Hi everyone,
I was diagnosed in April 2012 but for some reason for the last couple of weeks i have been feeling anxious. I haven’t really given breast cancer a thought until now. Could it be because i have got my second mammogram tomorrow? or is it that it’s because i am no longer having treatment? which i finished september last year and maybe i felt like it was stopping it from coming back. i thought that the more years that pass the better it gets. Is it just me?
Karen xx
Hi Karen,
I’m so sorry you’ve been feeling bad. It could be any of the things you suggest that has triggered you feeling bad. I certainly get really frightened before my mammograms and I’m further down the line than you. The trouble is that the fear and anxiety doesn’t go away. We’re expected to ‘get over it’ and ‘move on’, but breast cancer’s not like that. We all continue to worry about recurrence and feel anxious and weary. I don’t know if you’ve noticed any other posts I’ve written, but I was so impressed by a book that was recommended to me that I’ve been recommending it myself. It’s by a psychologist who’s had breast cancer herself. I found it so useful when I read it. It made me realise that it’s not me who’s mad, it’s those people who expect us to ‘get back to normal’ who are mad. I carry it round in my handbag to look at when I feel down, to remind me that I’m not the only one feeling like I do. You can get it on Amazon as a book or a kindle. It’s called Emotional Support through Breast Cancer and it’s by Dr Cordelia Galgut, but it’s not at all doctory, it just tells it like it is.
Take a look and see what you think and take a hug from me in the meantime!
Kazey x
Hi Karen
I know exactly how you feel - I am 7 years out and I still feel like you do - not all the time but often. I keep thinking that If I am not having some sort of treatment it will come back. I have just looked at the book suggested by Kazey and it looks good so I am going to order it on Amazon. Sending you a big hug. Keep positive and when you feel anxious just get on the forum - we are all here to support each other. xx
Hi everyone,
I’m not wobbling [well not much, maybe a little], but do have other concerns and wondered if anyone relates to them. I was diagnosed August 2011, had first a lymph gland op [clear, phew!], followed by chemo [Tax, HORRID!], lumpectomy, rads, my treatment finished May 2012. I still have VERY thin hair, brittle split nails, low energy, low stamina and excess weight, but have lost some lbs and no longer look bloated. This all affects my self esteem. I have been proactive in so much as I had my eyebrows threaded which look so much better, had my hair cut a few times, and last visit to hairdresser had foil colours - which is an improvement but as it’s so thin/sparse it has to be washed and styled daily, t’s short so that’s no biggy, however if I get caught in the rain I look almost bald! I eat very healthy foods, all prepared from scratch with good, fresh ingredients, but still my nails are brittle and my energy/stamina levels low. I also still have bad concentration and word loss; and peripheral neuropathy which keeps me awake, my sleep patterns are erratic, I seem to be up most of the night, sometimes - only occasionally - until 8.00am, other times I get to sleep around 5.00am, if I do mange to sleep at a more reasonable time…say, midnight, I’m awake at 4.00am, so can’t win!
Any body else suffering these, or some of these side effects left over from chemo? Sorry for the long post, I’ll be so grateful if anyone has tips how to deal with any of these problems.
BTW, I’ve tried nyoxyl and it did seem to make a difference at first, but then stopped having an effect, I also apply different oils to my scalp e,g, castor, grape, argan, I do think they help but my hair is still much thinner than pre treatment.
Thanks for reading, and if you got to the end without yawning, well done!
Hello everyone…
This is the first time I have participated in the forum, but I always read all the replies which help me immensely. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011 and went through all the treatment offered, and even though I’m feeling very well now, I get the wobbles too, especially when my mammogram and oncologist appointments arrived. I do cook everything myself from scratch and have become pesco vegetarian, but still, the anxiety is something that hopefully I will overcome with time. I want to say thank you for recommending this book “Emotional Support Through Breast Cancer” I just bought the Kindle edition, which I was really pleased they have. So glad I found this thread. Thank you so much.
Libsue-are you on Tamoxifen? I mentioned my sleep issues to my surgeon and she said it was def a side effect of Tamoxifen. I can only manage to stay asleep for 2 hours. I do turn over and manages to get back to sleep but nothing like I used to. I now try not to look at clock because somehow it make it worse to know I’ve only had 2 hours. It’s strangely consistent-almost to the exact minute.
Awwww bless you all ladies. Thanks so much for your comments. Id actually given up on this site because i didn’t seem to be getting many comments. Its only because i checked through my emails noticed that Kazey just sent a comment and it caught my eye… So thank you for that Kazey…?
Well, ladies my mammo was clear so i feel a lot better but will dread mammo number 3. I will be SO glad when ive had all 5 then i will be buying a huge and very expensive bottle of champagne . I will buy that book too i think.
Dear libsue i do hope you are ok, my nails are also brittle and i could certainly do with losing a few pounds. Xx
Hi Kazey, thank you very much. Oh and Yes i will certainly let you know if i get the book, it does sound really good and tbh im not really a book reader but im keen to read this one…
Karen xx