PTSD post diagnosis and treatment

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It is not uncommon to develop PTSD following a Breast cancer diagnosis and/or treatment!

 

I was diagnosed in January 2016 and consequently had a mastectomy with reconstruction, 6 x FEC chemotherapy and 15x radiotherapy finishing my active treatment on 26th October 2016.

I dealt with my diagnosis and treatment, being on my own, quite well and looked forward to an ever improving 2017. Post treatment I was put on Letrozole. I worked throughout my treatment only taking the most necessary time off.

In February I could hardly move, as my shoulders were so very painful. I was put onto Tamoxifen and thankfully my joints have improved immensly, however am no longer able to shift my weight gained through chemo treatment.

I attended a Moving Forward course in February 2017, too. It seemed very helpful, but it did not mention one condition many of us may be subject to…

My recovery slowed and many days I was less capable then when I went through treatment.

I was frustrated with the slow physical recovery ( evere fatigue) and lingering chemo brain/cognitive dysfunction. Having researched, this can happen, especially when on the chemo regime I had been on.

Initially I put a lot of things down to my medication and recovery from chemo.

I noticed during late summer, that I was reacting in ways untypical for me, so I researched…as some of you may know, I do frequently.

So, much to my surprise, I have now been diagnosed with moderate to severe PTSD.

The good news - I am now being treated.

Some of the symptoms of hot flushes, short term memory loss, anxiety, fatigue, sleeplessness may actually be made worse by the PTSD. You may understand my surprise that I did not develop this during, but months after treatment completed. And I was also surprised by the severity.

Symptoms include: 

So if you can identify with any of them, do seek help from your nearest Macmillan centre. Generally they can offer counselling support.

I hope this post will help some of you.

Sue x

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Sue

 

Hello and it is lovely to hear from you, but sorry to hear that you have been suffering so much, however it sounds like you have everything in place now to help you which is really positive xxx

 

Sending you all good wishes for Christmas and 2018

 

Helena xxx

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Hi Sue ,I have also been diagnosed with PTSD months after a second cancer diagnosis this year buf well after treatment had finished and I had a positive outcome- I am having CBT which I hope will help but may be a slow process -good luck with your treatment .

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Sue & Jill really sorry to hear you have both been struggling. Hopefully just part of the recovery process that you will eventually emerge stronger from. Wishing you all the best & good health to all in 2018. xxx

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Thank you Bibi - hope you are doing well .Yes let’s hope something positive comes out of it - in my case maybe not returning to the very strssful job I’ve been doing for the past 26 years ?

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Hi Jill, so sorry to hear your news. And thank you for your wishes, Bibby.
I thought I’d post about it, as so many are still struggling for a longer time.
I found it also interesting that some of the symptoms we put down to chemo brain and hormone treatment - can in part actually be symptoms of PTSD.
I do have an exciting new year ahead of me and I am looking forward to finishing my CBT in about 3 months time.
Then, at last, I can have all that is on offer and truly enjoy it.
My new business, which grew in my head during treatment and started, albeit very gently, during recovery. Now it has the chance to grow into something truly exciting. And I have a person back in my life, now forever, who I thought I lost over the past 2 years, as he simply could not cope.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Sue x

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Sue -will you let me know how you get on with your CBT ? I have had 4 sessions so far .

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Of course Jill. My first 90min session is on Thursday - shall update you.
Hugs
Sue x

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Cheers.