Emotional aftermath following breast cancer treatment

Thanks, Colleen. 😉

Thanks, Helen. Hearing others speak of this part of the journey helps. I guess I anticipated I would be cruising into the new normal by now. . . but I feel tired and worn out yet from this long ordeal. It's been my first few months back at work, which is very taxing and physical. I'm pretty tired from that, too, but I can do what I need to do, and that part is great. It's the unpredictable emotional swings. . . . . they come and go. Some days almost like PMS on steroids. :o. Your description of the initial elation followed by a downswing in mood is spot-on. I have the educational background (my master's in therapy/counseling), but when it happens to me, it is not textbook stuff. . . it is the reality of having to unpack my own stuff instead of helping someone else unpack theirs. It's ironic - in grad school I requested a medical internship in oncology. I guess I've experienced both sides now.

Knowing that this will pass is helpful. . . I'm just glad to know how others are feeling after their intensive treatment regimes are over.

I really only have tatoos left with my care plan (choices). Everything else has been done. My plastic revision surgery after breast reconstruction went well, and I am all healed, yet there is an area leftover some might wish to "redo" yet again. . . but I am so done with surgery! I had a reaction (so they think) with my surgery in that I broke out with these terrible hives. . . so itchy and painful. The dermatologist said it was rare, but it began to clear after a month, so I counted myself lucky that it was over, and moved on. No more surgery, please!!

Thank you, again, for sharing your experiences. My husband really tries to understand, but the truth is, a person cannot if they haven't walked in the big cancer-shoes themselves. I'm working at being thankful daily. That helps. Until this passes, I'll just keep on keepin' on.

thanks. 🙂

I am 56 years past my original breast cancer surgery. I am trying to look back and think about my journey, I know the first few years I did not expect to see 45, and tried to arrange my life since I had two children 6 and 8 years old and a husband I loved very much. But life seemed to go on and hope springs eternal and the fear began to subside. This is not to say everything was normal (what is normal) and I came to look at it this way. There are many other illnesses, and "conditon" that are life threatening and I did not seem to have contracted them, nor worry about them, so why continue to punish myself about this cancer. Keep a careful watch for anything that might seem different, and if you think something is different, make a doctor appointment and follow through. Don't let someone pat you on the head and say, "you are just worrying too much". If It can be taken off, do it. Once it is gone, no more worry. If it needs an MRI get it, you no longer have to worry. Life is good. Be your own Sherlock Holmes (take control). You can do it. Forgot to tell you I am 92
Gina5009

Thank you for this wisdom! I am so glad that you shared.

I understand
I am six wks out form surgery I had a lumpectomy metastatic her2 negative
For me the emotional state is truly a challenge
I trust with my faith in God for my life my healing!
God bless us!
I pray constantly
Stay in the word

I've completed all my active treatment (TNBC BRCA2+ - chemo, bilateral, then radiation) and have found my emotions more of a roller coaster ride now than when I was going through treatment. Maybe that was because I was actively doing something for my dx. I'm trying different things but some days I'm just unfocused and stuck. I hope this doesn't become my long-term "new" reality. I'm getting ready to retire and I have things I want to do and places I want to go. Now I'll have the time. What are things people are doing to get past the unfocused & stuck position they find themselves in?

Your wisdom , and your compassionate sharing of such wisdom, is VERY MUCH APPRECIATED. Thank you 💕

How are you now? Did you find ways to get unstuck?
There are days that turn into weeks that I get stuck. I also felt very engaged in my dx and treatment. But was surprised with the lack of direction & focus after. I had retired a year and a half before my diagnosis - but with COVID restrictions never got into a retirement mode.

I feel I should be past this. That I know better, and should schedule something to do that gets me out of stuck.
I HAVE been out of stuck and signed up for fun activities and I am going to. But I wasn’t cleared on my one year visit last October and am waiting the 6 months recommended to get a new MRI and mammogram. The “not clear” report shot down the feeling that I was moving forward after treatment.
They have rated a lesion in the contralateral left breast as BIRADS 3, and are following a 7.7 mm round lymph node on my right - it’s a level one axillary lymph node. They report they believe both are benign but must be scanned again to see if either have grown. I realize this is not a bad report - but it’s not clear either.
Anyway, would love to hear if you found a way out of stuck!

I am almost 5 years out from my Mastectomy and I recently began therapy, not thinking my issues were related to the breast cancer issue! While that isn't the ONLY reason I have been struggling, what seems to be at play is the combined impact of before cancer, caring for my mother with dementia, other family dynamic issues, the cancer diagnosis, multiple surgeries, some cancer related and some not. So, adding together the 'bad' things that have happened in my life over the past 5+ years, cancer begin a big one, there is a great big ball of trauma I have experienced (even though now I would have said I am in a good spot in terms of no fires to put out in the immediate sense) that was news to me and is affecting me in a big way. So, I realized I let go of a lot of things that gave me happiness and peace of mind (facials, massage, visits with friends) over the past 5 years, time has been filled with scans, doctor appointments, therapy and a REGROUP is what I absolutely need. This week, I had a facial, agreed to go with my husband to a super bowl party at a friend's house, and am practicing mindfulness in a structured way that has been helpful. During radiation, the facility offered Yoga for all patients, family, staff and I took advantage. I intended to keep it going when I returned home, but didn't, so the mindfulness focus is a return to that stage and one that has been in the past very helpful for me. What I learned was that "discounting" the amount of trauma many/most of us experience sometimes in life in general but certainly more for those with a cancer journey is not something to be dismissed. While it isn't exactly a part of the Cancer, it is an area of equal concern that may well require help from non-cancer therapists and programs and may well be beyond the scope of what the cancer specialists can see/do. JMHO

My heart is with all of my girlfriends of cancer survivors!
I had a double mastectomy in November no reconstruction!
I pray everyday for all of us!!
You are in my heart!!
Maura ❤️🙏🏼