Receiving a cancer diagnosis can be difficult to cope with. Many people experience feelings of shock, fear and confusion.
Sharing a cancer diagnosis is also not easy. You may worry about how cancer will change your way of life and how it will impact family and friends.
Cancer Council can help you and your family cope with cancer. Call us on 13 11 20 – our specially trained staff can answer your questions and offer emotional and practical support.
Cancer Council also has a range of publications written for people diagnosed with cancer, as well as family and friends. These booklets and fact sheets provide practical information to help you and your family understand what you are going through.
Cancer support
Cancer support groups
A guide to setting up and maintaining a support group.
Published date:
12 March 2026
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462.6 KB
Emotions and cancer
Practical tips on how to talk to others about your diagnosis, treatment and how you are feeling.
Published date:
12 March 2026
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434.3 KB
Nutrition and cancer
Practical information and tips to help you with your nutrition and dietary requirements both during and after cancer treatment.
Published date:
12 March 2026
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576.9 KB
Caring for someone with cancer
Support for people who are looking after someone with cancer so that they can manage their emotional and physical needs.
Published date:
12 March 2026
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519.4 KB
Exercise for people living with cancer
Information on the benefits exercise can bring during and after cancer treatment.
Published date:
12 March 2026
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682.7 KB
Understanding cancer pain
While you will still need to talk to your medical team, this booklet provides useful information to help you understand pain and manage it with different treatments.
Published date:
12 March 2026
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490.8 KB
Fertility and cancer
Answers many common questions about fertility, including preserving your fertility before cancer treatment, protecting it during treatment and options after treatment.
Published date:
12 March 2026
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505.6 KB
Sexuality, intimacy and cancer
Helps you understand and deal with the ways cancer and its treatment may affect your sexuality.
Published date:
12 March 2026
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492.2 KB
Cancer in the school community
A guide for school staff who would like to support students, families and colleagues affected by cancer.
Published date:
12 March 2026
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852.5 KB
Talking to kids about cancer
For anyone who needs to explain a diagnosis of cancer to children and teenagers.
Published date:
12 March 2026
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942.3 KB
Living with advanced cancer
Information for people diagnosed with advanced cancer including available treatments, managing symptoms and getting your affairs in order.
Published date:
12 March 2026
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538.4 KB
Cancer treatment and side effects
Changes in thinking and memory
Helps you understand changes that some people experience and suggests ways you manage day-to-day tasks and improve your thinking and memory.
Published date:
12 March 2026
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Understanding chemotherapy
A guide to help you understand one of the main drug treatments for cancer.
Published date:
12 March 2026
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585.4 KB
Understanding radiation therapy
Information on radiation therapy (radiotherapy) treatments.
Published date:
12 March 2026
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672.6 KB
Understanding surgery
Helps you understand more about surgery commonly used to treat cancer.
Published date:
12 March 2026
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540.6 KB
Understanding immunotherapy
An overview of immunotherapy which is a drug treatment that uses the body’s immune system to fight cancer.
Published date:
12 March 2026
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206.7 KB
Understanding complementary therapies
An overview of the role of complementary therapies used in combination with conventional cancer treatment.
Published date:
12 March 2026
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Understanding clinical trials and research
Helps you understand and make informed decisions about participating in cancer research.
Published date:
12 March 2026
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416.1 KB
Mouth health and cancer treatment
A fact sheet with information on the side effects of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery or a combination of treatments that affect the mouth area.
Published date:
12 March 2026
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182.3 KB
Understanding palliative care
Palliative care aims to enhance quality of life and independence.
Published date:
12 March 2026
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457 KB
Hair loss
A fact sheet with information on hair loss that may result from cancer treatment.
Published date:
12 March 2026
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165.3 KB
Understanding taste and smell changes
A fact sheet to help you understand the possible effects of cancer treatment on your experience of eating.
Published date:
12 March 2026
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173.9 KB
Fatigue and cancer
Fatigue is a very common side effect of cancer.
Published date:
12 March 2026
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169.7 KB
Peripheral neuropathy
Information about the nerve condition known as peripheral neuropathy which can occur with cancer or cancer treatment.
Published date:
12 March 2026
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187.3 KB
Cancer and work
Cancer, work and you
A practical resource for employees and self-employed people with cancer, and working carers.
Published date:
12 March 2026
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403.9 KB
Cancer care and your rights
Outlines what you can reasonably expect from your treatment team and the health care system.
Published date:
12 March 2026
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407.1 KB
Cancer and your finances
Advice on how to manage your finances after a cancer diagnosis.
Published date:
12 March 2026
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403.9 KB
Exercise for people living with cancer
A suite of 22 videos complement the booklet, Exercise for people living with cancer. They provide clear instructions on how to perform the exercises referred to in the booklet. These are simple exercises to help improve your flexibility and strength.
The videos were developed by Cancer Council NSW and have been reproduced with permission.
