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MezDiaz's avatar
MezDiaz
Member
7 years ago

I feel so detached I want to cancel my surgery because I don't feel I need it!

I don't know where to start! I'm 45 and after ankle surgery (broken) and a massive pulmonary embolism, that according to the doctors I shouldn't have survived, I've been dealing with major depression for the last 4 years. I feel sad because I've learnt that when it comes down to it no one really cares about me other than my husband and kids. I've always cared for other people's happiness and feelings and found after my ankle, that when it came to me and my feelings and support, I had no one. I had no one to talk to and I was always told 'to get over it'.
Now the problem is that I was told I had breast cancer 3 weeks ago and it still hasn't sunk in. I don't feel as if it's me. My depression is good and I feel good, but TOO good. So good I don't feel anything at all. My logical brain says 'everyone has told you you have cancer and you need surgery' but I feel absolutely nothing and am so close to canceling my surgery. My specialist wanted to operate straight away but I asked to delay it for 5 weeks. People think I'm insane. I may just be! How can I get this to sink in so I can deal with it????

15 Replies

  • Just have faith in your doctors @MezDiaz. I was the same, I have what? I dutifully went in for surgery in a kind of a disbelieving fog, then had to have a second surgery because they didn't get it all the first time. Now that one really pee'd me off but when all was said and done and I got a copy of the pathology results, my doctors had been right. That cancer would have definitely gone crazy and killed me. The only way out of it was to have the surgery. Sometimes we don't want to have things done and I personally absolutely loathe hospitals but at least they let me  go home the next day as that is the barest minimum they could keep me in. 
    I have had the depression as many on here have too. You do get through it. I tried the psychiatrists meds for it but I had an allergy to it but it did get me over the worst of it so look in to that one.
    Choose an activity you like doing. For me, I have gotten in to jigsaw puzzles. I love the colors and the exercise it gives my arms sorting all the pieces and I usually have the laptop on watching netflix all day as well. I said to my hubby there is just nothing in me nowadays that makes me want to clean house or do washing. My nesting days are either gone forever or put in hold while I am on this hormone therapy. Lucky for me, hubby doesn't mind doing the chores and he said doing clothes washing is therapeutic for him. He is a keeper. <3 
  • Hello @MezDiaz. You are having a rough trot. I think you should give the wonderful cancer nurses on the BCNA helpline a call. It's a good place to start. 1800 500 258.

    Don't beat yourself up for not feeling anything. We all process this shitty thing at our own pace. I'm almost eight months past my diagnosis and still have to pinch myself sometimes that it's real.

    However what you don't want to do is beat yourself up later for not taking action when you could have. Courage my sister, hang in there. Kate xox
  • Hi @MezDiaz so sorry but u will find a lot of support here. I have only just started to process what has happened to me after 3 surgeries and chemo so I think as @Sister says u r probably in shock. Talk to your family and close friends about how u are feeling and please listen to your surgeon. Perhaps get a second opinion if u want. Thinking of u and sending big hugs xoxox
  • Hi @MezDiaz, I`m so sorry that you have to even think about this, and I completely relate to your sense of denial. When I was first diagnosed with BC, I was super-fit and healthy. It just didn`t make sense and I couldn`t take it in at all. It felt like a mistake. I felt pissed off that my marathon training might be interrupted! It just takes time to adjust to the idea and accept it. Your diagnosis is still very new. I think it can be a sensible idea to ask for a delay before treatment- I know my Onc gave me some time to get my head around it and rest up before my treatment began. The other thing which helped me process the diagnosis was reading about Breast Cancer and gathering information. I also hope that you and your family can find some support. Certainly, there is plenty of support on this forum, and from BCNA. The women here are amazing and so understanding. Take care of yourself. xx
  • I suspect that you're probably in shock and that because of it, it doesn't seem real. Please listen to what your doctor is telling you. At least, if you don't agree, seek a second opinion. Take care.