People’s experiences of emotional problems
When you have cancer, it is normal to feel a range of difficult emotions, including worry and anxiety about cancer, treatment and the future and the impact this has on you and and those close to you. Here are the emotions people living with cancer often experience (click on each one to find out more):

Uncertainty
People diagnosed with cancer often feel uncertain about the future. They can feel uncertain about:
- the status of their health
- how they will respond to treatment
- how long they will live after treatment has ended
- the impact on their career
- the impact on their daily life
- the quality of health care they will receive
- future plans to have a family
These uncertainties affect people in different ways. Some try to put their experiences of cancer behind them and not think about it. Others think about their cancer often and find feelings of uncertainty overwhelming, causing them to be frightened, angry or fearful. Many find there are times when they feel more uncertain than others, e.g. when going for a scan. It is usual for people who have had cancer to feel more uncertain about life in general, thinking, ‘If I’ve had cancer, what else can go wrong?’
There is no right or wrong way to live with uncertainty and however you deal with it is perfectly normal.

Anita’s Story
‘I found I couldn’t look forward. Forget about planning for things next month, I couldn’t even plan for things tomorrow. It felt my whole life was turned upside down. Cancer was in control – I wasn’t. I thought, “This is it. This is my life now,” and I became very depressed about it.’
Things that may help…
- You could try mindfulness, breathing exercises or other relaxation techniques.
- You could join a support group, in person or online.
- Some times people with cancer view receiving a diagnosis as the start of being able to gain some control and more certainty around their health, they now know what their illness is and can begin to work with their medical team to find the best treatment for them.
Worry traps
Feeling worried is normal after a diagnosis of cancer. Different people experience worry in different ways. For some, it can lead to unhelpful patterns of thought and feeling overwhelmed by ‘What if…?’ questions, e.g. ‘What if the treatment does not work?’ Sometimes these worries can extend to other areas of daily life, e.g. ‘What will happen to my work?’ ‘What will happen to my family?’
In these situations, people can quickly feel trapped by their worries. Some try to reduce their feelings of worry by avoiding things or constantly checking and seeking reassurance. People in a worry trap may:
avoid…
- seeing their GP when they have symptoms
- going for scans
- thinking about cancer
check by…
- visiting their GP often
- looking up information on the internet frequently
- asking friends and family what they think
These actions may bring short-term relief from worry, but often feelings can return, sometimes worse than before.

Jeff’s Story
‘It was like I was on a carousel, going round and round and I couldn’t get off. Every worry would trigger another worry. “What would happen if I didn’t have treatment?” “What would happen if I did?” “What’s going to happen to my job?” “Can I pay the mortgage?” There weren’t a hundred things to worry about, there were thousands.’
Things that may help…
- You could try mindfulness, breathing exercises or other relaxation techniques.
- You could keep a diary to record your thoughts and emotions.
Worry about scans and tests
After a cancer diagnosis, it is common to worry or feel anxious about a test or scan. These tests may be done to diagnose a problem, to monitor treatment, to see if the treatment has worked or to see if the cancer has come back. The weeks leading up to a scan, during a scan, and the days or weeks waiting for the results can result in feelings of anxiousness.
Many people who are worried about scans tests have had previous experiences of getting bad news from tests, and going for a test or scan can bring back memories that increase anxiety. Scans, however, play an important part in cancer treatment and cannot be avoided. Pretending these feelings are not there is not helpful, and it is important to recognise and talk about them.

Pete’s story
‘It seems I live from one scan to another. Every three months, I build up to it, feeling this is the time I get bad news. Then I get a reprieve, a little time off until it starts all over again. It’s really hard to keep positive when you are brought low again and again.’
Things that may help…
- You could keep a diary to record your thoughts and emotions and rebuild a sense of control.
- Think about how your lifestyle might support your mood.
- You could try mindfulness, breathing exercises or other relaxation techniques.
Fear of recurrence
Cancer recurrence is when the cancer comes back after cancer treatment. Even when there is no sign of the disease, many never completely lose the fear that the cancer will return. There may be particular times when people are more fearful of cancer recurrence than others, such as anniversaries of diagnosis or treatment ending or attending following up appointments. It is normal to worry about cancer returning, but it can be a problem if excessive fear begins to affect the quality of your life.
People can worry that every pain, ache or other symptom such as fever are signs that the cancer has come back. If the fear is strong, it can make it difficult to sleep, eat or concentrate.

Jane’s story
‘I try to remain positive, but my thoughts keep going back to the same thing. It’s just the uncertainty of the disease. I lie awake at night, trying to think about something else, but every ache, every twinge, every lump or bump, I think, “This is it. It’s come back”.’
Things that may help…
- Think about how your lifestyle might support your mood.
- You could try mindfulness, breathing exercises or other relaxation techniques.
Anger
It is natural to feel anger when you have been diagnosed. Do not feel guilty about being angry. People with cancer can feel angry about:
- their diagnosis
- the impact cancer is having on their lives
- the treatments they receive and side-effects
- the hospital and staff if their treatment is complicated
- other people who are well
- the rest of the world for not understanding what they are going through.
People experience their anger in different ways. Some people shout out loud, others feel tearful. Others hide their feelings and can feel more isolated. Feeling angry can link to other emotions, such as fear, anxiety and sadness.

