Hi, I was wondering if anyone had, had counselling once their treatment was finshed and whether anyone found it helpful.
I finished all my treatment at the end of June ( chemo, surgery, radiotherapy), and I have started back at work on a phased return, but now find that i am totally falling apart and find it very difficult to face work colleagues although they are all very understanding. My GP has started me on the anti-depressant Citalopram 20mg but I feel that perhaps I need to talk through some of the issues surrounding cancer as I have lost all of my self confidence.
I have been having counselling since the start of chemo in April, I was referred by my onc to a local charity that helps cancer patients. A breast care nurse recommended the counselling to me as my mum had died of cancer three weeks before my own BC dx, and she felt I needed help with that. As time has progressed (my last chemo is this Friday) the sessions have focussed more on my cancer than my mum’s death, and I have found it very helpful. Just having an hour a week devoted to me, where I can say what I feel without having to protect family or put a brave face on to the outside world has been very helpful.
You may also find useful an article by Dr Peter Harvey called ‘After the treatment finishes - then what?’ - it describes how the period after treatment can be very difficult to deal with, which might give you comfort. Just google his name or the title and you will find it.
I think we all find other people’s reactions difficult to deal with at times - everyone expects us to be jumping for joy at the end of chemo, but it’s just not like that is it? I think it’s only when you can start to see life after chemo that the uncertainty of the future gets so scary.
Road Runner, beep beep, is right, you may find it helpful. The article is downloadable from the Cancer Counselling Trust and is a well written and sensitive piece of writing by a man.
I think we all wobble a bit after treatment and people want you to be back to normal and expect you to come out the end of the machine looking/feeling the same as when you in - not possible.
When treatment ends it is the end of the beginning NOT the beginning of the end. People may not like to hear that but that is a fact. This is a long, arduous and bumpy journey and it takes a long time.
I am sorry to read that you feel that you are falling apart at the moment. I would like to suggest that you are welcome to contact our confidential helpline for further support, a ‘listening ear’ and information about where to go for further help from one of our team of specialist nurses.
The helpline number is 0808 800 6000 and is open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm and Sat 9pm-2pm.
Hi, thankyou for your replies, roadrunner that must have been awful losing your mum to cancer then being diagnosed yourself, sometimes I think life dosen’t know when to stop throwing things at us.
I will have a look at the article mentioned, I finally plucked up the courage to phone my local cancer centre and I have an appointment on friday to see about counselling.
Reg thankyou I love your comment about " when treatment ends…"
I am not as far on as you, but I have been going to a support group at a Maggie’s centre. One of the woman in my group has finished treatment and the group has given her a place to talk about the fact that only now is it dawning on her what she has been through. The group has shown me that people are ready to join such things in their own time and at different times. It has been great for me to meet her as she can share experience of things I am yet to go through. Maggies also provide one to one sessions which are really useful.
Hope you find somewhere you can turn to to help you out.
S
So sorry to hear about your mum, it truly has been an awful year for you. I have to admit haven’t posted for a while but have kept a lookout for you and photolady.
Life has been a littlle topsy turvy recently, my partner and I have decided to seperate and we are in the process of trying to sell the house. We are remaining friends and he is continuing to offer me support, so it’s not all bad.
Sorry it’s such a short message but have an appointment for counselling, hope your mum’s funeral went ok, will be thinking of you.