Diagnosis

Rare Cancer Support Guide

A rare cancer diagnosis can shatter life as you know it. The uncertainty, the isolation, and the quest for answers can feel overwhelming. Please know that you are not alone.

The RCA Rare Cancer Support Guide exists to support you, your family and friends through every step of a cancer experience, starting with a diagnosis.

Learn more about how the Diagnosis section of the Rare Cancer Support Guide can help you in this short clip from RCA Medical Correspondent, Dr. Emily Isham.

What you will find in the Diagnosis section:

• Emotions after diagnosis
  The mixed emotions you may feel, and where to find support
• Informing yourself
  How to find credible and relevant information
• Preparing for initial appointments
  Tips for attending appointments and suggested questions to ask
• How a diagnosis is made
  An outline of different diagnostic methods
• Understanding a prognosis
  What a prognosis is based on, staging and grading, and considerations
• Childhood cancers
  Finding support, treatment, and financial resources and options
• Tool: Communicating with your healthcare providers
  Important questions to ask and things to let your healthcare team know
• Understanding your rights
  Your rights as a patient, addressing your concerns, and asking for a second opinion

The advice comes directly from patients and carers who have been there, and from the knowledge of many health care professionals across the cancer care sector. It also includes the lessons we’ve learned at RCA over 10 years of supporting Australians with rare cancer.

Order the Diagnosis section of the Rare Cancer Support Guide for free information, tools and advice you can trust.

Order the Diagnosis booklet

Access the Diagnosis section of the Rare Cancer Support Guide

Please complete the fields below to download a PDF copy of the guide now.

First name *

Last Name *

Email *

Phone *

What best describes you? * Person living with cancer Caring for someone with cancer Family/friend Health professional Other

I would like a call back from the Patient Support Team

Submit Submit Submit

Order Printed Copy 

Looking for different information? Learn about the Treatment, Relationships and Support, and Looking Ahead sections of the Rare Cancer Support Guide.

Useful resources

For a full list of additional resources to help you manage and navigate a cancer diagnosis.

Download Useful Resources List 

Related links