you consider that 14% of Australians have low literacy levels, and this figure increases to 25% among those whose first language is not English.  

We recently caught up with Gloria Yu, Cancer Council NSW’s bilingual liaison, to hear about her experiences working with CALD communities across the state and why these Easy Read materials can make such a difference to those who need them. 

Can you describe how it feels for someone from a CALD community to receive a cancer diagnosis in English? What emotions or challenges do you see most often in those first moments? 

Receiving a cancer diagnosis is already a deeply shocking and overwhelming experience, but when English isn’t your first language, that moment can feel even more isolating. I have seen a lot of patients from the CALD communities who aren’t just trying to process the word “Cancer”, which is often a taboo word to talk about culturally, they are also trying to figure out what is being said at all. It’s like a mixture of fear and confusion, like they know something serious has happened to them, but they don’t fully understand it.  

These patients often have to rely on an interpreter or a family member just to ask basic questions; that loss of independence can create huge anxiety. It really is heartbreaking because all they want is to be sure they understand what is happening to their own body or their loved ones, but the language barrier makes that feel almost impossible.  

In your opinion, why do Easy Read resources make such a difference?  

Even though these Easy Read resources are still quite new, I can already see how beneficial and reassuring they will be. When someone receives a diagnosis, they’re usually in shock and even people who speak English fluently struggle to absorb complex medical information.  

Easy Read materials remove that pressure, they take something overwhelming and break it down into something a person can understand – with simple words, sentences and visuals. They give people a starting point, something they can quickly read, take home and revisit. I am yet to receive feedback from my patients about these new resources, however in the past when my CALD patients received information in their own language, there was palpable relief and appreciation, and I am anticipating the feedback about these resources will be quite similar and very positive.  

How do the patients you work with benefit from clearer, simpler information?  

Recently, I met with a patient who is currently undergoing treatment for a recurrence of her cancer. During our appointment, I handed her some cancer information written in her own language. She looked at the resources, paused for a moment and said with surprise “In the last five years since my diagnosis, no one has ever given me anything in my language”.  She was relieved and shared how amazing it felt to finally read and understand information for herself without needing to rely on her children to translate, she also took the easy read resources with her, so she can give them to her children. For her, it wasn’t just about information, it was about being able to make sense of things which gave her more control. This is why ensuring access to culturally and linguistically appropriate resources is essential, as everyone deserves information they can understand.  

How do you see these Easy Read resources fitting into your work with CALD communities?  

Easy Read resources will make my job much easier and complement the support I provide every day. When a patient from a culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) background comes to the hospital, these resources can serve as a helpful starting point before we move into more detailed conversations. 

The Easy Read resources offer information that is clear, simple, and accessible for patients to read at their own pace and in their own time. They can also spark important conversations between patients and their loved ones, making it easier to talk about topics that are often difficult to bring up. 

I believe when patient’s understanding improves, their anxiety naturally decreases. This not only empowers them to make informed decisions but also helps build stronger trust and rapport between them and treating teams.  

What drives you to do this work, and why do you feel strongly about making cancer information accessible to everyone? 

I do this work because I’ve seen what happens when people are left behind by language. When my son was diagnosed with cancer at 22 months old, I realised how few translated or simplified resources were available. Even though I speak and understand English, I often wondered how other families who don’t, could possibly get through such an overwhelming and emotional time. 

In this role, I’ve met many CALD patients who went through months of treatment without ever fully understanding what was happening. They feel scared, confused, and powerless, and they don’t know who to ask, or how to express their concerns.  

Now whenever I sit beside someone receiving difficult news, I remember them. And I remember my own experience. I know how different things could be if someone simply took the time to explain things in a clear and simple way, or in a language they understand. 

Cancer is already one of the hardest things a person can face, and language shouldn’t be an additional barrier. Everyone deserves information that makes sense to them. No one should ever feel alone. I really hope every person, regardless of their background or the language they speak can feel supported, heard, and confident that they can understand every step of their cancer experience. 

For support and information about cancer, call us on 13 11 20.