As regards to work, have been back since mid Feb after finishing main treatment end December, though now on Herceptin till beginning of 2008. Just noticed another thread along similar lines regarding concentration - I feel the same. Have made so many errors today, have a head that feels like soup and don’t want to have to explain to people who don’t know, that I wasn’t like this pre-cancer!! Would rather not mention it at all but sometimes think maybe I have been wrong on this. The trouble is I never could get the words out ‘I have breast cancer’ - even now it still sticks in the throat.
Just a bad day I guess - but am 9 months post chemo and I want to be ‘normal’ again.
On another note, am also piling on the weight and very crotchety with the kids. Not always like this but feel like I have PMT even though am never going to have PMT again.
Good to be able to sound off here though!
Hi Twinmummy,
I think the tiredness after chemo can last for months and it took me several months to get back to feeling more like the old me. I do understand what you mean when you say that you weren’t very comfortable telling people that you have/had cancer. I was the same and I only tell people when I think it’s appropriate. Recently someone at work, who didn’t know my situation, was saying that she was worried about her mum’s friend who had been diagnosed with BC. I blurted out that I’d had BC and was fine. I did feel a bit embarrassed but I needed to reassure her. We all have bad days and I have days when I feel my head is full of cotton wool so don’t be too hard on yourself and only tell people what you want to tell them.
Re the weight issue, I am the heaviest I have been for years and it’s quite depressing keep having to buy bigger clothes and I do still feel very tired a lot of the time but when I can, it’s a case of focusing on other things like my hair and trying to put on make-up, little things which boost my self-confidence.
Take it easy as if you’re a mum and you work plus you’re still having treatment, you’ve got a lot on your plate - I bet everyone who knows you thinks you’re doing brilliantly.
All the very best and we’re all here whenever you need to sound off.XX