Your mental wellbeing as a patient is extremely important and here we provide publications and videos to help you.
Mental wellbeing
The diagnosis of lung cancer brings stress and anxiety and can affect relationships.
ALK-positive LC patients can live many years and mental wellbeing is an important factor in maintaining quality of life.
Patients experiencing severe anxiety or depression should seek professional help.
Lung Cancer and Your Mental Health
A guide to talking about and managing the impact of lung cancer on your mental health.
Maudsley Learning
Maudsley Learning, in collaboration with Takeda, have created a series of cancer and mental wellbeing videos to help patients and families manage the psychological impact of cancer.
Global Cancer Patient Council Videos
These short videos were developed by the Global Cancer Patient Council and supported by Roche.
Life Coaching
Jane Woods provides a free online life-coaching 6-week programme to help patients and their close families to cope with stress and anxiety. Jane can also provide one-to-one support.
This not a counselling service.
My Cancer is like a Suitcase
Emma was diagnosed in April 2025 and describes her cancer as like an old suitcase.
My Stage 4 incurable cancer diagnosis is like an old suitacase. A big, heavy, old-fashioned, awkward suitcase.
Not one of those fancy lightweight, wheely ones.
I have to carry it everywhere with me 24 hours a day and when I wake up it is lying heavy on my chest.
Some days it is lighter and I can carry it and other days it is so unbearably heavy I can't lift it and have to move it by kicking it slowly along the floor.
Some days other people take some of the weight for me, especially my amazing husband John but most days it's all mine.
Occasionally, the suitcase bursts open and everything spills out in an embarrassing and often angry/emotional way so I shove it all back in as quickly as I can. Thankfully this usually happens in private.
When I get good news about my cancer, the suitcase gets a bit lighter. When I get bad news about my cancer, it gets even heavier.
BUT... the hardest thing of all is that my really heavy suitcase is INVISIBLE to everyone else. They don't see it, they don't see the burden of the weight. They see me 'looking well', going to work & leading what looks like a fairly normal life.
So... if I ever tell you my suitcase is too heavy you will know that's me asking for help x
Emma
So, if your suitcase gets too heavy, don't be too proud and stubborn to seek help.
Ruth Strauss Foundation
Their Family Support Service offers free guidance and support on how to prepare your children when you have been diagnosed with a cancer that can’t be cured and time is limited.
The Little c Club
Created by two mums when each was bringing up young children while facing a stage 4 cancer diagnosis. Their aim is to help parents to talk to children.
A Poem
Fear and the ocean - reflection on living in the face of illness