Facing Cancer Recurrence, PTSD & Acknowledging Mental Health

Posted by Merry, Alumni 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.

richcolleen | @richcolleen | Sep 20, 2019

Love it!🙏🏻

sakota9 (Joan) | @sakota | Sep 20, 2019

In reply to @padovani "I hope so too" + (show)

I also have multifocal adenocarcinoma , was diagnosed in 2011 at mayo. Have had two surgeries and a couple of rounds of radiation. I go back now in November for my ct scan so will see what happens. On the last one they said something had changed in my lower left lung so will be anxious about that. I told my counselor yesterday..... it will be what it will be...…. you do what you have to do and hope for the best...……..Best wishes and prayers for you padovani and you too merry

sakota9 (Joan) | @sakota | Sep 21, 2019

In reply to @auntieoakley "I found I had less tolerance for meaningless small talk. I never did the why me..." + (show)

Hi Auntie, I agree about the small talk. I don't want people to keep asking questions of which I have no answers, I don't want pity or sympathy. Maybe this is all wrong. I have a older sister who just drives me crazy and I get so upset with her, I just prefer to stay away. She is my older sister, my parents and brother are gone . All I want is some cheerful support when needed and then treat me like any other day if I didn't have cancer. Is this selfish of me. I don't think so. We are the ones who have to deal with it and if we need emotional support and a good friend we will reach out. I talk to a counselor quite often and she is super. I have accepted the cancer and will deal with it as it comes up...……. I'm not going to live my life feelng sorry for myself. I've been thru lots of other things and survived and I will this as long as the Lord lets me...….I'm ok with that.
PS The people in here are the greatest because they all understand and that means so much.

Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Sep 21, 2019

@sakota- You are a survivor for sure Joan!

Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Sep 21, 2019

In reply to @sakota "Hi Auntie, I agree about the small talk. I don't want people to keep asking questions..." + (show)

@sakota This is how i feel, also. I don't want pity, I want support if I reach out. If I need to say "no" to some activity because the energy is not there, or the situation is wrong for me, please don't pat my arm and look at me with puppy-dog eyes! Since 1988 I have been dealing with chronic illnesses, some serious, and I refuse to be identified by the dis-orders listed on my chart.
Ginger

Chris, Volunteer Mentor | @auntieoakley | Sep 21, 2019

In reply to @sakota "Hi Auntie, I agree about the small talk. I don't want people to keep asking questions..." + (show)

This is not selfish! Everyone has to live with this in their own way. I talk a lot about different health things many of which I don’t have and my husband does not have. Mostly because I like to study the nuts and bolts of disease. Also because I like to be able to understand how it affects people. I try to be respectful of what people dont want to talk about. I have been going for years here and I still am lousy at small talk. Weather is just weather and we all watch the news. I love a real conversation and I love silliness. I don’t want “oh, poor you” and I don’t want people to do things for me. I want to try to figure it out on my own first.
I, for one, am glad you came to connect! Welcome to the journey, sometimes I think we are pretty darn lucky. We don’t take our days for granted.

azkidney57 | @azkidney57 | Sep 21, 2019

In reply to @auntieoakley "This is not selfish! Everyone has to live with this in their own way. I talk..." + (show)

Nothing must be taken for granted. My life after a cancer diagnosis is teaching me this. I don’t intend to waste any time. I am not care free anymore. I have less patience and I tend to resent people I find “petty”. At work two co workers were talking one was complaining about her life she had a wedding to go to and was having wardrobe issues. I wanted to say, “You think you have problems, well I have scans coming up and I don’t know whether or not I will need to deal with cancer!” But they don’t know I have a cancer diagnosis and I was once care free. I need to deal with my own negativity. It isn’t anyone’s fault I got a cancer. I need to deal with it but I am not alone. Some days I feel less positive but I am working on being happy and grateful for what I have. I have my family, I have a good support system, and I am not alone! Also I am cancer free right now. I am grateful for that!

sakota9 (Joan) | @sakota | Sep 23, 2019

In reply to @padovani "I could use some help here. I can not sleep more than four hours any more...." + (show)

I don't know if this works for others..... but before I would wake up at every little sound and then lay there wondering if someone was in the house or what the heck was going on so would end up losing hours of sleep. Since I have an echo I decided to put on some meditation music at nite when I go to bed and now I sleep thru, don't hear those noises, don't lay away thinking but sleep very soundly. It helps me to relax. Not saying its a cure but it helps me...…..Best wishes to you Padovani

sakota9 (Joan) | @sakota | Sep 23, 2019

this is a question that doesn't pertain to lung cancer , just in case someone has an answer...…. does anyone know how long it takes to get results back after a 72 hour eeg? Mine should be pretty easy to read, nothing in my brain anymore,,,,,,,,, lol?

sandieboyer | @sandielegal | Sep 23, 2019

In reply to @azkidney57 "Nothing must be taken for granted. My life after a cancer diagnosis is teaching me this...." + (show)

If I can just stay in today! You nailed how I hear trivial complaints. I am instantly transported to my diagnosis day. I know that my mind was thing about funeral homes and my Mouth was only able to speak of hair loss. A new UnNormal filter between what I think and what I can say. Today is a Cancer Free Day full of Beautiful possibilities! Thank you for reminding me of that! ❤️