Heart pounding since diagnosed with cancer: What can I do?

Breathing is good. I hope you continue to talk with people, I found that it kind of took away some of the power it had over me. There will always be some fear of the unknown, but if I can help with that in any way, please don’t hesitate to call on me.

@gbnana You are brave to let us know about how you are dealing with your health journey. You have heard some great suggestions here, also. Many of us get a diagnosis and are stunned to wordlessness, right? We seem stuck in quicksand, and the world continues on its merry way all around us, while we are in a bubble of "what now? what if? what to do?".

For me, taking those deep breaths, doing something that brings a smile to your face, a joy to your heart even if for only a while, cooking an amazing meal to share with friends or neighbors, all help. Also, something I do is write it all out. Get it out of your mind, releasing some of the power it holds in your mind. Carry on a question-and-answer dialogue with the diagnosis, dominant hand asking, changing to non-dominant hand for answer. You might be surprised what is shown to you. And you never need to go back and reread if you do not want to. I hope you are feeling better this weekend, knowing we all are rooting for you!
Ginger

I found keeping a gratitude journal really helped me in the dark times of my diagnosis it helped me get through the stress and the fear And help me focus on all the positive things that I have in my life to give me the strength to deal with the overwhelming diagnosis

Thanks Ginger, your ideas sound like great ones to try. This Mayo connect has already meant so much to me. The time people have taken to reach out to me is so appreciated and so helpful.

I know we have crossed paths on other threads as well. I still wanted to check in with you and see how you were feeling. I know the treatments can be overwhelming, but hopefully the anxiety dropped once you were in the thick of it. Are you still having that heart pounding panic feeling? Are you feeling any stronger?

Thanks for asking Chris, My heart pounding lasted a full month to the date of my diagnosis. It is a treat to have that feeling gone now. The only treatment offered now is the mastectomy, and I think I might get my surgery date sometime in the next 2 weeks as I am on the urgent list. Covid has been tough here so wait lists are unpredictable.
I have been a little emotional in the last 2 days, but my finances are really tight so I think that strain as well is whats going on now is the source of recent tears.
As I also have struggled with clinical depression for many years, feeling down is not new to me, I think having cancer makes me feel now I have a reason for this heavy feeling

I hate to admit I cannot remember if you told me about the pathology of your cancer. If they are only offering a mastectomy that makes me curious about type of cancer. I am glad you are getting this scheduled.
I know many people don’t agree with this, but I started better living through chemistry (antidepressants) during my cancer treatments. I did go off after that, but went back on when husband went for his second stem cell transplant. They are not for everyone but like you, I had a history with that heavy feeling. Are finances tight because of the cancer, or just all the other financially toxic things happening in the world? Do you know if you are planning on reconstruction yet?

I decided against reconstruction because I don't feel like I can put my physical and emotional health through anything more than a mastectomy. My husband is 77 and I am 70 and our income is senior govt pension and we live in an expensive city, thus costs create this situation not cancer.

I will be thinking about you, please let me know when they schedule your surgery. Be gentle with yourself, you are going through a lot.

Thank you for caring Chris