Joe’s story
‘I was just so angry with it. No-one in my family had ever had cancer. I didn’t smoke. I’m fairly fit and swim and cycle every week. So, I know lots of people say it but, “Why me? Why did I get it?”’
Things that may help…
- You could keep a diary to record your thoughts and emotions.
- Think about how your lifestyle might support your mood.
- You could try mindfulness, breathing exercises or other relaxation techniques.
- You may be able to use it positively, giving you the energy to change aspects of your life.
Guilt
Many people living with cancer can feel guilty. Common feelings of guilt are:
- Blaming yourself for having cancer.
- Guilt at not seeing your GP sooner.
- Changing routines with friends and family, particularly with those helping you live with cancer.
- If you work, being signed off sick or not working your full hours, or having work adjustments.
- Not being as socially active as you once were.
- Not being able to perform daily chores, such as shopping, cleaning or cooking.
- If you have been successfully treated for cancer, feeling guilty that you have ‘survived’ while others haven’t.
Remember, these feelings are normal and cancer is not your fault, nor anyone else’s.

Adam’s story
‘It just seemed so random. Why did I survive but others weren’t so lucky? Don’t get me wrong, I am happy that I was one of the lucky ones. I’m so grateful that I’m still here. But, yeah, ‘Survival guilt,’ it does exist. It always creeps in and I find myself comparing, thinking their life was more deserving than mine.’
Things that may help…
- You could keep a diary to record your thoughts and emotions.
- You could join a support group, in person or online.
Fear of dying
For some people, being told they have cancer can cause worry and uncertainty about how much time they have left. No two people will respond to the news they have cancer in the same way. While some don’t worry about whether they will die from cancer, others find that they think about it often.
Those living with cancer that cannot be cured can have specific feelings about dying. However, even when people are told their cancer can be cured, they may still have a fear of death. These feelings are a natural response to the uncertainty that a cancer diagnosis can bring. The feelings become a problem when they interfere with daily living, affecting sleep, eating and enjoying life.

Frances’s story
‘It’s really hard being told I had cancer, particularly as I’m still in my 20s. I don’t want to be thinking about whether I am going to be alive or whether I’m going to die. I shouldn’t be thinking about that yet. All the things I planned, like bringing up my kids, work – now I’m worried if I’m going to be around. I cannot match my diagnosis with where I am in my life.’
Things that may help…
- You could keep a diary to record your thoughts and emotions.
- You could try mindfulness, breathing exercises or other relaxation techniques.
- You could get involved in social activities, support groups or activities that give your life meaning.
People diagnosed with cancer often feel uncertain about the future. They can feel uncertain about:
- the status of their health
- how they will respond to treatment
- how long they will live after treatment has ended
- the impact on their career
- the impact on their daily life
- the quality of health care they will receive
- future plans to have a family
These uncertainties affect people in different ways. Some try to put their experiences of cancer behind them and not think about it. Others think about their cancer often and find feelings of uncertainty overwhelming, causing them to be frightened, angry or fearful. Many find there are times when they feel more uncertain than others, e.g. when going for a scan. It is usual for people who have had cancer to feel more uncertain about life in general, thinking, ‘If I’ve had cancer, what else can go wrong?’
There is no right or wrong way to live with uncertainty and however you deal with it is perfectly normal.

Anita’s Story
‘I found I couldn’t look forward. Forget about planning for things next month, I couldn’t even plan for things tomorrow. It felt my whole life was turned upside down. Cancer was in control – I wasn’t. I thought, “This is it. This is my life now,” and I became very depressed about it.’
Things that may help…
- You could try mindfulness, breathing exercises or other relaxation techniques.
- You could join a support group, in person or online.
- Some times people with cancer view receiving a diagnosis as the start of being able to gain some control and more certainty around their health, they now know what their illness is and can begin to work with their medical team to find the best treatment for them.
Feeling worried is normal after a diagnosis of cancer. Different people experience worry in different ways. For some, it can lead to unhelpful patterns of thought and feeling overwhelmed by ‘What if…?’ questions, e.g. ‘What if the treatment does not work?’ Sometimes these worries can extend to other areas of daily life, e.g. ‘What will happen to my work?’ ‘What will happen to my family?’
In these situations, people can quickly feel trapped by their worries. Some try to reduce their feelings of worry by avoiding things or constantly checking and seeking reassurance. People in a worry trap may:
avoid…
- seeing their GP when they have symptoms
- going for scans
- thinking about cancer
check by…
- visiting their GP often
- looking up information on the internet frequently
- asking friends and family what they think
These actions may bring short-term relief from worry, but often feelings can return, sometimes worse than before.

