Emotional aftermath following breast cancer treatment
While I was diagnosed in Dec. 2019, chemo, cancer surgery, and four more surgeries took place over the next 2 1/2 years (one of which was a second cancer surgery). I'm 6 weeks out from my last surgery, feeling somewhat normal physically, but wading through the emotional aftermath. "What just happened to me?" I told my husband that I've spent the past 2 1/2 years trying to stay alive - and I'm exhausted. Exaggerated emotions with up-and-down mood swings. . . I find myself yearning for that sense of emotional equilibrium I had before this all began. I'm doing my best to give myself time for this part of the healing - but I find myself weary. Family and friends look at me like I'm fine now, and the trauma has passed - but the truth is, I am not fine on the inside. It's as if my body is trying to reboot emotionally, and its short-circuiting a bit. I am so goal-oriented. . . if I just had that "magic" date of when everything would be normal again, I could focus on that; but it doesn't work that way. I have to be patient with this portion of the healing - and I'm finding that hard. What are others' experiences with this? How long does it take for your emotions to settle from the trauma of breast cancer?
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So they took out 26 additional lymph nodes?
For me - They only took out the sentinal node one (pos) and another one (neg) which I think was close to the sentinel. They told me that they don’t take out more than 2-3 anymore because they know how they trail? Plus because of Lympademia.
Did you get radiation also on your breast and in the lymph node area? How many treatments of radiation?
Mine is invasive ductal
Luminal A
Stage 1b
+0.304
They did MammaPrint on me.
I wander if your doctor would put you on Verzenia? (New).
Are you now taking any hormone therapy pills? 💊 There are 4 types, maybe another one?
How old are you? I’m 62.
I am so stressed 😫 too.
I’m also due for colonoscopy too.
Do you have your ovaries? I still have my ovaries.
Jane
LadyoftheLake.
Hi Kathy88! If you look at the email from MayoConnect, look down to where it says "Events." You will find a couple of online breast cancer support groups listed there. The first one I saw is "Breast Cancer Support Group Meeting, Mon, Jul 8, 2024, 7:00pm to 8:00pm CT (Central Time)." The contact person is Lisa Halverson, Email: lisahalver@gmail.com, Phone: 507-254-4141. Send her an email to get a Zoom invitation. If you click on the link below, you should go to the information about it: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/event/breast-cancer-support-group-138/?utm_source=connect.mayoclinic.org&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=digest&utm_content=summary_events_event
I hope this helps!
DLST (Deb)
Yes I had 1 it was .90mm sentinel node 26 were taken all negative. The oncologist said I would be resistant. I appreciate the message, next week I get colonoscopy for stomachache.
Cancer care has a support group, sign up online. What is pcp?
I am glad you’re still here. Were you lymph node positive?
There are two or three more hormone blockers, I am now talking Letrozoe. Maybe you can take that one?
To moderators: any suggestions please
Do you have any groups that you would recommend to help me get over the anxiety. 6 years remission.stage 1b Lobular breast cancer: dmx, onco type oncologist said chemo won’t work. Then said after I said ok to radiation she would give me chemo but I didn’t. Took anestrozole 4 years dr said stop cause of anxiety tried other ais. Tamoxifen the stopped. I wanted to go back on ais but she said no because of resistance. Then year 5 I had scans dr said ned. I said so will I be ok, she said “ I would never say that because I’m supersticious and I don’t want to jinx anything and she d/c me to pcp. I want to stop the anxiety and have my life back. Any groups that might help? Thanks
I agree talk to your body or I call them -“my soldier cells.” I let them know that their doing a good job and I’m trying to help them too. Plus I thank my little healthy good “Soldier cells” that they have always been good to me in the past. Using your inner voice to talk to your body can give you a peace that I can not explain. So now the war is on inside to stomp out those sneaky bad cancer cells that don’t belong with my good “soldier cells.” They are not part of my army. Not ready for the end, too much to do and see more miracles happen. Find your inner peace and find your own “soldier cells” there always there and listening, just you and you alone can talk to them. 😎❤️🤗🫶🏻👊🙏🗣️❤️🩹❣️
I'm sorry for all you had to go through. You are a really brave and persistent person! It was an excellent decision to see a psychologist. You were looking out for your own best interests and seeking ways to heal, which is always appropriate. Congratulations on getting the help you need and insisting on it!
I'm responding here Rom828, and also to the discussion in general. When I was 21 (now 70) I almost died from swine flu and was hospitalized for many months. I had a classic near death experience, without any idea what that was. I was never able to put the experience behind me. I actually ended up living a much more authentic, adventurous, and fulfilling life than I would have. With breast cancer two years ago I'm just using my hard won skills of living WITH experience rather than moving on. I really can relate, though, to what you & others have been saying about friends & family figuring it should be over. So many things are never over--including beautiful experiences. Your comment about helping others also seems significant. I once heard a Zen teacher say--if you don't know what to do, do something for someone else. Anyway I feel like your reaction is quite normal--and it is YOURS. Therapy can always help if you feel too negatively obsessed, but I'm sending you, tullynut, and everyone a vote of confidence.
Wow! You just described ME!! I've been a year and 1/2 since my diagnosis and I can't shake thinking about cancer, everything I went and recurrence. I feel like my family thinks I should be ' over this' and move on but it consumes me still. I actively seek to help others and I do think I'm a bit obsessed with investigating options, but it is the only thing that helps me make sense of me not moving past this. You are certainly not alone!!! I should be putting this journey behind me but I dont know how.