after being diagnosed early January 2020 with stage 2 TNBC First went through chemotherapy then lumpectomy and finished in September with Radiation all my results came back with great results no lymph node activity clear margins and full pathological response to treatment I was coping quite well with day to day life after much Counselling until I went for my recent 3 month appointment with specialist I got a student Dr who was adamant I had a new lump.as I lay there on the bed waiting for my actual specialist to come and check me over my mind was going crazy with the worst kind of thoughts My specialist of 40 years experience checked my breast and said there is no lump and told the student Dr to remove the notes from my record and the reassured my husband and I it was only normal breast tissue I have been a mess now for over a week and have examined my breast now 3 times or more a day finding lumps that now seem bigger and hurtis my anxiety taking over?I called the cancer council and they recommended to stop self examination’s for a bit and believe my specialist my Mammogram 1st since diagnosis isn’t until February and the specialist doesn’t see me again until mid February sorry for long rant (Anxiety does this) x

I know students have to learn but......it seems to take a long time to realise the practice object is sentient, not deaf and may grant the student greater knowledge than he/she has. You can take your specialist’s advice and stop worrying but, as he/she will know, test and scan anxiety is a real thing, and you have already had counselling, so easier said than done! Or try and have a mammogram as soon as possible, which should be possible if your specialist recommends it (for your peace of mind not because his/her assessment is wrong). After all, your specialist presumably allowed the student access! Best wishes.

I think even the most resilient of people would have experienced some ongoing anxiety after that experience.I'm over 4 years on after treatment and found some lumps in my forearm. Of course I was certain it was mets so opted to not get tested until I finished my last assignment for my uni study. Sounds weird I know...but I know how hard that initial stage of testing is etc and I just wanted to finish...cancer already put me behind 4 years. So in that 3 weeks of course zI was constantly feeling the lumps which turned out to just be fatty lipomas...why are they there..who knows? Anyways...perfectly normal response and I'm so happy you had a good outcome.

HI @2MC Anyone who did not have any concerns about this wretched disease stalking them could possibly be, in the words of my terribly un-PC and long dead grandmother, soft in the head. The degree of concern varies from person to person, but doesn't that apply to all aspects of out lives that qualify as threats? The joys of 2020 have revealed exactly how cavalier some folk can be in the face of what others consider desperate circumstances. And how different we can be. 'Nah, it's not a thing' vs 'I refuse to leave the house until it's all over' Both responses to the same situation. Folk are strange.I had a recurrence (after 10 years) and it was bloody horrible but I'd stopped obsessing about my disease at about the five year mark post first diagnosis. Prior to that, I was totally convinced it was going to kill me. Looking back, that was a significant waste of limited energy and resources, but there was no way I could have switched off. And nothing that was going on my head would have made any difference to the eventual outcome. Four years after BC V2, I'm still not mentally 'over it' but I try to moderate my responses to every miniscule ache and pain. It's a pretty steep learning curve, but you do start to know what to mention to your GP (pretty much everything) and when you should push the panic button.Will there be a BC V3 for me? Who knows; I won't spend every waking moment stressing about something that may, or may not, happen. Of course I think about it, I'd be soft in the head if I didn't, but I try to keep that noise down a bit if I can. Hang in there. You are not on your own. Mxx

@primek wow! You’re Amazing to stay strong and finish your assignment under that condition well done and congratulations on being 4 years cancer freethank you for your kind words and I’m hoping after my First mammogram Since treatments and surgery if all goes well my anxiety can be put on a shelf for a while so I can get back to work and my life 😊

@Afraser thank you for your fast response I’ve really needed some advice from a survivor Im going to see my GP as I can’t straight contact specialist cancer council told me I couldn’t rush ahead and have mammogram as things after radiation and surgery need to settle down firstand that’s why specialist has set a particular dateshe also said I could be feeling a lot of normal changes to breast tissue after all it’s been through I feel I’ve lost my faithall my joints have ached since chemotherapy after long walks especially my digest system has only just got back on track I fear if I had to have chemo so soon after the 1st time I wouldn’t survive sorry if I’m putting to much out there/ asking to much of you xx

Fear of recurrence | BCNA Online Network

22 Replies

2MC
Member
5 years ago
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@Zoffiel sorry to hear you had to do this twice
I’m not soft in the head but I do suffer from extreme anxiety and probably border line hypochondriac so working out the difference between normal aches and not normal is difficult and sometimes I wonder if my anxiety makes everything hurt more
anyway this is something I am working on

on top of that trying to understand how long my breast and armpit should be sensitive and sore after surgery and Rad,s
my mind like to run and create scenarios why I’m experiencing the sensations and they are never good

