Existing mental health difficulties

We know that it is common for people to struggle with their mental health or emotional wellbeing when dealing with a cancer diagnosis. If you have a history of mental health difficulties or a current diagnosis, you may find that your mental health worsens, it is harder to cope during this time or that things stay the same.

When living with cancer, people who have pre-existing mental health difficulties may experience an increase in feelings of anxiety, panic, depression, hopelessness or isolation. Past trauma can also sometimes be triggered due to treatment, or people may find that they relapse from an addiction.

People have shared that they may also find they can:

• Struggle with attending appointments, scans or tests
• Struggle with the number of appointments they must attend
• Feel unsure who to speak to about what aspects of their care
• Feel unsure about how much they can trust healthcare professionals or uncomfortable about revealing personal information to them

What can help

• Inform your community mental health team or therapist, if you have one, that you have been diagnosed with cancer
• Speak with your community mental health team or therapist (if you have one) about what you are struggling with
• Let your cancer team know about any mental health diagnoses or difficulties you have. Whilst the cancer team are focusing on your physical health, it will help them support you best if they also understand any mental health needs or difficulties you have
• Let your cancer team know about any medication you are on for your mental health
• Speak with your cancer team about your mental health to think together about any reasonable adjustments that can be made if needed and what can help you moving forward
• Think about what aspects of cancer care or the hospital environment may trigger you and what could help you manage this
• Speak with your family or friends, and ask for their support if you feel able to
• Make use of existing coping strategies that have helped during challenging times

If you are struggling with your mental health but not getting any support currently then please speak with your GP who may be able to help or refer you on to community mental health support if needed. You can find out more at: Community Mental Health Teams

Resources

Mental health and cancer | Coping with cancer | Cancer Research UK

MIND: We’re Mind, the mental health charity | Mind

SANE: Home – SANE

Rethink: Advice, information and support from the experts

Mental Health Support Lines

The following support lines offer a space to talk to someone about your mental health:

Mind support line: 0300 102 1234 (open 9am-6pm Monday to Friday, except bank holidays)

SANEline: 0300 304 7000 (open 4.30pm–10pm every day).

Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM): 0800 58 58 58 (open 5pm–midnight every day) if you’re affected by suicide or suicidal thoughts. Or if you prefer not to speak on the phone, you could try the CALM webchat service.

Shout: If you would prefer not to talk but want some mental health support, you could text SHOUT to 85258. Shout offers a confidential 24/7 text service providing support if you are in crisis and need immediate help.

Papyrus HOPELINEUK: If you’re under 35 and struggling with suicidal feelings, or concerned about a young person who might be struggling, you can call Papyrus HOPELINEUK on 0800 068 4141 (24 hours, 7 days a week), email pat@papyrus-uk.org or text 07786 209 697.

Switchboard: If you identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, you can call Switchboard on 0300 330 0630 (10am–10pm every day), email chris@switchboard.lgbt or use their webchat service. Phone operators all identify as LGBT+.

Thoughts of harming yourself or ending your life

For some people when they are facing a difficult time, they can have thoughts of harming themselves or ending their life.

If you or someone you know ever experiences this, please seek immediate support via the Samaritans (116 123) for someone to talk with, ask for an emergency GP appointment, call 111 who can connect you with your local 24-hour mental health crisis team, or visit A&E.

You are not alone.