Chemo/radiation
Hi. I am new to the site. I was diagnosed 21 june. Had lumpectomy and some lymph node removal on 24 july. Just got pathology results. All clear nodes. Clear margin. Grade 2 invasive ductal carcinoma. ...
Forum Discussion
Thank you @Di1965. No point in sugar coating it! This is the one place you don't have to. So much energy goes into keeping up a good front for your family and friends. The relief to not have to pretend here is very handy.
My husband is lovely but away much of the time. He is such a steady chap that my emotional turmoil is beyond him. He wants to 'fix' me of course! He's very good at giving me my space. The kids, well, I have three teenagers and a very needy 11yo. They are tightly bound in their own centre of the world headspace most of the time, and sometimes their careless behaviour can bruise. But that's teenagers!
Once the crisis of treatment is over people move on. My friends are great but everyone has their own lives and problems to get on with, and my woes are but a hill of beans.
Survivorship is wonderful because you get to be alive when so many don't. But if you struggle like me it is nonetheless a lonely place. The only way, the only person who can fix this is yourself. The oncologists shrug when you say you're struggling on the drugs. So I'm all about mitigating the worst of side effects (which currently for me is regular osteo, and painkillers. I've tried supplements and acupuncture with no success with the former and only a tiny bit with the latter), working with my psychologist on my mental health, and have recently returned to pilates to help regain some strength, and gentle yoga for stress relief. I'm committing to my health to try to reduce risk factors for further cancers, and to improve my quality of life. I'm the only person who can do this.
I also started a support group in my area for some face to face connection. And this week I've applied for a volunteer position at a local hospital. I'm trying all the things! Here's hoping they all work sufficiently to make me feel life's worth living again.
So hugs gratefully received and returned. As long as they're at least 20 seconds long so we get that Oxytocin! K xox
My husband is lovely but away much of the time. He is such a steady chap that my emotional turmoil is beyond him. He wants to 'fix' me of course! He's very good at giving me my space. The kids, well, I have three teenagers and a very needy 11yo. They are tightly bound in their own centre of the world headspace most of the time, and sometimes their careless behaviour can bruise. But that's teenagers!
Once the crisis of treatment is over people move on. My friends are great but everyone has their own lives and problems to get on with, and my woes are but a hill of beans.
Survivorship is wonderful because you get to be alive when so many don't. But if you struggle like me it is nonetheless a lonely place. The only way, the only person who can fix this is yourself. The oncologists shrug when you say you're struggling on the drugs. So I'm all about mitigating the worst of side effects (which currently for me is regular osteo, and painkillers. I've tried supplements and acupuncture with no success with the former and only a tiny bit with the latter), working with my psychologist on my mental health, and have recently returned to pilates to help regain some strength, and gentle yoga for stress relief. I'm committing to my health to try to reduce risk factors for further cancers, and to improve my quality of life. I'm the only person who can do this.
I also started a support group in my area for some face to face connection. And this week I've applied for a volunteer position at a local hospital. I'm trying all the things! Here's hoping they all work sufficiently to make me feel life's worth living again.
So hugs gratefully received and returned. As long as they're at least 20 seconds long so we get that Oxytocin! K xox