Cancer Poems

Cancer Poems

Cancer's Journey: Poems from Patients and Loved Ones Fighting Cancer

Cancer, the dreaded "C" word. It has become such an epidemic in our society that people are loath to even mention its name. Cancer is a disease that can affect many different parts of the body. Some of these diseases are more serious than others. It is not only the disease that is painful but also the many way of treating it. Radiation treatments may kill the cancer but are also dangerous for the body. Chemotherapy comes with many side effects such as hair loss and severe nausea. The many faces of this disease challenge an individual to show their fighting spirit and will to live.

21 Poems about Losing a Loved One to Cancer

1 - 20 of 21

  1. 1. Our Hearts Will Always Touch

    I wrote this after I lost my Mum to Cancer. We only found out 7 weeks before she passed away from the disease. I was alone with mum when she passed away. I feel honored that she felt comfortable and safe to go peacefully in my arms however the vision of her last breath will play on my mind forever. I miss my mum so very much....SO VERY MUCH. She was my world (just like she always used to say to me). I pray she is happy and safe and I pray even harder that we meet again. I have to see my beautiful mum again. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH MUMSY..Always and Forever...your Narny...xx


    • By Ranja Kujala
    • Published by Family Friend Poems September 2007 with permission of the Author.

    When I lay there beside you,
    Could you feel me there?
    My arms were wrapped around you,
    And I was stroking your hair.

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    • Rating 4.65
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    My mother got cancer when I was 8. She survived and was in remission for a year, but when I was 12 she was diagnosed with cancer again. This time we all knew she would die, when she told us I...

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  3. 2. Daddy, Don't Be Scared

    I'm 14 and This is a poem I wrote about my experience when my dad had cancer two years ago.


    • By Jade E. Mcnullen
    • Published by Family Friend Poems February 2010 with permission of the Author.

    Awaiting the news, we feared the worst and hoped for the best.
    Life was about to put my family through an unforgettable test
    Mom came in, evidence on her face, that daddy wasn't okay
    "daddy has cancer" mom cried "we won't see him for a couple of days"

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    • Stories 31
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    • Rating 4.66
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    I was touched when I read your poem. My husband was diagnosed with cancer a month ago and is about to embark on his treatment. Emotions running high, but my husband is positive, and he has...

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  5. 3. Goodnight Our Hero

    Dedicated to the memory of our beautiful son Danny who died of cancer March 10, 2007, aged 13. A truly remarkable, loving, and inspirational child.


    • By Juli Round
    • Published by Family Friend Poems June 2008 with permission of the Author.

    To be brave is to cry
    But still to fight on,
    And that's what you did,
    Our hero, our son.

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    Son Died Of Cancer Poem, Goodnight Our Hero

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    I am so sorry. My great grandma died from cancer and so did my grandma. It must've been so hard for you. I can't imagine what you went through losing your son. I'm so sorry for your loss.

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  6. 4. A Stranger Comes To Call

    I'm a 63 year old grandad and I'm married to wonderful lady. We hope to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary in May 2012. We have two children adopted as babies, a boy and a girl, and a niece who we treat and regard as our daughter, we also have a grand-daughter and another on the way.
    My poem, reflects my thoughts, feelings and emotions shortly after I was diagnosed with cancer. Perhaps it may help some other sufferers or their family members to read it, and I offer it on that basis.
    John Kehoe - 24th. November 2010.

    • By John Kehoe
    • Published by Family Friend Poems November 2013 with permission of the Author.

    Some weeks ago through medical doubt
    I met someone I'd heard lots about
    I never thought our paths would cross
    Our meeting left me at a loss.

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    I just love this poem. I have lived through so many of these phases, as though I was the one writing it. My name is Sharon Gross. I’m 55, and in 2015 I was diagnosed with Adeno Carcinoma of...

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  7. 5. 5 Years Old

    This is in memory of a wonderful young boy who fought cancer for most of his short life. He was diagnosed with an Atypical Rhaboid Tumor of the brain at 11 months of age. He lived more in his 5 short years than any of us have in a lifetime. His spirit and love of life moved all of those around him, and we truly lost an amazing child to this terrible disease. Just a reminder to all of those reading to support your local Relay for Life fundraisers and help fight back. Thank You!!

    • By Kristie
    • Published by Family Friend Poems May 2008 with permission of the Author.

    What would you do
    in 5 short years?
    Would you make them the most
    or hide from your fears?

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    • Stories 18
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    • Rating 4.68
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    I have 2 really good friends who were diagnosed with cancer. It sucks. One girl was only 9 years old and fought. She won, but now has to take therapy.

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  8. 6. Mother's Smile

    A mother who is suffering with cancer. Dedicated to my loving mother and all her million and one smiles.

