Coping with cancer
If you've been diagnosed with cancer, you may need help dealing with the impact on your mental wellbeing.
Whether you're a Bupa health insurance customer or not, we're here to help you find support, feel less anxious and more in control.
The emotional impact of cancer
Once you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, you may find it hard to cope with. You’re likely to go through a whole range of emotions, including fear, anxiety, sadness, guilt, anger and depression. It’s important to remember that there is no right way to feel - everyone deals with things in their own way.
On this page, you’ll find a range of useful information and advice from Bupa’s experts on how to deal with depression and cancer.
Getting support for depression
It’s not unusual to feel sad and low when you’re dealing with cancer, with one in four people experiencing depression after their diagnosis. If you think you’ve got depression, it’s important to reach out and seek help as soon as you need it
Your doctor will be able to recommend several treatments, including counselling, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and antidepressant medicines.
Dealing with anxiety
A cancer diagnosis can cause you to worry about the impact it will have on your family and your future. You may also feel anxious about tests and treatment. Sometimes anxiety can start to manifest physically, resulting in shortness of breath or panic attacks.
Opening up and talking about your worries can make a huge difference to your mental wellbeing. You could talk to a counsellor, a support group or your friends and family – whatever helps you cope.
How do I talk to somebody if I am diagnosed with cancer?
We understand talking about cancer can be difficult. If you have cancer, it might help to write down your questions. Thinking about who to speak to is a good starting point. Our nurses are here to support you, helping you get the answers you need. Watch our video to find out more.
Dr Zoe:
When it comes to talking about cancer, I think that's the most important thing really is that people feel
able to talk about it. If you are somebody who's been diagnosed with cancer, then it impacts on every
part of your life. It's not just a physical disease. It will impact on your mental health. It will impact on
your relationships, your family life, your work. And there will be lots of people who want to help and
support you. So please do talk freely about it. Like you would, if you had osteoarthritis of the knee, this
is a disease and you can talk about it. There's absolutely no shame.
Dr Zoe:
And when it comes to talking to your medical teams, there'll be a lot of information. You will have a lot
of questions. So my advice is just keep a log of those questions. Just keep adding them to your phone
when those questions come up in your mind. And then when you get the opportunity, you can make
sure that they all get answered.
Dr Zoe:
And if you are somebody who is looking to support somebody that you care about, who's been
diagnosed with cancer, don't be afraid to ask them how you can help. They might want to talk about
their cancer and their treatment. They might absolutely not want to talk about it. Remember, they're
still the person that they were before. They're not defined by their cancer. So just ask them if they want
to talk about it and also ask them how you can be there for them and support them.
Kathy battled cancer and depression
Normal meant closing the door and screaming and screaming and screaming.
Kathy was diagnosed with cancer twice and struggled with depression, with no family to lean on. It became hard for her to cope. Watch our video to find out how we helped†.
†Each story refers to mental health cover and reflects the experience of one particular Bupa member. The cover you choose will have specific terms and conditions and pre-existing conditions are normally excluded.
It's only now I'm out of the tunnel that I can really appreciate how dark it was
I was diagnosed with cancer twice and needed two big operations on my liver
I'm not from a big family, so I felt like I had no one to lean on
It was overwhelming, it got so hard for me to carry it all there was so much pressure and I was frightened
I was struggling with depression
I just remember going into a room and screaming and screaming and screaming
I couldn't go on, that's when I knew I couldn't deal with it myself
I was a Bupa member so I gave them a call
the oncology team were there for me straight away
I realised I wasn't on my own anymore
Bupa looked after me from that moment on and the help and counselling I've had from the mental health nurses has been excellent
they let me get everything off my chest
I feel like I'm having a coffee with a friend, just talking it over knowing I could speak to someone when I needed to has been a lifeline for me
I've never had to worry about my cover, no matter how long it took or how much it cost
Bupa just took care of it all and they will do, even if my illness comes back
Bupa's helped me to regain myself I don't know where I'd be without them
Eating well during and after cancer
Eating a well-balanced diet is important for everyone, especially if you have cancer. Many people find that they lose weight when they have cancer, which can be due to cancer treatments like chemotherapy. Eating well can not only help you keep your strength up, it can also improve your mental wellbeing.