Jeff’s Story
‘It was like I was on a carousel, going round and round and I couldn’t get off. Every worry would trigger another worry. “What would happen if I didn’t have treatment?” “What would happen if I did?” “What’s going to happen to my job?” “Can I pay the mortgage?” There weren’t a hundred things to worry about, there were thousands.’
Things that may help…
- You could try mindfulness, breathing exercises or other relaxation techniques.
- You could keep a diary to record your thoughts and emotions.
After a cancer diagnosis, it is common to worry or feel anxious about a test or scan. These tests may be done to diagnose a problem, to monitor treatment, to see if the treatment has worked or to see if the cancer has come back. The weeks leading up to a scan, during a scan, and the days or weeks waiting for the results can result in feelings of anxiousness.
Many people who are worried about scans tests have had previous experiences of getting bad news from tests, and going for a test or scan can bring back memories that increase anxiety. Scans, however, play an important part in cancer treatment and cannot be avoided. Pretending these feelings are not there is not helpful, and it is important to recognise and talk about them.

Pete’s story
‘It seems I live from one scan to another. Every three months, I build up to it, feeling this is the time I get bad news. Then I get a reprieve, a little time off until it starts all over again. It’s really hard to keep positive when you are brought low again and again.’
Things that may help…
- You could keep a diary to record your thoughts and emotions and rebuild a sense of control.
- Think about how your lifestyle might support your mood.
- You could try mindfulness, breathing exercises or other relaxation techniques.
Cancer recurrence is when the cancer comes back after cancer treatment. Even when there is no sign of the disease, many never completely lose the fear that the cancer will return. There may be particular times when people are more fearful of cancer recurrence than others, such as anniversaries of diagnosis or treatment ending or attending following up appointments. It is normal to worry about cancer returning, but it can be a problem if excessive fear begins to affect the quality of your life.
People can worry that every pain, ache or other symptom such as fever are signs that the cancer has come back. If the fear is strong, it can make it difficult to sleep, eat or concentrate.

Jane’s story
‘I try to remain positive, but my thoughts keep going back to the same thing. It’s just the uncertainty of the disease. I lie awake at night, trying to think about something else, but every ache, every twinge, every lump or bump, I think, “This is it. It’s come back”.’
Things that may help…
- Think about how your lifestyle might support your mood.
- You could try mindfulness, breathing exercises or other relaxation techniques.
It is natural to feel anger when you have been diagnosed. Do not feel guilty about being angry. People with cancer can feel angry about:
- their diagnosis
- the impact cancer is having on their lives
- the treatments they receive and side-effects
- the hospital and staff if their treatment is complicated
- other people who are well
- the rest of the world for not understanding what they are going through.
People experience their anger in different ways. Some people shout out loud, others feel tearful. Others hide their feelings and can feel more isolated. Feeling angry can link to other emotions, such as fear, anxiety and sadness.

Joe’s story
‘I was just so angry with it. No-one in my family had ever had cancer. I didn’t smoke. I’m fairly fit and swim and cycle every week. So, I know lots of people say it but, “Why me? Why did I get it?”’
Things that may help…
- You could keep a diary to record your thoughts and emotions.
- Think about how your lifestyle might support your mood.
- You could try mindfulness, breathing exercises or other relaxation techniques.
- You may be able to use it positively, giving you the energy to change aspects of your life.
Many people living with cancer can feel guilty. Common feelings of guilt are:
- Blaming yourself for having cancer.
- Guilt at not seeing your GP sooner.
- Changing routines with friends and family, particularly with those helping you live with cancer.
- If you work, being signed off sick or not working your full hours, or having work adjustments.
- Not being as socially active as you once were.
- Not being able to perform daily chores, such as shopping, cleaning or cooking.
- If you have been successfully treated for cancer, feeling guilty that you have ‘survived’ while others haven’t.
Remember, these feelings are normal and cancer is not your fault, nor anyone else’s.

Adam’s story
‘It just seemed so random. Why did I survive but others weren’t so lucky? Don’t get me wrong, I am happy that I was one of the lucky ones. I’m so grateful that I’m still here. But, yeah, ‘Survival guilt,’ it does exist. It always creeps in and I find myself comparing, thinking their life was more deserving than mine.’
Things that may help…
- You could keep a diary to record your thoughts and emotions.
- You could join a support group, in person or online.
For some people, being told they have cancer can cause worry and uncertainty about how much time they have left. No two people will respond to the news they have cancer in the same way. While some don’t worry about whether they will die from cancer, others find that they think about it often.
Those living with cancer that cannot be cured can have specific feelings about dying. However, even when people are told their cancer can be cured, they may still have a fear of death. These feelings are a natural response to the uncertainty that a cancer diagnosis can bring. The feelings become a problem when they interfere with daily living, affecting sleep, eating and enjoying life.

Frances’s story
‘It’s really hard being told I had cancer, particularly as I’m still in my 20s. I don’t want to be thinking about whether I am going to be alive or whether I’m going to die. I shouldn’t be thinking about that yet. All the things I planned, like bringing up my kids, work – now I’m worried if I’m going to be around. I cannot match my diagnosis with where I am in my life.’
Things that may help…
- You could keep a diary to record your thoughts and emotions.
- You could try mindfulness, breathing exercises or other relaxation techniques.
- You could get involved in social activities, support groups or activities that give your life meaning.