Cancer diagnosis has hit the family hard

Q

Recently, I’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer. I’m 45. I’m trying to hold things together for the sake of my husband – and children (who are still at school) – but I’m really struggling. I suspect my husband is feeling the same, but we all seem to be pretending this isn’t happening to us and I feel we need to talk. Would you recommend counselling to help with the situation?

A

It may be helpful to contact Maggie’s – maggies.org. Their co-founder, Maggie Keswick Jencks, was diagnosed with breast cancer at a similar age to you and, like you, felt the diagnosis was hard on both her and her family. If there is a centre near you, you will find it a perfect place to have those conversations.