Hi everyone,
I’m 60, was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2011, aged 58, and have had treatment (surgery/radiotherapy/hormones).
I wonder if anyone else has found, like me, that since my diagnosis I have had several other health problems occur, which I have been referred to specialists for. I won’t bore you with the details except to say that as well as these problems, I am waiting for the results of an endometrial biopsy and also have to have a uterine polyp removed under general anaesthetic, which then has to be biopsied. This was bad enough but this morning I found a tiny painful lump in the other breast. I felt frantic at the time but was lucky enough to get an appointment with the breast consultant fairly quickly.
I just feel that my life now revolves around medical appointments and tests. Since my diagnosis most of my interests have gone out of the window, but I do try and make time for one or two things when I can. I suppose I should look upon it that I am lucky that the medical staff are looking after me, but I can’t understand why I get so many health problems (I walk daily and eat a good diet).
I hope I don’t sound self pitying, but I’m finding it all overwhelming! Has anyone else found this?
Molly
hi molly
ive found the opposite, at 48 started to get all sorts of problems needed physio, coil for endymetriosis, laparoscopy for same x2 and then last week mastectomy and anc. so i know what you mean, just doing mine opposite to you. dont you find it takes over your life, all the appointments and time off work and so on.
i suppose we should just be thankful, and we are grateful that we are being looked after, but yes, i understand fully what you mean, it does start to bring you down, make you weary and fed up but thats life eh? now ive got weeks off work to recover from the surgery ive just had so got to make the best of it
and yes, good to get it off your chest!
angie x
Hi Molly,
You have completely opend the floodgates for me on this subect! and I am going to have one long moan!
For 10 years I was an undiagnosed Coeliac despite seeing at least 30 consultants they all missed it! ,by the time i was dx I was extremely ill. barium swallows/enemas/laporoscapies/chest x-rays for this. I now have osteopaenia as a result of this.
I fibroadenoma removal. Many visits to the breast clinic for lumps n bumps
breast cancer dx. flu at Christmas this year and another bout in last 3 weeks
Awaiting op’s for bowel/uterine prolapse
Awaiting ovary scan for cysts
Awaiting diep recon.
I am just 52 and feel that I have never been away from hospitals. Oh and anti-depressants!
I am actually really upset whilst writing this. I just want a ‘normal’ life like most of my friends have. Really fearful of reccurence too.
Sorry, I know lots of people have worse. And sadly I know there are lots of others like this too.
Hi Angie,
Yes, it does take over your life. I find it much easier to talk to people who have been through it, because they understand. It is hard for people who haven’t been through it to understand and I had one or two comments to the effect that people who have had breast cancer should just put it behind them and get on with their life (this at three months post dx.)! So I tend to keep it to myself now, with people who have not experienced it.
How are you feeling after your surgery? At least you have some weeks at home and hopefully you will be able to do some things that you enjoy. Have you had any help with the housework?
Nice to hear from you.
Molly