Emotional aftermath following breast cancer treatment

I agree with ksue3 below that counseling can really help. A social worker in oncology might be a good place to start. Also, there numerous support groups led by therapists. Your oncology team should be able to refer you to both. Depending on what kind of cancer center, palliative care can also help. They offer adjunctive therapies--some counseling, chaplains, sometimes massage and acupuncture. I've found that if I enter a situation kind of dedicating it to my healing it works well even if not perfect. Keep in touch with us!

Hi
My Dr started me on zoloft 25mg. Going on 5 weeks finally feeling like myself. I had anxiety the first 3 weeks but now it's good. So glad I started it. Sorry for your losses and struggles. It's difficult for sure.

Your words capture exactly how I’ve been feeling. There’s no describing it to the outside world as well as you’ve just done. Thank you for sharing your experience and know that you’re not alone.

Wow, good post! I know and feel your pain. The meds are insane. I was tortured and poisoned with Anastrozole. There was an investigation but one sided. I too have PTSD. I began to recover 4 months after stopping the year and a half of toxic Anastrozole.
Meanwhile, terrified of my 81 year old friend with metastatic prostate to bone but a year later started taking XTandi, $15,000 a month but doctor found a way to get it funded. He’s doing far better than me. I’m losing my hair from stress, radiation and Anastrozole. Terrified of doctors and panic attacks, still focusing on healing.
I am shocked at the lack of support, almost zero but am grateful for this forum. Take care and cheers to surviving.
Jan Wilder

Glad Zoloft is helping. I was prescribed this med before cancer. People react very different to these medications. I had to stop after a week-Zoloft was worse than depression that finally passed.

Hi
Yes the first 3 weeks were rough hi anxiety but my pharmacist told me to persevere. I am glad I did. You need lorezepam .5 mg when you first start it. You feel worse at first because it's changing your serotonin.

Very similar situation here. Having lost several family members in 4 years, plus 2 pets. In the midst of my husband’s cancer journey, and choosing to end his struggles, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Two surgeries & two years later a friend of his mentioned PTSD. The symptoms I am finally admitting to surely fit that diagnosis.

Hi
Sorry for your losses . I hope you get some help. I am glad I went on meds. It took a couple trys to find the right one. Zoloft 25mg is working for me. Counseling is definitely a good idea.

rhongirl, I think you just described me to a tee! The emotions roller coaster is something to deal with for sure. I just put a call in to a counselor. I finally decided that after experiencing a panic attack, had episodes of crying, am irritable and in the middle of grief after losing several close family members and friends and tired all of the time. All 2024 I had my mastectomy , chemo, then covid and the losses. I am a widow so no hug when I really need one. I organized a talk about cancer for the active retirement community where I live. About 75 people came. I had a panel of myself and two others, one a male with prostate cancer. I mentioned looking healthy with hair and all, but not being "over it" at all. I think that even those who went through this 30 years ago have forgotten or never experienced the drug induced body and emotional challenges that we do now. I sense that some of my friends are tired of listening to me, but I need to talk. I recently had a visit with a new surgeon regarding another issue. When she told me of her plans for me and listed 1 through3 steps, I started to cry. I said I had been through such a rough year and can't think about more problems and issues. She immediately said, "You need to talk to someone and stop burying these emotions". Another reason I called the counselor. I can't take antidepressants. I know I have things to be grateful for, and I am. I miss feeling normal though. A few days ago I sat down and wrote out all of the things I experienced over the last 16 months. When I saw it all down on paper, I thought no wonder I am struggling. PTSD is used frequently these days when not really the case. However, I suspect that some of us do fit the mold for that diagnosis or nearly so anyway. I appreciate everyone on this site and that you share your own thoughts and feelings. It honestly does help to know that I am not the only one experiencing problems. Another stressor for me is the problem finding a bra and prosthesis that I can stand to wear all day. I really almost wish I had just had the other side removed also and just go flat with tshirts. I have gone for fittings 3 times and nothing works. They all ride up and rub under the sensitive area under the arm. Any ideas?
We can all hang together and get through each step of this journey, not feeling alone.

I am 3 years post my second fight with cancer - if including 5 years on Letrozole, otherwise 8 years post cancer. The 1st time that I had cancer I decided to have a double mastectomy without need for chemo or radiation (and I would never need to think about cancer again- haha). I had a recurrence 4 years later and went through a regimen of adriamycin; taxol; herceptin and radiation. After I was on tamoxifen for a short time, they placed me on Letrozole. For me, cognitively and emotionally things have continued to decline. I don't know if my depression derives from my poor cognition or vice versa - which came first the chicken or the egg? LOL. I have tried to forget that I have had cancer, but the toll on my mind and body reminds me everyday if it. I'm going on 62, which I still can't believe; so I often wonder if aging isn't part of the issue as well. And in all honesty, I've always been a bit scattered, but nothing like the last 5 years. I have neuropathy in my hands which makes tasks more difficult to accomplish; and my memory is absolutely horrendous. My supervisor at work is frustrated with me, not that this person sits down to talk with me about it; no, she conveys her frustration to my colleagues. I find myself crying nearly everyday for the past several weeks, which is very unusual for me. I am typically not one to cry. I have to believe there's going to be a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow one of these days. I've always been a person who said that no matter how bad something is you can always find the good in it. I really hope that I'll be able to see the good in my cognitive decline and depression soon. Wishing everyone the best and if anyone has advice, please feel free to share. 🙂