Wobbly nearing the end of active treatment

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24

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  • Beryl C.
    Beryl C. Member Posts: 270
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    I think this is an excellent topic for a Beacon Issue 'So What Happens Now? Getting on with Life When Treatment Ends - How?'
  • Romla
    Romla Member Posts: 2,092
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    @Beryl C. An excellent  idea as is so often spoken about as many feel quite lost after the flurry of active treatment. I think there is a BCNA resource available to print online too @Giovanna_BCNA
  • kmakm
    kmakm Member Posts: 7,974
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    @Beryl C. @Romla I'm looking forward to the Plan B conference in August that addresses this topic.
  • Patti J
    Patti J Member, Dragonfly Posts: 589
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    Oh to be able to say that my treatment has ended!!!
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 0
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  • Giovanna_BCNA
    Giovanna_BCNA Member Posts: 1,839
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    Hello @Beryl C, @Romla

    Im not aware of a BCNA resource and will check tomorrow. 
    There is a resource called 'Living well after cancer' produced by Cancer Council Victoria, see link below
    https://www.cancervic.org.au/living-with-cancer/life-after-treatment/living-well-after-cancer
  • kmakm
    kmakm Member Posts: 7,974
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    @Joannie It's funny but I'm the other way round! Circumstance after circumstance has prevented me from working. The happiest I've been in the last decade was the 16 months I worked in a contract position. Finally after everything that had happened I was going to try to find work in February this year. But no, BC had other plans! I'll try again next year.

    My active treatment is drawing to a close. I'll consider it done when the revision surgery is completed. But personally I won't consider my treatment finished until the day after I've taken my last AI. And at this stage that is ten years and two days away.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 0
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  • Sister
    Sister Member Posts: 4,960
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    I'm looking forward to going back to work but just worried that I'm not going to be able to hack it.  I know my usual working pace is full throttle (and my manager is always commenting on it)...I know that I won't be able to do that but just not sure how I will stop myself unless it's by collapse!
  • Sister
    Sister Member Posts: 4,960
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    And then there's the mental clarity side...
  • kmakm
    kmakm Member Posts: 7,974
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    @Sister It is a worry. I have a lengthy recovery in front of me, physical and mental, and it is taking a lot of willpower and management of guilt, to rest and take it easy and slowly.

    @melclarity says "surrender, feel and heal". It takes real discipline to turn down that throttle. BC is a harsh teacher and we are being schooled hard! My hope is that I can learn some lessons that make my life more sustainable.
  • [Deleted User]
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  • primek
    primek Member Posts: 5,392
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    I returned to work on reduced hours as I was mentally and physically exhausted after treatment. It was on a return to work plan and I didn't work a full workload initially. My work colleagues were great as they were all part of my facebook page and knew what had been happening. It took me 6 months to reach full time work. In the hours I didn't work I worked on my fitness, socialising and just bloody resting. It took  me some time to feel well...I'm talking 6 months and even then tired and needing to rest more.
    My oncologist and breast surgeon worked my appointments so I saw each one 6 monthly but they alternated so it was someone 3 monthly. I must say I was a little shocked when my surgeon at my 2 year post surgery mark said I'll see you in 12 months...omg...really? But I guess this is part of accepting surviving breast cancer. (Mind you I'm on waiting list for nipples this year so will be seeing him earlier)
    I've just started shifting my focus in life. Now it's my health, happiness and fitness and focussing again on my relationship with my husband now our boys are men, something we were doing when bc struck. So part of that is holidays together doing things we always thought about. One thing cancer does is give you a wake up call that our health might not always be there so it's time to grab life by the horns and enjoy the ride. Kath x
  • kmakm
    kmakm Member Posts: 7,974
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    Love your shift in focus @Primek. Beautiful. K xox
  • Sister
    Sister Member Posts: 4,960
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    It feels like I'll never get to that place @primek although I know that I'm steadily chipping away at it.  By the time I'm through this, we'll be in the poor house, though as even when they finally deign to give me my income protection money, it won't be much.  No holidays for us for a while.