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.

Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Sep 24, 2019

In reply to @sakota "this is a question that doesn't pertain to lung cancer , just in case someone has..." + (show)

@sakota- Joan, have you called your doctor's office?

sakota9 (Joan) | @sakota | Sep 26, 2019

In reply to @merpreb "@sakota- Joan, have you called your doctor's office?" + (show)

Yes I did they didn’t give me anything definite. Still haven’t heard a thing. Merry

Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Sep 27, 2019

@sakota- I don't know if you would be comfortable with calling everyday but that's what I would do. Did you find out how long it takes for the results?

Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Sep 27, 2019

In reply to @sakota "this is a question that doesn't pertain to lung cancer , just in case someone has..." + (show)

JOan-I just checked and it's 48 hours

sakota9 (Joan) | @sakota | Sep 27, 2019

In reply to @merpreb "@sakota- Joan, have you called your doctor's office?" + (show)

Merry. I got the results today and everything was ok so what and where do i go from here. I did post a message in anxiety and depression.

Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Sep 27, 2019

Oh dear @sakota. I guess that you will need to really have a sit down with your doctor. Has he come close to even guessing at what this might be?

swift | @swift | Nov 4, 2019

In reply to @samanthaezu "Hello...need suggestions...is it ok if I give orange juice to my mother" + (show)

Hello dear Sam , Hope that is alright to call you that, Hope your precious mum feels better real soon, I've found ginger root, helps especially to settle tummy, I've lost my dear precious Sister in the summer to ovarian cancer HGSC stage4c my heart goes out to you all glad I've found this page, ( we have lost so many already but know it's better when you talk about things and maybe even write a dairy each day helps , know this is hardest year after loss of dear friend n sister we also lost our precious dear mum and aunty to the same rotten cancer ) it's only silent if you can't get doctors that understand what you need help with. He kind team of doctors helped so much, but she didn't even realize she was so poorly. HUG from uk take care of yourself too by taking out refined sugar this can help you in your fight against cancer. Kind regards swift x

Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Nov 4, 2019

In reply to @swift "Hello dear Sam , Hope that is alright to call you that, Hope your precious mum..." + (show)

@swift- Good morning and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. It's very hard when you lose someone but more than that seems unimaginable. I have had several losses within six months of each other and it just is too much. I had to ask myself who do I mourn for? Who comes first? This was several years ago and I still don't have the answer.
You mentioned Ovarian Cancer. I hope that you are getting yearly pap smears and check-ups. Are you? I also lost a sister-in-law to this.
Connect has a group that you might find helpful in learning more about Ovarian Cancer: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/womens-health/
Here is a group that will help you with loss: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/loss-grief/
How are you dealing with your losses?

swift | @swift | Nov 4, 2019

In reply to @merpreb "@swift- Good morning and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. It's very hard when you lose someone..." + (show)

Thank you dear precious merry volunteer, you know how much appreciate your precious fed back, it means much more than words can ever say, I've researched many years especially now after loss of my dearest precious beautiful sis she was only in hospital while , she didn't even see summer sunshine , we had planned holiday if she had strength ... Never happened , it's like someone has cut me in two half of me is missing forever . I've got strength from above to keep helping others seems impossible to but some how i am , had test waiting for results as we so close in age . Know there's hope when we reach out and support others especially those understand what this cancer and any cancer does to families . Hope you able to enjoy your precious day knowing your precious support helps other dear precious ones through difficult times ahead . Know talking half weight of loads we carry . Kind regards swift thinking about all you guy's going through this critical times hard to deal with... Writing helps remember meeting dear older gentle lady in her 80s she was amazing she told me what she had stage 4 , like our family . Let she found changing her outlook on life and diet lifestyle changes helped her , she had family huge support especially when you know they are already suffering and dealing with so many other issues , my son has brain tumour and he is struggling but I know with support and bright outlook on life he will get through whatever we face we will face together. That is the key !!! I see so many going through this without support they seem to suffer more . Saddens my heart i try to reach out to others support them. You need to take time to reflect on your health too. Tc dear precious merry volunteer, HUG from us all

Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Nov 4, 2019

@swift- Thank you. Giving back and writing are the two most helpful ways that I can help myself too. It really is a two-way street, isn't it?
Other than helping people and writing yourself how do you deal with your ill son? Is he able to write and use Connect to help him through his cancer? How old is he?