Our newly updated information guide ‘Your Guide to Cancer’ is now available to download!

Your Guide To Cancer book front cover, by Teenage Cancer Trust

This book, which was previously called ‘A Young Person’s Guide to Cancer’ has been written based on what other young people have told us they wanted to know when they were diagnosed with cancer. Young people who have had cancer, and the clinical staff who helped them, have helped us put this together. 

Inside you’ll find information on the following:

  • Your diagnosis – Finding out you have cancer and what that means for you 
  • Your treatment - Tests, treatments and other medical info 
  • Your feelings – Information and tips on emotions you might be feeling and how to cope with them 
  • Your life outside hospital – How cancer might impact your relationships, education and work life 
  • Your life after treatment - What might happen after treatment 

Download the guide

Download

You can use this book whenever and however you like. Some sections might be relevant to you now, others might not be. Feel free to share it with family and friends too, especially if you think it might help you explain to them how you’re feeling and what you’re experiencing.  

Being diagnosed with cancer doesn’t suddenly stop you being you – so as well as explaining the medical stuff, we’ve covered a lot more here too: from working through your emotions, to speaking to your friends, to dealing with changes to your appearance.  

If you would like to order a physical copy of the guide you can order one here or get in touch over email on [email protected].

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Young person in hospital, giving quote about your guide to cancer book

“Hanna had given me a copy of this book and I read it all in about two hours before my treatment. It was so informative, and it made everything feel so normal as I knew other young people had been through this too. Nobody I know had had cancer, but reading the book made me feel that this was something I could manage to get through. It wasn’t as scary after that. She also made me feel like there was no stupid questions and I could ask anything I wanted.” - Lakita 

Acknowledgements

Thank you to everyone who has helped us put this guide together. Thank you to our team of experts, Teenage Cancer Trust employees and all of the fantastic young people and support staff who have given such valuable input.  

Expert reviewers 

  • Colette Bateman, Trainee Advance Nurse Practitioner  

  • Kam Bhatti, TYA Radiographer 

  • Vicki Cummerson, Youth Support Coordinator 

  • Lyndsey Griffiths, Senior Clinical Nurse Specialist 

  • Beth McCann, Senior Specialist Nurse 

  • Jade Greenhouse, Clinical Liaison Nurse Specialist 

  • Franchessca Sefton, Youth Support Coordinator  

With thanks to Teenage Cancer Trust’s Youth Information Review Group and Volunteer Information Review Group for their feedback and insights. 

We’d also like to extend special thanks to CanTeen, The Australian Organisation for Young People Living with Cancer. CanTeen’s Book ‘Now What? Your guide to dealing with cancer’ provided the inspiration for the original version of this information. 

Tell us what you think!

We’d love to hear your thoughts on this book and our information in general! If you’d like to share your feedback you can fill out this form.  

If you have any questions about this book or anything else to do with our information you can email us on [email protected] and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.  

Information about cancer