Cancer charity: It has never been more necessary than now, during this health crisis, to talk openly about death

For people living with cancer, these can be terrifying times. At a time when we long to hold loved ones close, many of us are separated and isolated from those we care about and who care about us.

During this crisis we have lost many things that we would ordinarily take for granted.

In the uncertainty of it all, one of those things has been time and opportunity to make plans for normal, every-day-day things like work, family life, and even death itself.

We don’t like talking about death, and yet dying, death and bereavement are important to everyone’s lives. While death is inevitable, that’s the only thing that is certain about it.

In the midst of this crisis, we have lost the ability to plan for death; to have important conversations; to have choice and control of our care.

In too many heart-breaking cases, we have lost the chance to say goodbye.

During this year’s Dying Matters Week, which runs until Sunday, it has never felt more necessary to talk openly and honestly about death than it does now.

Macmillan Cancer Support believes that people approaching the end of their lives should be supported to make informed decisions so that they die in the place and in the way they have chosen. That means making advance care planning a priority - talking about death and making plans for it is too important to be left to the end. Dying is part of life.

We know that our incredible health and social care professionals are doing everything they can at this time to ensure that people are supported at the end of life with compassion, dignity and respect.

Nothing can prepare us for the impact of something as devastating as coronavirus. This crisis is forcing us to think about our lives in ways we never expected to.

Yes, we are living in uncertain times. But, when we come through it, let it have been the moment that we truly understood the comfort and value of talking about death and preparing for it with those we love.

• Adrienne Betteley is Strategic Adviser for End of Life Care at Macmillan Cancer Support