Getting organised before cancer treatment

Starting treatment can affect many areas of your life. You might be worried about:

• work
• money
• childcare
• pet care.

Getting organised before you start treatment can help you feel more in control.

It might be helpful to make a list of all the things you need to organise, such as your day-to-day activities and other tasks like paying the bills.

When you are preparing for cancer treatment, work might be one of your first concerns. Talking to your employer and knowing your rights can help you get the right support.

If you are self-employed (see below), knowing about your rights and benefits can help too.

If you are employed, you should talk to your manager or human resources department as early as possible. You can talk to them about the possible effect of cancer on your work.

If your manager knows about this, they can support you better. You may want to tell your employer about the Macmillan at Work programme. It could give them a better understanding of how they can help you.

Before you talk to your employer, it can help to ask your healthcare team about treatment and what to expect.

How cancer affects your work life will depend on different things such as:

• the type of cancer, its stage and size, and whether it has spread
• treatment and side effects
• your finances
• the practical support you have.

You may decide to tell your colleagues at work so that they can help and support you. But you may not. Some people like to keep other areas of their life as normal as possible. We have information about talking to people at work.

You may decide to stop working when you are diagnosed with cancer. You might want to focus on treatment and time with family and friends. We have more information about how cancer can affect your work life.

If you have or have had cancer, the law considers you to be disabled. This means your employer cannot treat you less favourably than other people because of the cancer. 

Being treated less favourably because of the cancer is called discrimination. There are laws that protect you from being discriminated against at work because of cancer:

• If you live in England, Scotland or Wales, the Equality Act 2010 protects you.
• If you live in Northern Ireland, the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 protects you.

This legislation also says your employer has to make reasonable adjustments (changes) to your workplace and their work practices. This is to help you carry on working or return to work. 

Reasonable adjustments could include time off for hospital appointments or flexible working.

We have more information about your rights at work.

Travelling to and from hospital can be expensive, especially if you have treatment every day for weeks. The costs can quickly add up, but there is help available.

If you get certain benefits, you may be able to claim a refund on:

• your bus or train fares
• some petrol costs
• taxi fares (in some situations).

If you need someone to travel with you to hospital for medical reasons, you may be able to get a refund on their travel costs.

Hospital car parking policies are different across the UK.

We have more information about travel costs to and from hospital.

If you have cancer and care for others, it can be difficult to think about your own needs.

You may feel like you are on your own and that other people do not understand what you are going through. You may be coping with physical symptoms or side effects of treatment.

But you are not alone. It is important not ignore your own needs and feelings. Your key worker or healthcare team can help support you. They can offer practical help and emotional support, or refer you to other support services or healthcare professionals that can help.

If you think you may no longer be able to care for someone because of the cancer or its treatment you should let people know as soon as possible. This might be:

• your clinical nurse specialist (key worker)
• your healthcare team
• your GP
• the GP or social worker of the person you care for
• the adult social care department of your local council.

We have more information about looking after others when you have cancer.

Being diagnosed with cancer and having treatment can often disrupt family life and normal routines. Your childcare needs may change, and you may need more support to look after children.

This can be upsetting and difficult to accept. But this situation is usually temporary. Try not to feel guilty. It can be difficult to ask for help. But with the right support, some of the stress can be reduced. This means you can relax and enjoy time with the children.

Family or friends may be able to help by taking children to school, or with everyday tasks such as shopping. This can give you more energy to do fun things with the children.

You could also speak to your employer about more flexible working hours. Many offer home-working or flexitime. Social services can provide practical support. Charities also have experienced volunteers who can visit your home to help with childcare.

We have more information about childcare.

It can be difficult to look after a pet when you are affected by cancer. Sometimes you may need to go into hospital for a short time or at very short notice. You can plan for an emergency or short-term carer in case it happens.

Friends, neighbours, family members or your local vet may be able to help. Other short-term options could be fostering, boarding, or a kennel or cattery.

We have more information to help plan for your pet care.

• Make a list of tasks that need to be done.
• Try to do a little bit each day rather than everything at the same time.
• Pace yourself and take breaks.
• Ask family and friends to help you, or use a cleaning company if you can afford it.
• Take a few items at a time to the washing machine, or use a trolley.
• Ask for help to hang out the washing and with ironing.
• Consider stretchy clothing that does not need to be ironed.

• Plan your meals and make a list to help you save time and energy.
• Ask family or a friend to go with you so they can help with carrying and packing.
• Ask others to get things for you when they do their own shopping.
• Try online shopping and have it delivered to you. If family or friends are too far away to help in person, they can do this for you.
• Ask the person at the checkout if someone can carry your shopping to the car.
• Wearing a Hidden Disabilities Sunflower card or lanyard can show staff or other shoppers that you may need help.

• Have a chair or stool in the kitchen so you can sit when preparing food or washing up.
• Plan meals that are easy to prepare.
• When you feel less tired, make extra dishes or double portions of food. You can freeze them for when you need them.
• Ask others to help with tasks such as peeling and chopping.
• Ask others to prepare meals that you can freeze and heat up.

• Have a bath, or sit down in the shower.
• Sit down when getting washed and dressed.
• Consider stretchy clothes that are easy to put on and take off. Loungewear or pyjamas might be easier, especially if you are not going out.