Sharing your cancer diagnosis with others can bring up a range of unexpected feelings and questions. Deciding who you tell, how much to share, and why are all important things to consider. The answer to these questions is personal and it varies not only between survivors but also in different settings and relationships in your life.

1. To Disclose or Not to Disclose
Talking about your cancer diagnosis (survivorship) with others.

2. Having big
conversations
Help you feel less alone.
Problem solve through dialogue
in a natural way.
Seek assistance with day-to-day
matters.
Think about a situation in a
different way.
Clarify and help others better
understand.
Set limits and redirect unhelpful
interactions.

3. Important times
to talk:
• When your diagnosis affects
someone else’s life.
• When you are acting differently.
• When you want to explain what
has changed since diagnosis.
• When you want to share your
personal experience.
• When you need help.
• When you need financial
assistance.

4. Different settings. Different choices.
FAMILY WORK FRIENDS OTHER

5. • Talking about your diagnosis is
a way of teaching others.
• Specific factors unique to
ovarian survivors
• How the cancer (treatment) is
personally impacting you.
• What is helpful.
• What is not helpful.
• How you want others to
engage with you or
understand you now.

6. • What is the PURPOSE of this
communication
• What do others NEED to know?
• What do others WANT to know?
• What will STOP them from
listening?
• How will I know if the message was
RECEIVED?
• What types of responses might you
EXPECT?

7. EXAMPLES: To come from the heart, to
collaborate, to be patient, to stay patient, to
remain open to other perspectives, to be
curious, to lovingly hold our ground, to
genuinely understand
PRACTICE: Before an important conversation,
take a minute to choose your intention. Pick
a word or phrase to ground you and return to
it as needed to remind you.
What is my intention?
How do I want to show up?
Are my actions aligned with my values?

8. EXAMPLES: to connect, to seek support, to
set limits, to feel understood, to celebrate.
PRACTICE: Before a big conversation ask
yourself, why is this important to me?
What do I want the other person to
understand?
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What needs am I trying to meet?
What is driving me to have this conversation?
Who is the best person for this disclosure?

9. Expressing &
Understanding
• Pace the conversation.
• Ask what others may already
know.
• Say what you really need to say.
• Ask, “does this make sense?”
“What are you thinking?”
• Be honest.
• Give yourself permission to
pause the conversation.

10. Navigating
Awkward
Interactions
• Learn your trigger points.
• Recognize the limits of others
(who has capacity to hear
this?)
• Prepare responses for
redirecting the conversation.
“Thank you for asking, I’d rather
not talk about it right now.”
• Practice finding calm so you
are prepared for unexpected
moments.
• Give yourself permission to
step back before reacting.

11. Final
thoughts…
• It is ok not to open up to
everyone.
• This could be a time to work
on opening up and trusting
specific loved ones or others.
• Important conversations do
not need to be a one-shot
deal. You can disclose more
over time.