Facing Cancer Recurrence, PTSD & Acknowledging Mental Health

Posted by Merry, Volunteer Mentor @merpreb, Dec 6, 2018

It's extremely difficult to face the fact of recurring cancers. After treatments we try and get away from it all and live our life. Then along comes another CT scan or PET scan and POW, you have to face another cancer. My reaction was developing PTSD.

You can read what I wrote in my blog: https://my20yearscancer.com/blog/
How do we cope? How do we react? What do we do?
How have you all reacted to another cancer? Or the possibility of another one? Has your "already compromised" mental health been able to deal with it? How? Or not?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Cancer: Managing Symptoms Support Group.

@sakota

@anyone. I had my ct scan a couple of days ago and I talked to the dr he said there were no changes and come back in six months...…. Ok now the radiologist report was posted today and this was in there :a subsolid morphology suggesting multicentric synchronous indolent primary lung cancers so what does this mean...…. to worry or not to worry …… thanks...….If I totally don't understand it I worry, lol Thanks everyone

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Sakota- Here is a link to a great explanation to your question. It also show a picture of ground glass.
https://pulmccm.org/review-articles/management-ground-glass-subsolid-pulmonary-nodules-review/
I don't want this to sound like a lecture, but here goes- Research brings knowledge that brings understanding that reduces worry. When we know the meaning of words we gain power over their implications and the decisions that need to be made. Often, as you know, radiologists pick up more things on CT scans than surgeons or oncologists. I always ask if a doctor has actually looked at the scan. If they haven't I ask that they do.
What does the radiology report say about the comparison to the scan just before this one?
subsolid morphology suggesting multicentric synchronous indolent primary lung cancers- actually means that there are more than one primary, indolent (not moving or growing slowly or inactive) half solid/half ground glass lesions. If these were on your previous scans than they haven't grown. Call your doctor and have him. explain.

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@sakota

@anyone. I had my ct scan a couple of days ago and I talked to the dr he said there were no changes and come back in six months...…. Ok now the radiologist report was posted today and this was in there :a subsolid morphology suggesting multicentric synchronous indolent primary lung cancers so what does this mean...…. to worry or not to worry …… thanks...….If I totally don't understand it I worry, lol Thanks everyone

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Sakota-my radiology reports can sound downright frightening. I believe the radiologist report absolutely everything they see. In our case, that may or may not come to fruition 6 months from now. I give myself a few days if needed to be upset and put it on the shelf (if you can) until 6 months from now. There is absolutely nothing we can do about it so I try to not give it too much of my energy.

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Hello- @sakota; @linda10; @ndeanda; @cindylb; @bluelagoon - I hope that everyone made it through the holidays feeling better this year than last, even if it's only a few days later. I know that PTSD symptoms can be exacerbated during stressful times, the holidays being one of those times.
Did anyone experience increased ( for reference only -anger, depression, anxiety, intrusive thoughts or memories, flashbacks, fatigue, nightmares, loss of concentration, increased startle, hypervigilance, avoidance, isolation, emotional numbing, lack of trust, and suicidal ideation or suicidal thoughts) symptoms?
My family and I changed up our traditions- we are a mixed group of different countries and religions (not all Christian - we went out to eat Christmas eve for out big meal and at Christmas we had a simple lunch at my sister's house and exchanged gifts. I was much less anxious this year because of that. I did have some flashbacks but not many. And I was tired for sure, but it felt ok to be because it was a busy season.

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@samanthaezu

She enjoys when I give her a massage.....hope you too you doing good there

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@samanthaezu- Happy New Year Samantha. How are you and your mom doing?

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None of this is easy... but I think you have to just go about the business of living life because nobody knows when your number will be up. I was diagnosed in October 2018 and since then lost a classmate's husband who just went in for knee surgery, was at home healing and doing well then developed a blood clot and did not wake. That's it, he's gone. Another lady that my daughter knows was fine Christmas day and then had a massive heart attack the day after and she's gone..that's it. We sort of have a warning that we are closer to deaths door but nobody's opened the door yet so just keep on living till they do.

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@bjh369

None of this is easy... but I think you have to just go about the business of living life because nobody knows when your number will be up. I was diagnosed in October 2018 and since then lost a classmate's husband who just went in for knee surgery, was at home healing and doing well then developed a blood clot and did not wake. That's it, he's gone. Another lady that my daughter knows was fine Christmas day and then had a massive heart attack the day after and she's gone..that's it. We sort of have a warning that we are closer to deaths door but nobody's opened the door yet so just keep on living till they do.

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@bjh369- Hello and welcome to our group. You are right, you just keep on keeping on. I hear you on losing friends. I've lost several just in the past 2-3 years. I have a type of lung cancer called multifocal adenocarcinoma of the lung. Over a period of 21 years I have 4 lung cancers, Mostly in the past 5 years. It's like having chronic lung cancer. Has you cancer reoccurred?

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This is perfect advice. After 2.5 years recovering from ovarian cancer and 9 months of chemo I am still weak,frail,and fatigued all the time. I have tried to exercise but get easily wiped out. Now the cancer has metastcised and I am going into chemotherapy again-buying time. Don’t know how it will affect me (only carboflatin the time) abuthow do I balance this and the need to stay active?

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@susu2- I am so so sorry that your ovarian cancer has metastasized. Nine months is a long time to be on chemo. Is 2.5 years enough time to recuperate before more chemo is given? I know that when I had chemo it about killed me after 4 months. The type of lung cancer that I have is like having a chronic cancer. It's very frustrating to feel weak and not be able to do what you want. Have you tried PT or exercises sitting down to try and get your blood moving a bit? Here are a few that I found that you might like to try. https://12stepssite.wordpress.com/
Let me know how you do with them.
When do you start your new chemo?

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@merpreb

@bjh369- Hello and welcome to our group. You are right, you just keep on keeping on. I hear you on losing friends. I've lost several just in the past 2-3 years. I have a type of lung cancer called multifocal adenocarcinoma of the lung. Over a period of 21 years I have 4 lung cancers, Mostly in the past 5 years. It's like having chronic lung cancer. Has you cancer reoccurred?

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I have Glioblastoma grade 4. It is a terminal diagnosis however with treatments they are going to try to get me at least a couple of years but we shall see.

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https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/glioblastoma/cdc-20350148- @bjh369- I imagine that you've seen this? What kind of treatments are you having? How long have you had it?

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