Easy Read – Feelings and cancer

This information is about feelings you may have when you have cancer. It tells you who you can talk to and ways to feel better.

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Introduction

This information is about how you might feel when you have cancer.

Image of patient talking to her doctor.

You can ask someone for help to read this information.

Image of a lady talking to an older man.

You may have many different feelings. This is okay. Your feelings can change every day.

Image of 2 ladies and a man.

Feeling shocked

Being told you have cancer can be a shock.

Image of woman chatting to her doctor.

You might find it hard to believe.

Image of a woman.

You might not understand words the doctor uses.

Image of a woman speaking to her doctor.

Feeling angry

You may feel angry because having cancer:

  • does not feel fair
Image of an older man in a hat and glasses.
  • changes your plans
Image of a diary with plans cancelled.
  • changes you.
Image of a woman with a scarf.

Feeling guilty

You may feel guilty because:

  • you think it is your fault
Image of lady looking unwell.
  • your family is upset
Image of family chatting on sofa.
  • people have to take care of you.
One lady bringing another lady tea.

Feeling scared and worried

You may be worried about:

  • pain
Image of an old man with a cane with back problems.
  • feeling sick
Image of a man feeling nauseous.
  • not getting better.
Image of a woman lying in bed feeling unwell.

Feeling sad

Having cancer can make you feel sad.

Image of woman looking sadly out a window.

Feeling sad for more than 2 weeks is called depression.

Image of a calendar showing month of May with days crossed out.

Being depressed means you may:

  • not want to do things you used to enjoy, like hobbies
Image of an old man wearing a hat sitting in his garden.
  • sleep a lot or have trouble sleeping
Image of a man lying on a couch.
  • cry a lot
Image of woman sitting in armchair crying.
  • not want to eat, or eat more than usual.
Image of a woman eating food.

Why talking can help

Talking about cancer can be hard. But talking can help you:

Family sitting around dinner table chatting.
  • feel better
Image of 2 women hugging each other.
  • feel supported.
Image of a couple enjoying each other's company.

Who to talk to about cancer

There are many people you can talk to, like:

  • family
Image of a family sitting around the dinner table, chatting.
  • a friend
Image of 2 guys talking together over coffee.
  • your carer or someone else who supports you.
A carer with her patient.

Talk to other people

You can talk to someone who had cancer. You can:

  • talk to 1 person
  • join a group.
Image of a man and a support group.

You can talk to a counsellor. A counsellor can listen and help you feel better.

Image of 2 women chatting.

Ask your doctor to help you find a counsellor.

Image of patient talking to her doctor.

What you can do

Learn about cancer.

Mother and son looking at Cancer Council booklet.

Move your body.

Image of woman wearing a hat walking her dog in the park.

Talk to family and friends.

Image of 2 ladies chatting on the couch.

Do things you enjoy like listening to music, cooking or gardening.

Image of lady wearing hat and doing some gardening,

Eat healthy food.

Image of a plate of healthy and delicious food.

Meditate or pray.

Image of a women doing yoga and meditating.

More Easy Read resources

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Chemotherapy
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Life after cancer
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Read in your language
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Call 13 11 20 for support
See who reviewed the content.

This Easy Read information was published in July 2025 and funded through the generosity of a Perpetual IMPACT grant.

We thank the health professionals, other experts, and people affected by cancer who reviewed this Easy Read information: Annette Beattie, Manager, Supportive Care, Cancer Council; Laila Khan, Lead, Cancer Council Liaisons – Greater Sydney, Cancer Council NSW; Dana Mouwad, Director, Statewide Health Literacy Lab; Dominic Oen, Clinical Psychologist, Bankstown Cancer Centre; Kate Pallot, Lead Cancer Council Liaison Regional and Rural, Cancer Council NSW; Gloria Yu, Cancer Council Bilingual Liaison South Western Sydney, Cancer Council.

We also gratefully acknowledge the contributions of all focus group participants from Arab Council Australia and SydWest Multicultural Services who generously shared their time, experiences and perspectives.

This content was assessed using the SHeLL Health Literacy Editor, a tool developed by the Sydney Health Literacy Lab to evaluate and improve the clarity of written health information: Ayre J., Bonner C., Muscat D.M., Dunn A.G., Harrison E., Dalmazzo J., Mouwad D., Aslani P., Shepherd H.L., McCaffery K.J., “Automated Health Literacy Assessments of Written Health Information: Development of the SHeLL (Sydney Health Literacy Lab) Health Literacy Editor v1”, JMIR Formative Research, 2023, e40645. DOI: 10.2196/40645.

View the Cancer Council NSW editorial policy.