From one heart to another:
Tips from survivors and caregivers
Sometimes the most comforting support comes not from experts, but from people who have walked the same path. Here is a collection of practical advice, emotional wisdom, and warm encouragement shared by cancer survivors and caregivers. These tips won’t fix everything—but they might help you feel less alone.
Let Go of Doing It All
- “I learned quickly that I couldn’t be everything to everyone—and that’s okay.”
- “Rest is part of healing. Give yourself permission to slow down.”
- “Take the help. You don’t have to prove anything.”
Feel What You Feel
- “Some days I was scared, others I was numb. All of it was real—and allowed.”
- “I started writing my feelings down just to let them out of my body.”
- “I reminded myself: I don’t need to be brave all the time.”
Talk to Your Kids With Love and Truth
- “I was afraid of telling my children, but once I did, we grew even closer.”
- “You don’t have to explain everything at once. Follow their lead.”
- “Even when I didn’t have answers, I could still say: ‘I love you and I’m here.’”
Little Joys Matter
- “I gave myself permission to laugh—even during chemo.”
- “We created rituals that helped: tea in the garden, Sunday pancakes, silly playlists.”
- “Joy and pain can exist in the same day.”
Ask Questions
- “No question is silly when it’s your body or someone you love.”
- “I brought a notebook to every appointment—and a second set of ears if I could.”
- “You’re allowed to say: ‘Can you explain that differently?”
Care for the Caregiver
- “As a caregiver, I had to learn to care for myself too. You can’t pour from an empty cup.”
- “Taking breaks made me a better support person.”
- “I joined a carer’s group and realised I wasn’t alone in feeling exhausted.”
Find a Way to Make Meaning
- “I wrote down one thing I was grateful for every night. It shifted my outlook.”
- “Talking to others going through it gave me a sense of purpose.”
- “Cancer changed me—but not all of it was bad.”
These voices are a reminder: you’re not walking alone. Take what speaks to you, leave the rest, and know that others have been where you are—surviving, caring, and continuing.