Hey @RipleyandJones
I am also on the GC and a youngun at 55 (54 at diagnosis). I’m not much good around Tamoxifen (I’m a TNBC one) but I too am in the situation where I am feeling “worse” having “completed” treatment that I did during treatment. The fatigue is real (and “a good nap” doesn’t help it) and the feeling that “well you are over it now” from others is there also.
I was told by the oncologist (bless him) that it’s been “a hella treatment program and we’ve changed everything about you and your hormones so be gentle with your body while it catches up. Will take at least as long as the treatment regime and I routinely say double the time”.
So, my plan is to “be gentle with myself” and try to talk to/educate people who think I should “be better”. “I am on my way to feeling better since I’m not longer getting nuked endlessly but it’s going to take some time to no longer feel like I’ve been endlessly nuked, much like Chernobyl”….
I’ve also found my words around being told I’m “strong” or “an inspiration”. I tend to respond with things like “I didn’t like the dying option so it’s not like I made the choice to be strong” and “I’m not here and choosing to be an inspiration I’m choosing the alive options in whichever form they take”. I also make sure I talk to people about the “warrior” language associated with cancer as I’m also not a fan as it implies winners and losers of that battle and there aren’t either.
One other thing I’ve found really helpful, as I have a quite black sense of humour about some of this stuff is a couple of instagram pages that use art and meme’s to express some of the messages.
go gently and be kind to yourself.
And feel welcome to DM me if you just need a should to cry on.
