Telling family and friends

The more openly you talk about your cancer, the easier it may be for the people around you to respond to your needs.

Although it may be difficult at first to express how you are feeling, bottling up your emotions can create an atmosphere of uncertainty. Some people will find it difficult to know what to say or how to say it.

If you can bring up the subject first it may help. However, you may decide it suits you better to tell a few people only, or to ask everyone not to treat you any differently.

Be prepared for others’ reactions

Some people may find your diagnosis difficult to deal with and go out of their way to avoid talking to you. This can be hurtful, especially if it is someone you thought you could count on. People may also say insensitive or inappropriate things - this might be because they feel awkward.

Who you tell and how you tell them is up to you. The basic facts about the diagnosis and treatment options are probably a good place to begin, and it may lead quite naturally to how you are feeling.

Talking it through

Talking about your cancer is part of the process of adjusting to what has happened, so that you can start to think beyond the diagnosis and consider ways of moving forward.

Children

If you have younger children, deciding what to tell them about your breast cancer may be one of the most difficult things you have to face, but it’s probably best to be open, as children can worry even more if they think things are being hidden from them. You, as the parent, will know your child better than anyone else and will know how much detail to give them and when to give it.