Talking about myeloma

The word cancer brings with it strong feelings and images. At first it may seem difficult to talk about a diagnosis of myeloma, but talking can be very helpful in reducing fear and feelings of isolation. Talking things over with other people can help to clarify them in your own mind and can be particularly useful if you are thinking about treatment options.

Telling other people

Telling friends and family members that you have myeloma can be a daunting task, but letting those around you know about your diagnosis will help them to support you. Making a list of people you want to tell immediately, and those who can wait, can help you to organise your thoughts.

Try to give information a bit at a time, checking that the listener understands what you have said. Some patients prefer to have a family member or friend tell other people. This is perfectly reasonable and means you don’t have to keep telling your story if it upsets you.

Telling children

The decision about what and when to tell your children or grandchildren with regard to your myeloma is a very personal one. It may depend on the age of the children, your family circumstances and the impact of the treatment that you will have.

Sometimes a family may feel it is better to keep upsetting news away from a child if the treatment does not have any visible side-effects such as hair loss. However, generally you would be encouraged to tell children as they are very sensitive to changes in their surroundings and may start to ask questions for themselves.

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