I am 3 years out from my mastectomy. I had chemo, then the mastectomy then radiation. My journey, as is everyone’s is different from that of my friends, so it seems I still need an outlet like this. My oncologist told me I had had every side affect he’d seen I his practice of almost 30 years, plus two he knew were side affects but had yet to see. Most individuals think that when the treatments are over, you should be celebrating. Unfortunately I’m still battling the side affects of my treatment and it’s hard to find others who understand. I still have neuropathy, but I’ve been treating it and the pain is less. I also have other issues that limit me physically that aren’t evident so it’s hard to explain that you are still going through cancer’s after affects. My husband has been supportive but doesn’t understand that there is no timetable we are guaranteed to be back to “normal”. My doctors keep telling me that my journey has been longer than “normal” but I keep wanting to know who defines “normal”. I’ve been grateful to find the Mayo cancer groups who understand that life after cancer is usually not what you had before. Thanks for letting me see I’m not in this alone.

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