10 Tips for Cancer Patients

Cancer is a small word with scary consequences.

It is overwhelming when you are first told you have cancer and you might not know how to process this information or how you are going to get through this. We have gathered top tips from people who have come before you and come out the other side.

We hope these tips will help you on your journey through this dickhead of a disease.

#1 Be understanding and patient with yourself. Cancer is a roller coaster. There is no ‘right way’ to do cancer.

Some days you might feel like you can take on the world and there is no way cancer is going to beat you and other days when you want to hide under the covers and give up. You will have good days and bad days and it is OK to let yourself rest on the bad days.

#2 You are not alone! It can be hard to ask for help, especially if you are used to being an independent person. Just remember that people want to help you. They feel helpless and accepting help can benefit you and make them feel useful. It is a win win!

#3 Accept there will be times you won’t feel like doing anything. Make sure your support knows this. Don’t pressure yourself to power on through the day if you aren’t feeling up to anything other than sitting on the sofa watching Netflix. You can plan activities with your friends and family but make sure you let them know you may have to change plans if you aren’t feeling up to it on the day.

#4 Keep active. Although we have given you permission to rest in the previous tip, more and more research has proven that exercise can greatly improve both mental and physical health during treatment. Try to incorporate exercise into your daily routine. This could be a 30 minute walk or a gentle aqua aerobics class. There will be days when you don’t feel up to it, but on the days you can exercise you know you are giving yourself the best chance of avoiding post treatment fatigue, maintaining heart and lung fitness and reducing anxiety and depression.

Consider buying a pedometer or fitness watch such as a Fitbit to track your progress.

#5 Keep informed, but not obsessed. This is a hard one as Dr Google is so tempting! Educate yourself but ensure you are accessing reputable sources online. There is a lot of misinformation around cancer online. Protect yourself from additional anxiety or dodgy ‘cures’ by only visiting reputable sites. There are many great support groups and organisations dedicated to helping people fighting cancer which can be a great resource.

#6 Take it a day at a time.

There’s so much unknown and everyone’s experience is different. Don’t worry twice! Deal with the information you have at hand and process that. Don’t add additional stress to yourself worrying about things that might happen in 2 months.

#7 Breathe! There is so much to take in and the first few weeks after diagnosis can be overwhelming. Allow yourself time to take a breath and process your diagnosis. Give yourself time and space to make decisions based on the information you have with the support of people you trust.

#8 Don’t be afraid to seek multiple opinions from medical teams. It is your body and you know it better than anyone else. Before, during and after treatment if something doesn’t feel right, you are within your right to seek out another opinion.

#9 Let go of the stupid things otherwise good people say. People WILL say stupid things. Cancer is scary and people often don’t know what to say or how to act. If they are usually a good person and have good intentions don’t hold onto the anger or hurt that comes when they say something silly. They probably didn’t mean it and your energy is much better placed healing from cancer. On the other hand, if someone is just being a dick feel free to protect yourself during this time by removing yourself from their company. #10 Focus on what is in your control. Feelings of not being in control often come with a cancer diagnosis and there is a lot you can’t control and you will have to put your trust in your medical team. However there are some things you can control. Your happiness - find joy in the everyday and treat yourself to things you enjoy. This could be a 5* holiday, a walk in a forest or a cup of tea with a friend. Diet - you can control what you put in your body. Ask for a referral to a nutritionist and nourish your body with healthy food. Don’t be afraid to have the occasional treat if that makes you happy. Exercise - As above exercise is by far and away the best complementary medicine for your cancer treatment. Keep active as much as you can whilst allowing yourself to rest and recover when necessary.

Bonus Tip! Get mental health support.

A good counsellor or psychologist is going to be worth their weight in gold during your treatment. You can ask for a referral to a professional trained in working with cancer patients.

An experienced counsellor can help you process your thoughts, let you know you aren’t alone in your feelings and are a fantastic outlet when you don’t want to vocalise something to your loved ones.

There are also many support groups available. Ask your medical team for a recommendation based on your specific cancer.

If you find yourself needing to talk to someone after reading this article you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or The Cancer Council on 13 11 20

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Shop To Help

FU Cancer Network is a passion project, but it comes with costs. Purchasing through the links below won’t cost you extra, but a small commission will help maintain the site and expand offerings. Not all products earn a commission, but if they do it helps me to keep this space alive for those who need it most.These are items I used myself, friends used or come highly recommended via other channels. I spent many hours researching what would help my skin, hair and mental health during treatment, you can benefit from that now and skip the research.

Some of these are thoughtful gifts to give to people you care about who are having treatment and some are to gift to yourself.

You'll probably notice there are some swearies in the titles of some books, because.... F cancer!

