Family

When you are going through cancer treatment family members will have been worrying about you and maybe given you more attention than you had before you were diagnosed.  This may have been helpful at times at getting you through the treatment but it is ok if it felt overwhelming at times too.  Now that treatment has finished things may change again and as daily routines return for example parents returning to work. 

It is really normal for parents to struggle to stop worrying about you even when the treatment is over.  Talking to your parents about your feelings and listening to theirs can be a good way to support each other.  If this is an area you find difficult you can get in touch with your Survivorship CNS or your Teenage Cancer Trust Youth Support Coordinator who will happily work through this with you. 

The Teenage Cancer Trust website has provided some good support tips if you are a parent of a teenager or young person with Cancer.

Brothers & Sisters

When you were getting diagnosed and having treatment your brothers and sisters life massively changed too.  They often feel left out and scared, so spending time together after and doing day to day things with each other can help make things feel more normal again. 

There is also a support page if it is your brother or sister that has been diagnosed with cancer.

Friends

Friends can be an amazing source of support and can help how you feel by being there for you.  However, their lives have had to carry on during your treatment and so you may feel you have missed out on all that’s been happening.  Missing out on seeing friends or colleagues through not being able to attend your normal education or work can be difficult.

Sometimes people may seem like they are staying away or not saying anything but more often than not this is because they do not know what to say and are scared of saying the wrong thing. Your Teenage Cancer Trust Youth Support Coordinator offers support for difficulties like this and can point you in the direction of social events with other young people who have experienced similar treatments as you, and are also settling back into friendships after treatment.  

There is also a support page if it is a friend that has cancer  My friend has cancer | Teenage Cancer Trust