Free anxiety and depression resource

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Jess_BCNA
Jess_BCNA Member Posts: 475
edited November 2014 in Health and wellbeing

BCNA and beyondblue's new fact sheet Anxiety, depression and breast cancer is now available to download. This new resources helps to explain links between anxiety, depression and breast cancer.

This factsheet includes information on

  • What are the signs of anxiety and depression? 
  • Links between anxiety, depression and breast cancer
  • The types of treatments
  • How to find help for yourself and your family and friends

Visit BCNA's website to download the Anxiety, depression and breast cancer fact sheet.

Other support and resources

Comments

  • nasas1
    nasas1 Member Posts: 13
    edited March 2015
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    I'm on my way to two years come November to being in remission, I'm a survivor of the chemo and radiation path but ever since finishing I've become scared of doctors and specialists because they told me I had this dreaded bugger of a disease but since then I tell them I have something wrong here or there and they tell me to go see the other doctor, oncologist, specialist, cancer care clinic and I just feel really dumb for telling them anything because I survived the worst.  I've been telling them I have a lot of pain it all started just before chemo finished and I still have it to this day only getting worse.  I've now been told go back to my GP and get a referral to a rheumatologist.  I thought it was because of the menopause especially with all the hot flushes all day long and night (phew).  But maybe it's not, taking all the magnesium that was recommended but didn't see any beneficial results.  Anxiety and depression every day.

  • KathleenT
    KathleenT Member Posts: 116
    edited March 2015
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    Hi there nasas1 ( let's know your name if you like)

    I know what you're going through, dare I say. I find that once you've had your surguries, chemo & radiation, it does indeed seem that the doctors write you off. I have secondary in my back, & I've been told by a registrar "you need to remember that you're not as sick as some". Great! Not that I wish to be wanting them to find things wrong, but those sorts of comments at an oncology consult are not helpful. So I've changed where I go & who I see. We are permitted to do this.

    Can I suggest that rather than being afraid of all doctors....I can promise you they are not all the same. You need to find someone who listens to you, takes time for you, & doesn't necessarily push you off to GPs. Depending where you are receiving treatment, you might be able to get some help with this. For example, is there a breast oncology nurse where you go who you can talk to? I am glad that I made the decision to move elsewhere, & I'm looking forward to my first appointment.
    You should be able to talk to your GP about it too-reminding him/her that we are permitted to change providers if the current situation is causing stress.

    Let me know how you go, and welcome to the group!
    Take care
    Kathleen
  • nasas1
    nasas1 Member Posts: 13
    edited March 2015
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    Good morning Kathleen,

    Thank you for your words of encouragement, I was beginning to think it was just me.  GP making me feel like it's all in my mind and saying we have to send you to a pain clinic.  No thanks been there done that.  I phoned my oncologist nurse last week and because I'm part of a clinical trial I asked if anybody else was feeling how I was she said no I was the only one with these symptoms.  So now she and the oncologist have said go get a referral for a rheumatologist, all I've been doing is reading up on this and it sounds like maybe this is what I have but I won't know until I talk to GP today.  If I don't get help from him today I will be going else where for a second opinion.  It's only taken how many years!

    Thanks again for your reply brought a tear to my eye, no I'm not alone.

    Eunice 

  • KathleenT
    KathleenT Member Posts: 116
    edited March 2015
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    Hi Eunice

    Apologies that it's taken so long for me to reply to your post. No, you are indeed not alone in this. Change your GP, which I think you are doing.

    I'm having my first Pain Clinic appointment this Monday. Im looking forward to it. May I ask why it didn't work for you? Just have a look around this site-everyone on aromatose inhibitors experience joint and body pain, resulting in general lethargy most of the time. Sound like you need to change your oncologist breast nurse as well!! I've had my first appointment at the new oncologist, and so far I'm really happy.

    Will keep you posted on how I go. Please let's know how you go with your changes as well.

    Take care
    Kathleen