cancer and depression

Moira, I'm so pleased you have come through another adversity with flying colours ..... you are truley remarkable and I take my hat off to you!!!

I went through a form of depression a few months after my diagnosis and mastectomy.  Because I opted for breast and lymphnode removal rather that lumpectomy and partial node removal I was fortunate that my cancer was isolated in the breast and hadn't travelled to the glands or anywhere else.  As a result I didn't need chemo or radiotherapy.

I was invited to several events by my Breast Care  Nurse but wouldn't go.  I would look at brochure photos of other ladies and feel that I would be there under false pretenses because they were sick and I wasn't.

 With no "visible" signs ... ie no wig/scarf/loss of eyebrows etc etc and everyone telling me how well I was coping and how well I looked, I felt guilty because I wasn't sick. My physio gave me a mental slap around one day when I was discussing this with her. She reminded of the facts - that I had been diagnosed with B/C and had had a mastectomy ..... she actually made me repeat that statment two or thre times during our session..... then she pointed me in the direction of a BCNA forum that was being held in Mildura.

That was a turning point for me, listening to Lyn, Raelene and the other speakers on the day, then going to Melbourne and becoming deeply involved with BCNA, making a group of life-long friends and in some small way offering support to others.

After 12 months I realise that I am in charge of my own destiny and can't spend my time thinking about what might have been.  The depression hasn't totally gone, it's still lurking around but it doesn't raise its head as often as it used to.

I'm not afraid to admit that I had been on that road and to acknowledge why I'm not going in that direction any more. 

To anyone suffering with depression, don't be afraid to ask for help,there is so much on offer, thru this site of ours and others as well as friends, medical support centres and practitioners.

We each have our own demons but positive thinking will always get us through .... "with a bit of help from our friends' (according to the Beatles)!!!!

Take care everyone .....

Cheers .... Shirl xx