Learn more about eating well during and after cancer
Once you’ve finished your cancer treatment, it can feel like a huge relief. It’s not uncommon to feel a little lost too. You may need time to recover, both physically and emotionally.
How to look after your mental wellbeing
Keep active. Regular exercise can make you feel more positive, improve your general health and may help you to manage anxiety or depression.
Make sure you eat a well balanced diet as this can help you cope with treatment side effects, recover faster and give you more energy.
Try to establish a routine and get a good night's sleep. Properly relaxing can help improve your mental wellbeing and sleep is good for physical health.
Spending a lot of time indoors will affect your mental wellbeing, that's why it's important to stay connected to your friends and family. Make sure you keep talking about your cancer, as this can be comforting and make you feel less anxious.
Cancer support and information from Bupa’s experts
Our wellbeing platform, Healthy Me, has lots of helpful articles about dealing with cancer.
Find Bupa-recognised mental health professionals near you
Our Finder tool lets you browse the directory of Bupa-recognised consultants, psychologists, therapists, counsellors and other professionals.
You don’t need to be a Bupa health insurance customer to see them, just make your own appointment and pay independently.
If you’re in a crisis or just need some help, don’t hesitate. Here are some really helpful organisations that you can turn to for support.
Samaritans
When life is difficult, Samaritans are here – day or night, 365 days a year. Whoever you are and whatever you’re facing, they won’t judge you or tell you what to do. They’re there to listen so you don’t have to face it alone.
Call free day or night on
116 123 (UK and ROI)
Mind
Mind is a charity dedicated to mental health. They exist to make sure no one has to face a mental health problem alone. They’ll listen to you and offer support and advice.
0300 123 3393
Lines open 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays
Young Minds
YoungMinds is the UK’s leading charity for children’s and young people's mental health. You can text Crisis Messenger for free 24/7 and get support from trained volunteers who are supervised by experienced clinicians. Texts are free from most major mobile networks.
For urgent help, text YM to 85258
Mental Health Foundation
This charity helps people understand, protect and sustain their mental health. The ‘Your mental health’ section has lots of useful content, including podcasts about mindfulness and overcoming anxiety.
Rethink Mental Illness
Rethink offers crisis and recovery services, advocacy, online resources, support groups and much more. Each year, they help tens of thousands of people manage their mental wellbeing.
0300 5000 927
Lines open 10am to 2pm Monday to Friday
Mental health support as part of Bupa health insurance
I’m already a Bupa health insurance customer
If you have mental health cover as part of your Bupa health insurance, we can refer you to a consultant or therapist, and you may not even have to see your GP first††. Or we can put you through to one of our mental health nurses.
0808 256 1766^
^Calls may be recorded and to maintain the quality of our service we may monitor some of our calls, always respecting the confidentiality of the call.
I’m not a Bupa customer, but I’m interested in health insurance
If you’re looking for mental health support as part of a broader health insurance policy, we can look after you, your family, or your employees.
†Each story refers to mental health cover and reflects the experience of one particular Bupa member. The cover you choose will have specific terms and conditions and pre-existing conditions are normally excluded.
††Any onward referrals for consultations, tests or treatment are subject to the benefits and exclusions of your cover. For example, if your cover excludes conditions you had before your cover started, we may ask for further information from your GP. Please check your guide and certificate for further details or contact us to check your eligibility.
Bupa health insurance is provided by Bupa Insurance Limited. Registered in England and Wales No. 3956433. Bupa Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Arranged and administered by Bupa Insurance Services Limited, which is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England and Wales No. 3829851. Registered office: 1 Angel Court, London EC2R 7HZ.
