It’s a scary thing to tell your loved ones you have cancer. You want to make sure they know how much you love them, but at the same time, you’re terrified of what their reactions will be. There are many different ways that this conversation can go, and it is important for everyone involved to feel comfortable.
In this post, we’ll discuss how to prepare yourself before telling your family about cancer diagnosis and how to explain it without scaring them too much! Not only will we help you come up with a plan, but we’ll also offer some advice on how to get through the difficult conversation.
How To Tell Your Family About Cancer
1. Introduce the topic of cancer
2. Talk about how cancer is a disease that can affect anyone
3. Discuss the different types of cancers and what they do to your body
4. Explain what treatments are available for people with cancer
5. Share information on how you should tell your family members you have it
6. Tell them about some ways to help someone who has been diagnosed with cancer, such as donating blood or giving emotional support
7. What to expect when telling your family about your diagnosis
8. How to take care of yourself while preparing for the conversation with your loved ones
9. Tips and tricks for having an easier time talking about cancer with loved ones
10. Give a list of resources that can help someone who is going through this process, including books, websites, and support groups in their area
11. Describe how it felt after you told people about my diagnosis – did they react well or poorly; was it easy or hard; what are some things that helped them understand the situation better than others
12. Acknowledging the importance of supportive friends and family members during this time in one’s life
13. Summarizing tips on how to talk about cancer with loved ones (easing into it gradually by first discussing other topics before getting personal; asking questions so they feel like their voice is being heard)
14. Suggestions for reading more on ways to cope with cancer as a patient or caregiver (books/websites/support groups). Provide links at end of blog post where readers can find these resources online if desired.
How Not To Tell Your Family
Let’s start by first talking about what not to do: don’t spring it on them during dinner or at a holiday celebration; don’t rely solely on text messages; and try your best not to break down in front of them.
Tell them about your diagnosis. If you’re not ready to talk with family members, let them know that you’ll be in touch when you are. Share what’s going on in the meantime and how they can help. You don’t have to do this alone!