    • By Tessa McGregor
    • Published by Family Friend Poems March 2008 with permission of the Author.

    I remember your brave face through all the pain,
    The day you told us and I tried to remain sane.
    "I have breast cancer," you said as a matter of fact.
    Yet you didn't shed a single tear; you stayed intact.

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    • Stories 23
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    • Votes 591
    • Rating 4.60
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    Hello, I am going to die from stage 4 breast cancer that has traveled into my lungs. My doctor told me that I had to think on the time that I had left. Was I just slapped, because I thought I...

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  9. 7. Life's Lessons

    A poem from a daughter to her mother written the morning after she lost her 48-year-old mom to a 5 year battle with various cancers.

    • By Amanda
    • Published by Family Friend Poems August 2008 with permission of the Author.

    It's not fair, I just can't let go.
    I sit here and plead, why must she go?

    She is my everything, my mom and my best friend.

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    • Stories 26
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    • Favorited 24
    • Votes 571
    • Rating 4.55
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    I am now nearly 16, and I lost my mum to a 3 year battle of Secondary Glioblastoma when I was only 9. She was 39 when she passed. This poem has quickly become more important to me than any of...

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  10. 8. God Can You Hear Me?

    This was just how I felt the last few weeks of my Dad's battle with prostate cancer. I knew in my head that he was not going to get better, but my heart was telling me otherwise. I always had hope, but it soon ran out.

    My eyes fill with tears,
    And I could hardly see
    This cancer is stealing my father
    Slowly away from me.

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    • Stories 9
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    • Favorited 61
    • Votes 784
    • Rating 4.63
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    This poem touched my heart in so many ways! I'm writing this through tears. On June 23, 2019, I lost my dad to cancer. I had just gotten to meet him. That sounds odd, I know, but I didn't get...

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  11. 9. To My Mom

    I wrote this poem one month before my mom passed away from cancer. I was 18 years old and about to graduate from high school. My mom, Rebecca King, was the strongest, most amazing woman I have ever known.

    • By Jennifer Correa
    • Published by Family Friend Poems December 2013 with permission of the Author.

    In your eyes I see the pain,
    Slowly the tears roll down, they won't refrain.

    I look down to the floor as if I'm hiding,

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    • Stories 7
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    • Rating 4.62
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    I am battling brain cancer. Doctors only gave me 2 months to live; that was 5 years ago. I'm now 36 and have 3 kids who need me. Every day gets harder to keep up the fight, but I can't...

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  12. 10. To My Brother, Who Lost His Life To Cancer

    I dedicate this to my brother, Gary Allen Hrenchir Jr., who lost his life to cancer. He was the smartest, kindest, most wonderful person ever. Forever in my heart, I love you!

    • By Lisa Crisp
    • Published by Family Friend Poems April 2009 with permission of the Author.

    The time has come to say goodbye
    I will try not to cry

    It's been so hard to let you go

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    • Votes 289
    • Rating 4.62
  13. 11. My Special Sister Vicki

    My sister dealt with breast cancer with the utmost dignity and courage we all admired.

    • By Barbara Looney
    • Published by Family Friend Poems June 2007 with permission of the Author.

    My special sister, I want you to know how much you mean to me.
    My special sister has strength and courage her whole family can see.
    My special sister showed us all how to handle life's blows.
    My special sister took it all in stride, smiled, and said, "That's how it goes."

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    • Stories 13
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    • Votes 558
    • Rating 4.61
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    I cried like a baby while reading this poem. I was the care giver to a very good friend of mine, Peggy Sue Smith. She was given the awful news that she six months without treatment to one...

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  14. 12. Cancer

    Recently I did Race for Life, I have done it a few times but this year it meant a lot more to me because my Grandma had found a lump and we thought it might be cancer. I wrote this poem the night I found out about it. Fortunately, my Grandma had the lump removed and all is okay now, but it could have been a lot worse.

    • By Jessica Louise Wheeler
    • Published by Family Friend Poems December 2013 with permission of the Author.

    One day you showed up,
    With no reason why,
    You claimed your victims,
    You've made grown men cry.

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    • Stories 2
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    Cancer is a life changer and heart breaker. It takes someone close to you and kills them. It has made grown men cry because they are sad that their loved one has died. We all try to fight...

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  15. 13. I Hate You Cancer

    This poem is in memory of Vickie Frier and Leon Frier, Both who lost their lives to cancer.

    • By Carolyn Pritts
    • Published by Family Friend Poems August 2009 with permission of the Author.

    I hate you I hate you
    Oh why can't you see?
    How you took my heart and broke it
    When you took them from me!

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    • Stories 5
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    • Votes 307
    • Rating 4.59
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    I totally relate!....unfortunately. My Mom fought and beat breast cancer almost 20 years ago. Hooray! Then 4 years ago got uterine cancer and beat that too!!! For 3 and 1/2 years. We just...

