Do I have to talk about my advanced cancer if I am not ready?

No. You do not have to talk about your advanced cancer before you are ready.

It is okay if you do not feel comfortable talking about these issues. What you say to others is up to you, and you get to decide when, or if, you want to respond at all. There is no right or wrong way to communicate, and everyone copes with hard news in their own time and way.

That said, having these conversations, when you are ready, can make it easier to move forward with your care, and studies show people who talk things out often feel better about their decisions. If talking feels too hard, you do not have to do it alone. A counselor, a member of your health care team, or a social worker can help you start a conversation or guide a family meeting.