Emotional Wellbeing
Being diagnosed with cancer is a very frightening and anxious time. It’s normal to experience feelings of sadness, anger or loneliness. Help and support is available to you. We found some information and resources that might help.
Video Resources...
Managing worry (podcast)
In this podcast created by The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester, Anne Cook, Counsellor in Psycho-oncology, talks about managing the worry of cancer recurrence and offers some helpful advice.
Online Resources...
Your Guide to Prehabilitation
Making small changes to your lifestyle, can make a big difference to the way you respond and recover from cancer treatment. Prehabilitation (or ‘prehab’) can involve making lifestyle changes including taking care of your emotional wellbeing, helping you to get ready for cancer treatment.
Be mindful
Designed to reduce stress, depression and anxiety, this course guides you through the elements of Mindfulness-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (MCBT). The course comprises of 10 sessions each lasting for 30 minutes. The full course costs £30 however you can try a free introduction when you register.
After the treatment finishes – then what?
Going through cancer treatment has often been described as “like being on a rollercoaster of emotions”. This article by Consultant Clinical Psychologist Dr Peter Harvey will help you make sense of and come to terms with some of your feelings.
Anxiety, fear and panic
Support is available if you're finding it hard to cope with fear, anxiety or panic. Most people feel anxious or scared sometimes and there are things you can try to help.
HealthUnlocked
This service has over 700 online communities focused on health and well-being. Users can connect with others who have similar health conditions, allowing them to share experiences, provide support to each other and access information.
Your emotions
When you have cancer, there are lots of different emotions to deal with. Macmillan Cancer Support can help you to work through them at any point in your cancer journey. Click here for more information.
Headspace
A free to download app that teaches the techniques of meditation and mindfulness. To access the full range of options a subscription is required however you get ten free taster sessions when you download the app. Available from the App Store or Google Play.
Catch It
Catch it is for anyone wishing to learn how to manage feelings such as depression and anxiety by helping you look at things in different ways and turning negative thoughts into positive ones. Free to download from the App Store and Google Play.
Macmillan online community
Macmillan Cancer Support offers the opportunity for people living with and beyond cancer to connect with each other via their thriving online community, including a group created specifically for cancer survivors and those who have finished treatment.
Support groups in your area
Cancer support groups give you the chance to talk to others who can understand what you are going through. Macmillan Cancer Support offers an online search function so that you can find out about local support groups and what’s going on near you.
Cancer Hair Care
We offer a FREE hair loss advisory service led by our trained Cancer Hair Care NHS Clinical Specialists.
Macmillan
This relaxation audiobook helps you learn the ways to manage breathlessness at a time and place of your choosing.
Shine Cancer Support
Shine has local Shine Networks across the UK and runs a number of annual events including Shine Camp, the Great Escape retreat and Shine Connect, the UK’s only conference for young adults with cancer. Shine also runs a number of highly-rated workshops on topics such as working after cancer and managing anxiety and depression.
Thrive
Thrive is an app providing in-depth tools and support to help people improve their mental wellbeing. It teaches a variety of stress reducing tools and techniques like meditation and deep muscle relaxation and uses CBT methods to support people in managing specific stressors and retrain unhelpful thought patterns. The app can be used to relax before a stressful situation or on a more regular basis to live a happier, more stress-free life.
My Cognition
NHS approved mobile apps helping people to improve their wellbeing and manage their stress levels and emotions. The technology can also help people to eat and sleep better.
Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
Audio files of relaxation techniques that can help relieve stress and gain a sense of well-being.
Maggie's
Relaxation and breathing exercises can help you to feel more in control and manage difficult emotions. Some exercises need more practice than others but finding out what works for you can help maintain health and wellbeing during or after cancer treatment.
Cancer Support UK
Cancer Support UK provides practical and emotional support to people living with cancer, both during and after the treatment period. We support people with all kinds of cancer across the UK.
NHS Talking Therapies
If you live in England and are aged 18 or over, you can access NHS talking therapies services for anxiety and depression.
Samaritans
What to do if you're not feeling okay. You can get in touch about anything that’s troubling you, no matter how large or small the issue feels.
Cancer Care Map
To find other services or support on this topic, visit Cancer Care Map and enter your postcode to find what is available near you.