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“Surviving” Life After Breast Cancer

Posted by lisman1408 @lisman1408, Sep 21, 2019

The Secret Suckiness of life after breast cancer. I love this article!!! It expresses so much of how I feel following diagnosis and now the continuing treatment for breast cancer! I know many of you on this site can relate! https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2017/10/176194/life-after-breast-cancer-survivor-story

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Breast Cancer Support Group.

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Chris, Volunteer Mentor | @auntieoakley | Aug 22, 2021
In reply to @astaingegerdm "Chris, I was 48 when I was diagnosed. You mention hot flashes- the first chemo threw..." + (show)
@astaingegerdm

Chris, I was 48 when I was diagnosed. You mention hot flashes- the first chemo threw my hormones for a loop. Life really changed!

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I was 38 and the same thing happened here, I am almost afraid to ask. Lol . are you still having them?

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Chris, Volunteer Mentor | @auntieoakley | Aug 22, 2021
In reply to @astaingegerdm "One gone!" + (show)
@astaingegerdm

One gone!

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It does give me an extra stash spot.. hahahahaha

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lisman1408 | @lisman1408 | Aug 23, 2021
In reply to @astaingegerdm "Chris, the suckiness never goes away. I’m 29 years out, clinically doing well, but it has..." + (show)
@astaingegerdm

Chris, the suckiness never goes away. I’m 29 years out, clinically doing well, but it has affected many aspects of my life- not in a good way. I think it’s always on my mind, subconsciously at least.
But, I’m still here!

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I don’t think the ‘subtle’ fear in the background will ever go away. The majority of us were unaware when cancer was found the first time. I think we’ll always have it in the back of our minds, and we’re just ‘waiting’ for it to be found again. We can either allow the fear of recurrence eat us up; or we can choose to live a much fuller life than we had before by appreciating every sun rise!

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1 reply
Ingegerd Enscoe, Alumni Mentor | @astaingegerdm | Aug 23, 2021
In reply to @lisman1408 "I don’t think the ‘subtle’ fear in the background will ever go away. The majority of..." + (show)
@lisman1408

I don’t think the ‘subtle’ fear in the background will ever go away. The majority of us were unaware when cancer was found the first time. I think we’ll always have it in the back of our minds, and we’re just ‘waiting’ for it to be found again. We can either allow the fear of recurrence eat us up; or we can choose to live a much fuller life than we had before by appreciating every sun rise!

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@lisman1408 - You are right. It’s always somewhere deep in my memory bank.
It made me stronger in a way- anything else coming at me I could handle. If I got through breast cancer treatment, I can handle anything.

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raebaby | @raebaby | Aug 24, 2021
In reply to @auntieoakley "I still think about it all the time, I don’t worry about every little thing anymore...." + (show)
@auntieoakley

I still think about it all the time, I don’t worry about every little thing anymore. Probably because I spend my time trying to fan the forever hot flashes and cool my burning neuropathy riddled feet. I have a bit of a sense of humor about, but again, sometimes it just sucks. Right now the feet are the worst of it for me. They really seemed to turn a corner for the worse this year, do not know why. May I ask how old you were? You don’t have to share exact ages. Lol

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My feet are the worst too. I want to be able to drive again and am going to try Vit D3 that my chemo nurse told me
I am depleted of. I read it can help me with neuropathy and from cancer coming back. As for worrying about the future, I'm going to be 80 in October. I used to think I'd live a really long time, now now so much, but chances are good that I will make it another 10 years, so that's good enough.

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Chris, Volunteer Mentor | @auntieoakley | Aug 24, 2021
In reply to @raebaby "My feet are the worst too. I want to be able to drive again and am..." + (show)
@raebaby

My feet are the worst too. I want to be able to drive again and am going to try Vit D3 that my chemo nurse told me
I am depleted of. I read it can help me with neuropathy and from cancer coming back. As for worrying about the future, I'm going to be 80 in October. I used to think I'd live a really long time, now now so much, but chances are good that I will make it another 10 years, so that's good enough.

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I might just talk about upping my vitamin D. Let me know how that works. I have learned to drive with semi numb feet, but the burning really seems to amp up at night when I am not distracted by life. I am 55, but my doc says my body is 70. Some days I feel like it, lol, that being said, I do enjoy every day. I intend to suck every drop of joy out of every day these treatments bought me. It sounds like you were post menopause so maybe you won’t have accelerated aging. What do you do to enjoy your life post cancer?

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1 reply
raebaby | @raebaby | Aug 24, 2021
In reply to @auntieoakley "I might just talk about upping my vitamin D. Let me know how that works. I..." + (show)
@auntieoakley

I might just talk about upping my vitamin D. Let me know how that works. I have learned to drive with semi numb feet, but the burning really seems to amp up at night when I am not distracted by life. I am 55, but my doc says my body is 70. Some days I feel like it, lol, that being said, I do enjoy every day. I intend to suck every drop of joy out of every day these treatments bought me. It sounds like you were post menopause so maybe you won’t have accelerated aging. What do you do to enjoy your life post cancer?

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i didn't get cancer until I was 79 and I was in good shape. I am still on chemo every three weeks. I don't think it has aged me. But, the neuropathy in my feet makes me" walk old." I have high hopes for the Vitamin D3. I'm on vacation with my daughter and 16 year old granddaughter in Seattle, staying in a BandB mansion. I'm going to have a glamour shot with my cap and beautiful new silver hair posing with them tomorrow.

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2 replies
shelia71 | @shelia71 | Aug 25, 2021
In reply to @raebaby "i didn't get cancer until I was 79 and I was in good shape. I am..." + (show)
@raebaby

i didn't get cancer until I was 79 and I was in good shape. I am still on chemo every three weeks. I don't think it has aged me. But, the neuropathy in my feet makes me" walk old." I have high hopes for the Vitamin D3. I'm on vacation with my daughter and 16 year old granddaughter in Seattle, staying in a BandB mansion. I'm going to have a glamour shot with my cap and beautiful new silver hair posing with them tomorrow.

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Wishing you the best! You have a wonderful attitude.

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Mentor
Chris, Volunteer Mentor | @auntieoakley | Aug 25, 2021
In reply to @raebaby "i didn't get cancer until I was 79 and I was in good shape. I am..." + (show)
@raebaby

i didn't get cancer until I was 79 and I was in good shape. I am still on chemo every three weeks. I don't think it has aged me. But, the neuropathy in my feet makes me" walk old." I have high hopes for the Vitamin D3. I'm on vacation with my daughter and 16 year old granddaughter in Seattle, staying in a BandB mansion. I'm going to have a glamour shot with my cap and beautiful new silver hair posing with them tomorrow.

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My husband believes walking every day is the key. He has bone cancer but until recently walked every day rain or shine. My self, I just go work at the barn. I used a fit bit for a while that told me I walked an average of 20,000 steps every day that I was at the barn. Usually 5 or 6 days per week. Even though I am younger my hair came back white and curly, and then turned silver. Enjoy your time in Seattle, there is some stunningly beautiful Chihuly glass exhibits there. How many chemo treatments do you have left?

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