Looking after your mental health when you or someone you love has bowel cancer
Saturday 10 October 2026
Today is World Mental Health Day. It’s a chance to think about our mental health and how we can look after ourselves. This can be particularly important when you or someone you love has bowel cancer.
A bowel cancer diagnosis can affect much more than your physical health. You might feel frightened, angry, overwhelmed or simply unsure how to process what’s happening. You might feel like you’re coping one day and struggling the next. Alice Norris was diagnosed with bowel cancer aged 35, while she had a nine-month-old baby and a two-year-old son. During chemotherapy, she found that even small changes could trigger anxiety.
“Mentally, every tweak or pain sent me into a spiral of worry that the cancer was spreading. It was hard not knowing what the day would hold, but I convinced myself to take it one step at a time.”
Alice says the support of her husband, family, friends and colleagues helped her through the difficult and uncertain moments. She also found reading real-life stories helped her feel less alone.
Being kind to yourself
Your emotions might change throughout your bowel cancer journey. Some days may feel manageable, while others feel much heavier. You might be newly diagnosed, having treatment, adjusting to life after treatment or supporting someone you love.
One of the most important things you can do is be gentle with yourself.
You don’t have to feel positive all the time, and looking after your mental and emotional wellbeing isn’t selfish. Give yourself permission to step back when things feel too much, and focus on what you need.
Looking after your mental health
Taking care of your mental health can mean different things to different people. It could be talking to someone you trust, connecting with others who understand, or simply taking things one day at a time.
If you’re struggling, you don’t have to cope alone. Tell your healthcare team how you’re feeling, or reach out for support.
We offer a range of services designed to support you, wherever you are in your journey:
- Guidance on looking after your emotional wellbeing
- A welcoming forum to share experiences and connect with others
- Access to specialist nurses through our Ask the Nurse service
- A dedicated peer support line, so you can talk to someone who truly understands
- Specialist Facebook groups offering help and support
- Free expert publications to download or order
- Support with coping with grief and bereavement
If you’re living with advanced bowel cancer, Stage4You, developed and funded by Takeda UK and supported by Bowel Cancer UK, brings together information, practical guidance and support to help navigate the emotional and everyday challenges of a stage 4 diagnosis.
Whether you’ve just been diagnosed, are having treatment, have finished treatment or are supporting someone you love, your mental health matters.
Reaching out, even in a small way, can make a real difference.
