Forum Discussion
Janny54
8 years agoMember
This might seem silly.
Hi ladies.
This might seem daft but it has been on my mind for quite some time.
I was chatting to my daughter this morning and we were talking about something that happened last year and I said when I was sick. Then I said I wasn't really sick.
So I was just wondering how do you lovely ladies refer to yourself after you had the operation but went through chemo and radiation.
Hugs to you all
Jan xx
This might seem daft but it has been on my mind for quite some time.
I was chatting to my daughter this morning and we were talking about something that happened last year and I said when I was sick. Then I said I wasn't really sick.
So I was just wondering how do you lovely ladies refer to yourself after you had the operation but went through chemo and radiation.
Hugs to you all
Jan xx
51 Replies
- kmakmMember@viking1 I think I am reacting in a very similar way to you. I hope your counselling helps.
I'm glad you had an iced finger bun. - viking1MemberLol I had an iced finger bun to mark the occasion! Yeeha! I felt like I should do something but was actually so anxious and teary on the day and on the table that just getting home was my goal. I was a real wuss and just totally emotional. The rad nurse talked to me after and that helped. Again it was big questions ... what now? I'm supposed to be happy I've got through the hard part...just got herceptin etc till Sept. Meanwhile I'm teary and depressed. Time for some counselling. @Sister ... everything you said resonates with me. I feel exactly the same and although I wish you didn't...I'm glad I'm not alone with crazy thoughts. A woman I met who'd had a double mastectomy was telling me that she often has trouble relating to the 'positive' aspects of breast cancer that she reads about and feels guilty she doesn't want to sky dive or bungee jump lol! I said it's probably a case of not wanting to pick up a magazine or flyer about all the awful things people have gone through, hence the positives are highlighted. But I think there is room in the room to talk about what some people are actually feeling, not all, but some of us struggle with smiling and joking our way through things whilst still feeling a disconnect. I was wondering if in my case it's a history of depression and anxiety which cancer hasn't exactly helped. But my friends say I'm always joking around and have a positive attitude. I thank them but in my blog I do say that it's not an accurate representation of how I am 24/7 and that it does get messy at times. @kmakm What you said reminds me of the title of the movie Girl Interrupted. Although that was to do with mental health, I do think the title sums some of us up - Women Interrupted. I do hope something good come out of it all - new skills, new visions, who knows. Unfortunately I don't believe that everything happens for a reason (Like Forrest Gump I just believe that Sh&t Happens!) but if you can find a reason, do. Quite seriously, grab hold of whatever gets you through the night. PS. A lady in a shop told me she took part in the Great Wall of China walk for cancer after her sister died. I was saying how inspiring ... she said 'not so much - my friend and I fell off the edge and 80 metres downwards'. It took 8 hours to rescue them and she hurt her leg badly but trees stopped the fall. I said I thought it was just a walk weaving up and down but she said you have to climb up to the wall from humid jungle and in some stages on the wall itself you are walking at a 45 degree angle. She said it was the hardest thing she'd ever done physically but in retrospect the fall was quite funny! I might just learn to quilt for cancer...;)
- kezmuscMemberHi all,
,
I remember at diagnosis one of the doctors saying to me that my life would pretty much be on hold for the next 12 months. That was a really depressing statement on his behalf and had me picturing myself laid up in bed the whole time! So I made an effort to photograph and video anything good and fun that I did along the way. Our family had a lot of milestone birthdays, formals, graduations and other things all planned well ahead of my diagnosis.
Two days before finishing radiation I was feeling somewhat blah so I put everything together and made a little video of all the good things that happened along the way. I found it very healing and gave me a good sense of achievement in getting through the shit fight.
I have a little facebook group called "Breast cancer...winning the booby prize" if anyone would like to join and have a look at the video.
We have to look for the sunshine through the rain.
Love to all.
xoxox - annsanMemberHey @Sister I appreciate your suggestions. I have asked family members to pass on the news as I couldn't possibly tell all my cousins. A couple have rang me which was good, except I just felt like I was repeating myself and it was exactly what you said about "well meaning phone calls". I am truly sorry you missed summer. I appreciate your advice about chemo and I am glad you passed it on. I am a bit inclined (like most women) to think "oh it's not worth making a fuss over". To think you suffered over an entire weekend is just awful and shouldn't happen to anyone. I will be thinking of you on the 21st.
- kmakmMemberI missed summer too @sister. Wept some tears over that. Had two beach trips of a week each planned, and a bunch of other lovely things. What an arse this all is...
- kmakmMember@annsan You're a sweetie & a tough cookie too I bet. You'll be right. Just read another post you might like. I'll tag you. And remember, there is ALWAYS someone here who understands.
- SisterMemberMy philosophical moment this morning has now turned into my latest blog update. Too much stuff swirling around, methinks.
- annsanMember@kmakm Thank you so much, and what a lovely thing to say to some-one you don't even know. Neither my work colleague or my boss are particularly understanding so I think they may be adding to my "out of sorts" feeling today. I can hang :)
- SisterMember@annsan It's a terrible white noise type of shock, isn't it? I wasn't planning anything as marvellous as a European holiday but was happily planning where we were going over Summer. I missed Summer. One of the best things I did to communicate was, apart from close family, nominate a couple of close "key" friends who told everyone else what was going on. That way, if I had managed to stop thinking about it for 5 mins, I didn't get a well-meaning phone call. The other best thing I did was to start an update blog. That way, I can put all the info, my thoughts and feelings, out there and family, friends, colleagues can read it and comment when they want to - and I can read their comments when I want to. It's worked brilliantly and I can rant if I feel like it.
Good luck with chemo - I have my third on 21st March - my only advice is, if you feel sick, ring them up and tell them - even if it is Sunday night! I suffered needlessly in silence for the whole weekend. Of course, you're probably going to be fine! - kmakmMember@annsan That lost feeling will come and go if my experience is anything to go by. But as you move through treatment you get a bit more of sense of direction. Having a plan is good.
I was diagnosed at the beginning of December. The people in my house were told straight away. The rest of my family and two besties two weeks later. I didn't tell anyone else until after Christmas. You are the most important person at this time. For once it's all about YOU! Do what makes you feel comfortable. Hang in there. K