Forum Discussion
Feeling a failure
Does anyone know if there is a phone consult available for breast cancer mental health? I had two lumpectomies and axillary clearance due to cancer in one node in early 2019. Then rads. Then hormon...
@LibbyA
Many people experience two reactions - fear of treatment because of the side effects or fear of not having treatment because of the possibility of recurrence. It’s quite possible to have both!
I have limited effects of peripheral neuropathy ten years after diagnosis. No pain but my feet feel pretty weird, and more so if I have been on my feet a lot. It’s a nuisance, but that’s it. Chronic pain is an entirely different matter.
You didn’t fail by getting cancer in the first place. Or by seeing through your surgery and radiation. And you’re not failing now. But you may have to make a definite decision about not continuing hormonal treatment given the side effects and trusting that the completed treatment will do the job. There are no absolute guarantees either way.
A good counsellor may well help you to settle your feelings about that decision and to be happy with it. Which is the main thing. We all do what we can to avoid cancer in the future but if the cost is misery in the present, some priority setting is in order. Best wishes and take care of yourself.
Many people experience two reactions - fear of treatment because of the side effects or fear of not having treatment because of the possibility of recurrence. It’s quite possible to have both!
I have limited effects of peripheral neuropathy ten years after diagnosis. No pain but my feet feel pretty weird, and more so if I have been on my feet a lot. It’s a nuisance, but that’s it. Chronic pain is an entirely different matter.
You didn’t fail by getting cancer in the first place. Or by seeing through your surgery and radiation. And you’re not failing now. But you may have to make a definite decision about not continuing hormonal treatment given the side effects and trusting that the completed treatment will do the job. There are no absolute guarantees either way.
A good counsellor may well help you to settle your feelings about that decision and to be happy with it. Which is the main thing. We all do what we can to avoid cancer in the future but if the cost is misery in the present, some priority setting is in order. Best wishes and take care of yourself.