What The F*ck Just Happened. A Survivor's Guide to Life After Breast CancerClick To Purchase	The Cancer Survivor Handbook Your Guide to Building a Life After Cancer Click To Purchase
Chemo P!ssed Me Off. A Breast Cancer Roadmap: Navigating with Faith, Gratitude, and a Little Bit of AttitudeClick To Purchase	F*** You Cancer: How to face the big C, live your life and still be yourselfClick To Purchase
The Cancer Ladies’ Running Club: The most emotional, uplifting and life-affirming novel of summer 2023 Click To Purchase	Chemotherapy Journal Punch Cancer in the Face: Cancer Chemo Journal Click To Purchase
Clinique Even Better Clinical Radical Dark Spot Corrector. I messed up my skin (which you aren't going to do as you will ALWAYS wear sunscreen) and this cleared up the sunspots within a couple of weeks. I highly recommend for reducing blemishes & correcting skin tone and will continue to use it now I'm post chemo. Click To Purchase	Eau Thermale Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream helps repair damaged, dry, cracked, and non-oozing skin in 48 hours. Skin is immediately soothed after the first application, and the cutaneous barrier is restored. In fact, all the Avene Products are worth considering when you have delicate skin from chemo.   Click To Purchase
Cancer Council Daywear SPF 50+ Light Tint BB Cream As above you are going to wear sunscreen every single day from now on and this is a great option. I apply this after my moisturiser and know I'm heading out with 50+ protection on my delicate facial skin. If I'd been doing this from the start I wouldn't have needed the Clinique! Check out other cancer council products at the link below. Click To Purchase	Hand Weights. Light weights for use when doing at home pilates If you are able to get to the gym maintaining muscle by using hand weights can be a simple way to workout at home. Click To Purchase
Yoga Mat with Alignment Lines. Anti-Slip. Beautiful yoga mat featuring alignment lines to assist you with the position of arms and legs. This helps with at home pilates or yoga by encouraging you to keep your body in balance with accurate posture for the best practice. Click To Purchase	Activity Tracker As exercise can help you with your cancer treatment and recovery now might be a great time to invest in a fitness tracker if you haven't already. The Fitbit (or similar) is a great option which encourages mindfulness plus tracks exercise and sleep. Click To Purchase
The Menopause Book If your treatment puts you into medical menopause this book with help you navigate this new phase in your life. Click To Purchase	Menopause Supplements If you need help managing hot flushes due to medical menopause some of these supplements may help rebalance your hormones. As with any supplements do not take these without consulting with your oncology team. Click To Purchase
Satin Head Scarfs Play around with head scarves to see what styles and colours suit you. This style was great for me when I lost most of my hair. Click To Purchase	UGG Slippers I was very lucky and only got a very small amount of neuropathy in my feet but I do feel the cold more now. During chemo I swapped my normal thongs around the house for Uggs to avoid the cold in my toes. It really does make a world of difference. Click To Purchase
Aromatherapy Diffusers A thoughtful gift for a loved one facing cancer is always welcomed. Diffusers offer a safe, convenient, and flame-free way to create a calming atmosphere. Gentle, long-lasting fragrances provide comfort and relaxation, making them a perfect gift for promoting peace and well-being. Click To Purchase	Rose Quartz Gifts Rose quartz is not only a beautiful gift for a loved one fighting cancer but some believe Rose quartz promotes love, healing, and emotional balance while reducing stress and anxiety with its calming energy—perfect for self-care and inner peace. There are a number of styles at the link below Click To Purchase
The Ordinary Multi Peptide Serum for Hair Density This hair growth serum is is designed to support hair health so that it looks thicker, denser, fuller and healthier. Be aware that it contains caffeine to stimulate the follicles so keep this for when you have finished chemo as it can actually have the opposite effect you are going for if you use it whilst undergoing treatment. Click To Purchase	Miracle Spray Hair Treatment I LOVE this product and was using it before chemo on recommendation from a friend. It is great to leave in after washing when you can't blow dry to help contain fluffiness from dried out chemo hair! Click To Purchase
TOPPIK Hair Building Fibers Toppik Hair Building Fibers, are made of colored keratin protein and it blends with existing hair strands to instantly create the appearance of naturally thick, full hair. I used this when my bald spot was at it's worse and I didn't want to wear a wig. I was skeptical about this product but it is honestly amazing how it works. Click To Purchase	Silk Pillow Cases Protect hair and skin during chemo with silk fabric pillowcases. During chemotherapy, silk pillowcases offer benefits like reduced friction, moisture retention, and a gentle surface for sensitive skin and hair, which can be particularly helpful during hair loss and regrowth.Perfect as a thoughtful gift for a loved one going through treatment Click To Purchase

Support Resources

Cancer Council Australia

CCA an organisation to support all Australians affected by cancer through support, research and prevention programs.

Ovarian Cancer Australia

OCA is an independent national not-for-profit organisation, supporting women diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Our focus is to provide care and support for those affected by ovarian cancer; and represent them by leading change. Our vision is to save lives and ensure no woman with ovarian cancer walks alone.

Breast Cancer Network Australia

BCNA Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) is Australia’s leading breast cancer consumer organisation. We have worked tirelessly to ensure that all Australians who are affected by breast cancer receive the very best care, treatment and support.

Bowel Cancer Australia

BCA Peer-to-Peer Support Network connects patient’s and loved ones on a one-to-one buddy basis that enables members to give and receive advice about their bowel cancer experience in an informal and mutually beneficial way.

Leukaemia Foundation

LF is a support service for patients and supporters dealing with blood cancers.

*FU Cancer is supported by its audience. If you choose to purchase through the links on our site we may receive an affiliate commission. This goes towards paying our expenses plus a percentage of our monthly profit goes towards directly helping people with cancer. If you know someone who could do with a boost during their cancer treatment please let us know here.

FU Cancer is supported by its audience. If you choose to purchase through the links on our site we may receive an affiliate commission. This goes towards paying our expenses plus a percentage of our monthly profit goes towards directly helping people with cancer. If you know someone who could do with a boost during their cancer treatment please let us know here.