How Patients and Supportive Care Partners Work Together to Turn Their World Right-Side-Up After a Cancer Diagnosis

With cancer, the world turns upside down in an instant. In a single moment, familiar routines fall away, expectations for the future shift, and decisions suddenly feel heavier and more complex. Many patients describe the point of diagnosis as a sharp dividing line - a clear "before" and "after" - where life no longer feels oriented in the same way.

Across countries, cultures and cancer types, one thing is consistent: patients and supportive care partners - family members, friends or trusted companions - navigate this moment of disruption together. Their roles and experience may differ, but they often share the same need for stability, clarity and reassurance as they begin to re-orient their lives.

The Power of Care Partnership: Why Relationships Matter

We often hear patients describe how the presence of a trusted supportive care partner shapes how they experience the early days after diagnosis.

Alfred and Harry, two people living with cancer, have shared what it was like to receive their diagnoses and to begin coming to terms with a new reality.

The relationship between a patient and a supportive care partner shapes almost every stage of the cancer journey. While clinical teams provide essential medical expertise, it is often the care "partnership" at home that most strongly influences how people cope day-to-day. This partnership can involve interpreting medical information, coordinating appointments, or keep everyday life moving when energy is limited.

Care partners, in turn, describe how their role stretches beyond logistics-they are often the first listener, the person who notices subtle changes, and a steady source of encouragement during uncertain moments.

Research shows that strong emotional and social support can contribute to improved wellbeing for people living with cancer. At the same time, it highlights an important truth: supportive care partners need support, too. Many juggle work, family responsibilities and their own emotional reactions while trying to remain strong for someone they love. Recognizing this dual experience is essential to understanding how patients and care partners work as a team.

The Role of Patient Advocacy Groups in Restoring Balance

Patient advocacy groups play a practical role in helping patients and supportive care partners regain a sense of direction after a cancer diagnosis. These groups help people navigate the emotional, logistical and practical disruption that often follows, offering support that complements clinical care.

The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) has highlighted this shared experience through its Upside Down initiative, which uses collective storytelling to reflect how a cancer diagnosis can disrupt daily life and how people begin to turn their world right side up again .

Through organizations like UICC and its global network of patient advocacy groups, people affected by cancer can access resources that are designed to be used in real life, including:

• Clear, trustworthy information about diagnosis and care pathways
• Peer support from others with lived experience
• Helplines, online communities and educational resources
• Guidance on navigating healthcare systems and local support services

For many, hearing the experiences of others who have faced similar uncertainty brings reassurance and perspective. Advocacy groups also help people understand their options, build confidence, and feel less alone as they begin to find their footing again.

Amgen's Ongoing Commitment to People Impacted by Cancer

Amgen has long worked alongside the cancer community to support patients and supportive care partners as they navigate this shift, including collaborating with patient advocacy groups and global partners to help improve experiences across the cancer journey. By listening to those affected by cancer and working across healthcare systems, Amgen aims to contribute to more informed, supported and patient-centered care worldwide.

A Shared Path Forward

Advice and support are available, wherever you are. UICC has extensive resources on its website, and you can also search for organizations in your area here.