Patient diaries have been successfully used in intensive care units (ICUs) to assist rehabilitation by addressing problems such as memory loss, nightmares and flashbacks that make recovery long and protracted. Many patients in our oncology critical care unit (CCU) experience similar problems to those leaving ICU, and we wanted to establish if such diaries could assist in their recovery process. Our small evaluation study revealed that patient diaries may be beneficial in supporting other patients who experience similar psychological symptoms, particularly those undergoing various cancer treatments.