CancerExplained.org · Free health handout
Symptom Journal
A simple daily log to share with your healthcare team
Each day, note
- Date and time: ____________
- What you noticed (e.g. tiredness, pain, appetite change): ____________
- Where in the body, if it has a location: ____________
- How strong it felt on a 0–10 scale: ____________
- How long it lasted, and whether anything made it better or worse: ____________
Helpful details to add
- Sleep: roughly how many hours, and how rested you felt.
- Eating and drinking: meals kept down, appetite, water intake.
- Activity: what you could or couldn't do that day.
- Mood: a word or two about how you felt overall.
Using your journal
- Bring it to every appointment — patterns over days are easier to discuss than memories.
- Ask your healthcare team which symptoms they want you to track and which to report right away.
- Ask what number to call if something worries you between visits: ____________
You don't have to decide what matters — write it down and let your healthcare team help you sort it out.
This handout is for education only and is not medical advice. Talk with a qualified healthcare professional about what is right for you.
Sources: NCI: Coping with cancer. Updated 2026-07-05.
Learn more in plain language: https://cancerexplained.org/symptoms/cancer-symptoms/ — free to copy and share for non-commercial education.