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11
If you've been told that you have cancer then almost certainly you'll find it very difficult to talk about what's happening to you and how you feel. The truth is that almost all people with cancer find it awkward and embarrassing (or uncomfortable and even painful) to talk about it with friends and family -- as well as with the nurses, doctors and other professionals looking after them.
The idea is to help you -- one step at a time -- to understand the commonest types of reactions to being told you have cancer, to understand something of what your friends and family may be feeling and to give you a sensible and practical approach that will help you to deal with the obstacles and to communicate more freely and easily. That way you'll get the support for your psychological and physical needs that you want or require -- and deserve.
Now we have to make something clear before we start -- there is no single `correct' way to do this. There is no One True Method or a magic formula which you have to stick to, forsaking all others! We can (and shall) give you some general guidelines, and in particular we can show you types of things that will help you. But how you achieve your objectives will depend very much on your own style -- on how you communicate, and how you talk with those around you, and also on the people around you. So, don't be worried if the examples or illustrations we use don't fit in with your own style -- there is no universal script that everyone has to follow.
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