Hi,
I need to moan! I was DX nearly a whole year ago (feels like 10) in june. I had low grade/stage 9mm tumor. Had a double MX and am on Zoladex and Tamoxifen. I go to the doctors regually as I have pains everywhere in my body mainly in my ribs on the right side! I constantly go to the docs about this, but as the pain comes and goes they dont seem to be doing anything about it! It feels like people think that Im just being paranoid as im in and out of the docs all the time…and i will admit yes I am paranoid…but I know that im not making these sytmpoms up the pains are definately there! Everytime I see a doctor/consultant “its just the medication”, they wont even give me an Xray. So Annoying. I can still get secondaries but they dont seem to think that I was as a was given a excellent prognosis of %99 of not coming back…I could still be that 1%. I am constantly trying to think positive and I do, but when pains are there its difficult! Does anyone else have this problem or am i a Hypochondriac?
Emily
Hi
I cannot tell you whether you are or are not a hypochondriac, but have you talked through your anxiety/fears in a therapy context, I am not saying your pains are in your head but your level of anxiety needs to be addressed. I know I have had real mental health probs. since bc diognosis in Dec 07. I did not have double mast. as you did, only WLE, but it still has had impact on my life, my thoughts etc. In fact have been off work now since last winter because of depression. I don’t know how to read my body, it’s aches and pains, do I pay attention or ignore? I tend to ignore, but the fallout of this seems to be serious debilitating pychological problems.
Can I ask why you had double mast.? Did you have any councelling prior to/post surgery?
Anyway I do think your ‘worry’ about symptoms should be addressed and that you should not feel as though you are a hypochondric.
I do think that because of lack of finance in the NHS services there is little real support for most post treatment, more time needed to be listened to.
It is such a convayor belt and such a lottery.
Anyway hope that you find answers, I can’t tell you not to worry, sorry.
Wishing you better less anxiety ridden days in the future.
Alice
I think this disease makes hypochondriacs of us all to some degree.
I try to remind myself that before diagnosis I would often get back ache, stomach upsets, coughs, headaches. Just because I am now a “cancer person” doesn’t mean they are any more sinister now than they were before diagnosis.
I do agree with Alice that post-treatment support leaves a lot to be desired. I was signed off by my onc as soon as I had finished rads and was told “Seeing me won’t stop your cancer coming back but you can still see me if you want to - if it makes you feel better psychologically.”
I found that remarkably patronising.
Hi
Just wanted to let you know that I feel just like you!
I was diagnosed two months ago with high grade DCIS, so non invasive. I’m due to have a mastectomy.
Since my diagnosis I’ve been in and out of the doc’s all the time too. I now have backache all the time and a funny throat that is never clear.
I’m beginning to be resigned to the fact that this hyperchondria will never cease.
ARGHHHHHHHH!!!
Love Freddie xxxxxxxxxx
I was 22 at DX with lots of family history (mum, aunties,nans and great gran!!!) so I just got rid of them both to prevent getting it again in the future! Thanks ladies…it is reassuring to know that I am not the only one that feels this way!
Emily x
Emily
22 is far too young (not that any age is good, I was 47 at diog.) to have breast cancer and such major surgery. Sorry re family history. Just don’t let anyone fob you off and if you want to let off steam, share you worries, anything, someone will always be here for you and of course there are the bcc helplines, maybe worth a call and a chat. As for the doctors, well they will just have to keep listening to you, hopefully in time things will get more managable for you.
Alicex
I agree Alice. There is no good age to be diagnosed with this thing but 22 is just plain wrong.
They say the anxiety eases with time and it is still very early days for you.
Don’t be too hard on yourself.
This is one of the few things that someone has said to comfort me that makes sense…
Worrying about recurrence won’t stop cancer from recurring - but it will make you miserable. And if the cancer never returns then you have made yourself miserable for nothing.
msmolly, that is such a true saying…Ill have to remember to start saying it to myself lol! Thanks ladies! x