A cancer diagnosis changes everything, often in a matter of moments. Whatever the prognosis, the weeks and months that follow bring a cascade of emotions that can feel overwhelming, contradictory, and very hard to put into words. Fear, grief, anger, relief, gratitude, and exhaustion can all exist at once, and all are valid.
Therapy cannot change a medical situation. But it can offer something that is sometimes hard to find elsewhere: a space that belongs entirely to you, where you do not have to be brave, reassure anyone else, or manage how you are received.
What people bring to therapy around cancer
- Fear about the future, including fear of recurrence or of death
- The emotional impact of treatment and changes to the body
- Feeling isolated, even when surrounded by people who care
- Difficulty returning to ordinary life after treatment ends
- Grief for the life, the body, or the sense of self that existed before diagnosis
- Supporting a partner, parent, or child through cancer
- Bereavement following the death of someone to cancer
How therapy can help
At Inner Space, we work with people at all stages: at diagnosis, during treatment, after treatment ends, and in bereavement. We understand that the end of treatment does not mean the end of difficulty, and that the emotional aftermath of cancer can persist long after the medical story has closed.
This work connects with our pages on grief and illness, trauma, and bereavement and loss.
Macmillan Cancer Support (macmillan.org.uk) offers practical and emotional support for people affected by cancer.