Understanding grief

Coping with grief when someone close to you dies from cancer doesn’t mean getting over the person’s death. It’s about finding ways to live with the loss.

Everyone’s experience of grief is unique, so the information in this section is a general guide only. Although intended to be helpful, some sections may stir up a range of feelings. You may like to read the parts that seem useful now and leave the rest until you’re ready.

We hope this information will answer some of your questions and suggest some ways to cope with your loss. It also includes a section on how to help someone who is grieving.

To learn more about the grief you might feel if you have been diagnosed with cancer, see Emotions and cancer.

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This information was last reviewed in April 2020. View who reviewed this content.

Kate Jurgens, Bereavement Coordinator, Southern Adelaide Palliative Services, SA; Gabrielle Asprey, Cancer Support Consultant, Cancer Council NSW; A/Prof Lauren Breen, Psychologist, Curtin University, WA; Rev David Dawes, Manager, Spiritual Care Department, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Rob Ferguson, Consumer; Karen Hall, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council SA; Joanna Mangan, Psychologist, Cancer Council Queensland; Kate Reed, Nurse Practitioner National Clinical Advisor, Palliative Care Australia; Maxine Rosenfield, Counsellor and Educator, NSW.

View the Cancer Council NSW editorial policy.