A year on....

I have started this new topic on behalf of Claire
Kind Regards
Sam
Moderator
Breast Cancer Care

Dear All

It has been a 9 months since all of my treatment finished (other then the Tamoxifen) and I never thought I would see this day. I am reding through the newly diagnosed and my heart goes out to all and all of us who are at this stage. I don’t know how you feel but sometimes I have to pinch myself that I am through the worst part but I do still find it hard that it happened. I still worry in case it returns as I have a 5 year old and I want to grow old and see him grow too. I am back to work and really wish I could work part-time but needs must. Does it get easier as time goes on? People tell me I have to move on, I agree but sometimes it is so hard as when I look in the mirror I see a completely different person to what I was a year ago. I have only just been able to start looking at photo’s of last year.

My family and friends are wonderful and if it hadn’t been for my son, i don’t think I would have stayed so strong. I am still waitng for my genetic results but what will be will be I guess.

i just wanted to say hello and put down how I felt as its been a while.

Lots of love to you all.

Claire xx 1 to 1 of 1

Dear Claire

I am 3 years down the line, E+. Yes sometimes it is hard. I think when we are first diagnosed and then commencing treatment whatever it may be, we feel safe and protected in the knowledge that we are doing something active and positive with the help, recommendations and care from the medical staff. But when the treatment finishes and we are at home taking a pill once a day it becomes a little more difficult. I wish the nurses and doctors could do something to treat the “what if” syndrome. Don’t be worried about feeling afraid or having doubts or being scared - its only the people who have actually gone through this awful experience that truly understand all our fears and worries. Most of the time now you will have good days but I think, like me, you may have the odd bad time too. Just come here and let off steam, air your concerns and say what you want to say. I have made some wonderful friends and we are all here for one another any time day or night.

Do look at your photos and be positive, you are here and well, you have just taken a different path than the one you thought you would be following. You have come through the worst and this will make you strong.

Hope I have helped a little.

Love and hugs
K

Claire - a very warm welcome to this forum which I am sure you will find very helpful. Ask any question you like, anytime you like, however trivial you may think it is. Once one has had BC, nothing is trivial!
On an encouraging note I would like to say that it definitely gets easier as the months and years go by. You get to a stage where you don’t think that every little ache or pain is BC back.
You need to keep a very positive attitude and keep busy which I am sure you do with a 5 year old and a job. Keep at it and keep smiling and you will be fine. I send you a big hug.

Hi Claire,

my treatments ended a year ago and I fully understand where you are coming from. I read an article called ‘after the treatment is finished’ and thought it was brilliant, everything I was thinking and feeling were addressed in this article. Just google after the treatment has finished - its quite a long article but definetly worth the read.

Angela

Hi all

I am posting this on behalf of new user Claire.

Katie
Moderator
Breast Cancer Care

Hi

thank you all so much for your comments and kind words, I think sometimes, as you say, we need to let off steam and this is the best way of doing it. i do have more good days than bad but every now and again it just coms and hits you when you least expect it. Yes I am still here and I am not going anywhere, I have a life to live and live it I will. It does me good to read about other people who are further on than me too, sometimes I think we just hear the bad news and not the good in the press etc.

Take care all of you and thanks.

Claire xx

Claire

The article Angie refers to is (I think) on the CCT (Cancer Counselling Trust) site and is available to download in Word or PDF. When I read it I felt as if I could have written it! It is a very insightful piece (part of a longer talk actually) by a gentleman psychologist so neither by a woman, nor by a physician; I’m still amazed at that when I re-read it.

Anyway, you may find some comfort from it, just Google CCT.

Best wishes
D

Hi All

I have posted this on behalf of new user Claire.

Sam
Moderator
Breast Cancer Care

Thanks D - that article was amazing, it is exactly how I have felt and continue to do so. It was a good read and I have printed it off for my husband to read too, it might help him realise that I am not being ‘awkward’.

Take care and thank you.

Claire