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  16. 14. Walking On The Edge Of Life

    We found out in May 2007 that my 13 year old son Sinjin has Cancer Burkitts Lymphoma. He has endured countless rounds of chemo and is fighting this heart and soul. He and I wrote this poem together after he told me, "It is like the world is moving forward and I am standing still." I have since written many poems about cancer. t helps me get through this without falling apart. I need to be now more than ever strong for my son. He has show us nothing but strength and courage since this monster came into our lives, and we stand united with him in this fight. Living strong with courage, faith and hope. Sinjin and Lorna ©2007 By Lorna Mahan & Sinjin Andrukates

    • By Lorna Mahan
    • Published by Family Friend Poems November 2007 with permission of the Author.

    The world keeps moving forward
    as time stands still for me,
    I am the kid with Cancer,
    locked in battle to be free.

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    • Stories 11
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    • Votes 495
    • Rating 4.52
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    My grandson, who's not even 3 years old yet, was just diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma. We don't know how much time he has. They tell us he doesn't have the mutated gene, which is good,...

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  17. 15. Good Mommy

    You can't prepare for the harshness and reality of the sickness and death of your Mother.

    • By Mary B. Downes
    • Published by Family Friend Poems August 2006 with permission of the Author.

    You can't prepare for this:
    the DNR in red letters,
    last rites over,
    the monitors off,

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    • Stories 2
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    • Favorited 7
    • Votes 221
    • Rating 4.48
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    Dear Mary - your poem resonated with my experience of losing my mum (Sept 11) hugely. I'm so sorry we and others have gone through this. I was looking today for something to comfort me as I...

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  18. 16. I Wish I Could Stop The Rain Falling

    This poem was written about my Dad who was diagnosed with cancer 2 months ago.

    • By Ellie
    • Published by Family Friend Poems November 2009 with permission of the Author.

    It was raining the day you told us,
    And ever since I feel like it has not stopped pouring down.
    I wish I could stop the rain falling,
    And hold your head up and not let you drown.

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    • Stories 4
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    • Favorited 13
    • Votes 137
    • Rating 4.45
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    My mother had cancer and just reading this tugs at my heart, and I start crying because I had the same experience as you. Just don't ever give up, things will get better. Just smile.

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  19. 17. To My 2-Year-Old Little Girl Fighting Cancer

    My 2-year-old daughter was diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer and lung cancer 1 week after her second birthday. It's been a difficult 9 weeks and not even half way through treatment! We almost lost her on PICU during this early stage due to internal bleeding, but with her strength and the doctors she defied the odds. Six more months of intensive chemo coupled with a liver transplant of which I am the donor and hopefully my girl will be free of this disease.

    • By David Austin
    • Published by Family Friend Poems March 2014 with permission of the Author.

    Being a father
    Is unlike anything else
    It makes you happier
    Than life itself

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    • Stories 1
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    • Votes 292
    • Rating 4.44
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    I really liked this poem. This really touched my heart.

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  20. 18. Battling Cancer

    My brother-in-law was battling cancer and slowly loosing the battle...he was faced with a hard decision to keep trying the treatments and be sick all the time, or let nature takes it's course. I needed him to know we were all there for support with whatever decision he should make, and that we loved him so. Rest In Peace Keith, Love You Always!

    • By Heather Weitz
    • Published by Family Friend Poems January 2011 with permission of the Author.

    Feeling tired
    Feeling weak
    With all the pain you do not seek

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    • Stories 1
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    • Favorited 2
    • Votes 131
    • Rating 4.42
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    I feel every word in this poem.
    On June 2, 2010 I was told that I have stage four cancer. Still holding on.
    Please read "

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  21. 19. Pink Ribbon

    Hi, my name is Kevin, and I lost my wife over 6 years ago, and I still miss and think of her every day. She died of breast cancer at the age of 46, leaving behind four children who loved her very much.

    They said time would ease the pain.
    Every day I still feel the same.
    I wake every morning reaching for you,
    My pillow soaked with my tears like the morning dew.

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    • Stories 12
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    • Votes 236
    • Rating 4.42
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    Death Anniversary - I lost my wife to brain cancer on July 16, 2003. We were married for 5 years. We took her to the best hospital in Pakistan, and at third stage we thought we had beaten it...

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  22. 20. Betrayal

    Having gone through this myself, I've attempted to draw comparisons between the feelings of betrayal by one's own body to that of an unfaithful lover.

    You betrayed me.

    While I went about my days,
    Blithely oblivious,

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    • Stories 1
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    • Votes 5
    • Rating 4.20
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    Followed right along, well versed and emotions well described!
    Keep Healing

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1 - 20 of 21

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