Hi Annie
Congratulations on getting this far. You may well find there are people who, because they can’t see any evidence of illness, may expect you to be well but, in my opinion, they can go hang. You've had a physically and emotionally traumatic time and you need to recover at your own pace. That’s the essential thing. Listen to your body. If you’re tired, rest. If you’re exhausted, sleep. If you feel mentally numb, be kind to yourself. We all recover in our own ways but please don’t feel under any obligation to be what others want you to be. Find your own pace and don’t rush it. I found radiotherapy very easy, then two weeks later, it hit me hard in terms of fatigue.
The end of radiotherapy can feel strange. Personally I had no wish to ring that bell because I knew it wasn’t over and emotionally and physically I had a long way to go. For others, ringing the bell is an important and defining moment in their recovery. The other key issue is that you’ve been accustomed to being under the care of the hospital and suddenly you’re on your own. It can be very disconcerting. I was in the fortunate position to access support services via Macmillan and The Haven but of course, face-to-face support was halted with the pandemic and has yet to be re-established, unless you have access to a Maggie’s Centre. What’s missing are the physical therapies like acupuncture and aromatherapy massage that patients were entitled to after treatment. So it’s important you find ways to pamper and indulge yourself. You’ve earned it.
What others think isn’t as important as what you feel you’re up to. Don’t be pressured but also don’t let breast cancer define you (unless you’re ok with it). You may find you have to educate some people! Good luck xx
