Coping with thyroid cancer

It can be difficult coping with a diagnosis of cancer. At first, you are likely to feel very upset, frightened and confused. You may wonder how you will cope with practical and emotional worries. 

It is very important to get the right information about your type of thyroid cancer and treatment. It is easier to make decisions and cope when you are well informed about your illness and treatment.

Your feelings

Finding out you have thyroid cancer can cause a lot of emotions. You may feel angry, sad or anxious. It can be difficult to talk about how you feel. 

Everyone reacts in their own way. One day you might feel positive and able to cope but the next day feel the exact opposite. This is natural. Experiencing different feelings is a natural part of coming to terms with the disease. All sorts of feelings are likely to come and go.

Some people find that counselling can help them cope. Counselling can help to reduce stress and improve your quality of life. It can be difficult to access a counsellor through the NHS. It's worth asking your GP or your treatment team for the services that are available in your area. 

Helping yourself

Information about your type of cancer and its treatment helps you to know what to expect. It also helps you to cope and make decisions.

Taking in information about treatment and the future can be difficult. Make a list of questions before you see your doctor. Take someone with you to remind you what you want to ask and to help you remember the answers.

Ask your doctors and nurses to explain things again if you need them to.

Remember that you don’t have to sort everything out at once. It might take some time to deal with each issue. Ask for help if you need it.

Talking to other people

Talking to your friends and relatives about your cancer can help and support you. But some people are scared of the emotions this could bring up and won’t want to talk. They might worry that you won't be able to cope with your situation.

It can strain relationships if your family or friends don't want to talk. But talking can help increase trust and support between you.

Help your family and friends by letting them know if you would like to talk about what’s happening and how you feel.

You might find it easier to talk to someone outside your own friends and family. For example your specialist nurse, or other people in a similar situation to you. You could join a support group, or contact one of the thyroid cancer charities.

Cancer chat

You might find it helpful to talk to other people affected by thyroid cancer. Cancer Chat is our free online discussion forum for people affected by cancer. It is a safe space to talk to other people in similar situations, and find information and support.

Coping physically

Thyroid cancer and its treatment may cause physical changes in your body. These changes can be due to the effects of your treatment and may be very difficult to cope with. They could be short or long term and may cause you to feel different about yourself. You may find that your self esteem and the way you relate to other people changes.

A healthy diet and regular physical activity can help. If you have particular exercises to follow, try to make sure you remember to do them. They will help to reduce scarring and swelling.

You may feel tired and lethargic when your treatment has finished. This usually gets better with time. It can help to plan activities and take lots of rest.

Coping practically

You and your family might need to cope with practical things including:

• money matters
• financial support, such as benefits, sick pay and grants
• work issues
• childcare
• Blue Badge applications
• help with travel costs
• changes to your house

Talk to your doctor or specialist nurse to find out who can help. You might be able to get some benefits for yourself and the person caring for you. You might also be able to get grants for heating costs, holidays and other household expenses related to your illness.

Getting help early with these things can mean that they don’t become a big issue later. It may be helpful to see a social worker. Many hospital cancer departments have a social worker available for patients.

Relationships and sex

The physical and emotional changes you have might affect your relationships and sex life. There are things that you can do to manage this.

Support at home

GP

Your GP manages your healthcare when you are at home. They can help with any medical problems that come up. They can also make referrals to a community service for you. The availability of the different community services may vary, depending on where you live.

Community or district nurse

These nurses work in different places in your local area and may visit you in your home. They can:

• give medicines or injections

• check temperature, blood pressure and breathing

• clean and dress wounds

• monitor or set up drips

• give emotional support

• teach basic caring skills to family members where needed

• get special equipment such as hospital beds, special mattresses, commodes or bed pans

Community services vary from area to area. Your hospital specialist nurse can tell you what is locally available to you.

Community palliative care nurses

Community specialist palliative care nurses include Macmillan nurses and hospice nurses. They specialise in symptom management such as pain control, sickness, and other cancer symptoms. They also give emotional support to you and your carers.

Marie Curie nurses

Marie Curie nurses give nursing care to people with advanced cancer in their own homes. They can visit during the day or spend the night in your home to give your carers a break.

Social workers

Social workers can help to support you with your situation at home. They can arrange:

• home helps to help with shopping or housework
• home care assistants for washing and dressing
• meals on wheels
• respite care

Your social worker can also help with money matters by checking you get all the benefits you are entitled to. Or they can advise you about charity grants for things like extra heating costs or special diets.

Contact a social worker yourself by getting in touch with your local social services office. Or ask your hospital nurse or your GP to refer you.

Local support services

There is usually other help available but services can vary from place to place.

Sometimes local voluntary groups offer sitting services. Someone comes to stay with you while your relative goes out.

Good neighbour schemes offer befriending or practical help with shopping or transport.

Local cancer support groups often offer practical help. And they are a good source of information about services in your area. Ask your doctor or nurse about local groups.