ÐÇ̽Â鶹

Having cancer treatment impacts many aspects of daily living – bringing temporary or permanent changes, as well as uncertainty.

The information on this page will help you to find out more about living day-to-day with cancer treatment.

Impact of cancer on daily living

Daily life still carries on around treatment. Often, things you’d cope with normally can feel overwhelming on top of what you're already going through.

Routines can change and there can be a lot of organising to do around appointments, with extra things to remember.

You may be looking forward to reaching the end of treatment but feel like your experience has changed you. You may also wonder how you will cope.

Managing home life

Running a household while not feeling well can be an added responsibility. You may feel more able to manage on some days than others.

It can give you time to focus on yourself if you:

• get organised – think about things you can plan ahead, like preparing food, shopping or arranging childcare
• accept offers of help – many people offer help, but are not sure what they can do. Delegating some tasks can make them feel helpful, and make things easier for you

If you live alone and feel you’re not managing, let your GP surgery and hospital know. There may be community help available.

Dealing with side effects

The side effects during and after treatment will have an impact on your ability to cope emotionally and physically day-to-day.

They will vary depending on the type of treatment you have and can affect how you look, how your body works and how you feel.

You may find it harder to manage at different stages of your treatment.

It can help to:

• find out from your healthcare team what side effects to expect
• get information on how to manage symptoms and side effects
• tell your healthcare team about your side effects so they can help
• talk to others in similar situations at a ÐÇ̽Â鶹 centre

Work and money

For some people, it's possible to work through cancer treatment, and there are lots of adjustments that can be made to make this easier.

If it's not possible to work, you may be worried about money and how you'll cope with a reduced income.

• Find out more about work and cancer
• Learn how to talk to your employer
• Understand what financial support is available when you have cancer
• Speak to a ÐÇ̽Â鶹 benefits advisor at your nearest ÐÇ̽Â鶹 centre

Improving your wellbeing

Focusing on your general health can be a helpful way to feel more in control and to reduce the impact of side effects.

Areas you may want to focus on include:

• physical activity
• eating well
• mental health
• creative therapies, like art and writing
• gardening

At ÐÇ̽Â鶹, we run courses and workshops to help you live well with cancer. Our cancer support specialists will help you find out what's right for you. Find out what's on at your nearest ÐÇ̽Â鶹 centre.

Spending time with other people

During treatment, it can feel like you're living in a 'cancer bubble', where life carries on around you but you feel isolated and cut off from it all.

Sometimes you may want to be by yourself, and that's ok.

However, spending time with others can help to take your mind off what's happening and make you feel less alone.

Talking with others in similar situations can also be helpful. Come in to your nearest ÐÇ̽Â鶹 centre and have a cup of tea around the kitchen table, or speak to a cancer support specialist about joining activities and workshops.

Coping with difficult emotions

The way you feel will change as you go through treatment.

• You may feel lots of different emotions, including anxiety, sadness, anger and worry.
• You may also feel numb or overwhelmed and that you can't cope with things you'd normally be able to manage. Some people can feel depressed. 

Your feelings are a natural response to everything you're going through. It's normal to have good and bad days, but be kind to yourself and seek support if you’re feeling overwhelmed.

• There are ways to learn how to cope with difficult emotions to make things easier.
• If your emotions feel unmanageable or you’re very low, anxious or depressed – let your GP and hospital team know, as help is available.
• You can also visit your nearest ÐÇ̽Â鶹’s centre, talk things through with a cancer support specialist and find out about other support available.

How ÐÇ̽Â鶹 can help

We're here for you and your friends and family. We can help you throughout treatment in lots of ways:

• our cancer support specialists in our centres can talk through concerns and side effects and guide you to the support that's right for you
• our benefits advisors can discuss money worries and help you claim what you're entitled to
• our psychologists can help you navigate difficult emotions in booked appointments
• relaxation and managing stress sessions
• eating well sessions with nutritional specialists
• physical activity groups for all abilities, including yoga, tai chi and walking
• Getting Started sessions to help you understand what's involved with treatment
• meeting others in similar situations round the kitchen tables in our centres

You don’t need an appointment or referral - just come in.

Last review: Apr 2026 | Next review: Apr 2029