I do try and imagine the me in 10 years healthy and cancer free and what advice that future me would give myself
and I know it would say don’t waste the life you have stressing out and start living

anyway peace and love x
2MC
Member
5 years ago
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@primek
wow! You’re Amazing to stay strong and finish your assignment
under that condition well done and congratulations on being 4 years cancer free

thank you for your kind words and I’m hoping after my First mammogram Since treatments and surgery if all goes well my anxiety can be put on a shelf for a while so I can get back to work and my life 😊
Zoffiel
Member
5 years ago
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HI @2MC
Anyone who did not have any concerns about this wretched disease stalking them could possibly be, in the words of my terribly un-PC and long dead grandmother, soft in the head. The degree of concern varies from person to person, but doesn't that apply to all aspects of out lives that qualify as threats?

The joys of 2020 have revealed exactly how cavalier some folk can be in the face of what others consider desperate circumstances. And how different we can be. 'Nah, it's not a thing' vs 'I refuse to leave the house until it's all over' Both responses to the same situation. Folk are strange.

I had a recurrence (after 10 years) and it was bloody horrible but I'd stopped obsessing about my disease at about the five year mark post first diagnosis. Prior to that, I was totally convinced it was going to kill me. Looking back, that was a significant waste of limited energy and resources, but there was no way I could have switched off. And nothing that was going on my head would have made any difference to the eventual outcome.

Four years after BC V2, I'm still not mentally 'over it' but I try to moderate my responses to every miniscule ache and pain. It's a pretty steep learning curve, but you do start to know what to mention to your GP (pretty much everything) and when you should push the panic button.

Will there be a BC V3 for me? Who knows; I won't spend every waking moment stressing about something that may, or may not, happen. Of course I think about it, I'd be soft in the head if I didn't, but I try to keep that noise down a bit if I can.

Hang in there. You are not on your own. Mxx
primek
Member
5 years ago
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I think even the most resilient of people would have experienced some ongoing anxiety after that experience.
I'm over 4 years on after treatment and found some lumps in my forearm. Of course I was certain it was mets so opted to not get tested until I finished my last assignment for my uni study. Sounds weird I know...but I know how hard that initial stage of testing is etc and I just wanted to finish...cancer already put me behind 4 years. So in that 3 weeks of course z
I was constantly feeling the lumps which turned out to just be fatty lipomas...why are they there..who knows? Anyways...perfectly normal response and I'm so happy you had a good outcome.
2MC
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5 years ago
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@FLClover
I’m sorry you have also had to live with this condition
in my day you didn’t talk about feeling different or strange and my panic attacks where experienced but not shared
I’ve stayed strong on my own for so long until I met my Husband and Best Friend
I’m glad at 47yo I had the good sense to reach out for psychological help during treatment
I nearly didn’t thought I’d tough it out.

you’re Amazing thank you so much
i wish you good physical and mental health for the future xx
FLClover
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5 years ago
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@2MC Oh my, it really has been a rough year for you. No wonder you have so much anxiety. I’m so sorry about your dad and your dog, my deepest condolences ❤️. And I hope whoever did that to your dog gets their karma.
I’m similar to you with the anxiety you’ve had since a teen. I witnessed it quite young and my parents unfortunately never thought it would be a good idea to help me in some way. Psychologists were a big no no back then, especially in South Eastern Europe, where I come from. It’s taken to the age of 40 and my own cancer diagnosis to finally get myself into gear and do what needs to be done to deal with all that trauma and fear I carry. It’s hard, and even one hour with the psychologist can leave me feeling fatigued for the rest of the day. I also realised it’s not a bag of worries I carry, but a whole bus load of suitcases. But I’m already seeing massive results and as I said, am feeling happier and more liberated than ever. It’s also helping my social anxiety. But as with everything, it goes back and forth.
After everything you’ve been through this year, you’re doing quite well. You’ll get to your happy place again, it’s waiting for you ♥️
Afraser
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5 years ago
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Many of us will be glad to see the back of 2020! We are all glad to be of any help at all, but your own determination and strength will win the day.
2MC
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5 years ago
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@FLClover
oh I’m so happy you are in a great space now
that’s fantastic!
I was and will do everything to get back there. I really want to enjoy Christmas this year
The beginning of 2020 I lost so much
cancer diagnosis in January my Dad passed from cancer in February and someone baited and killed my much loved dog in September
things can only get better..right 🙏🏻
2MC
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5 years ago
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@Locksley
thank you! living with health and death anxiety since I was a young teen was difficult enough
my councillor was amazing and said I was doing so well considering facing my cancer journey.
somedays it isn’t easy to stop the mind from getting busy.
yes I agree all those lovely ladies that are so quick to help and offer support are amazing and so strong to help other when they are going through their own journey
@Afraser has been a constant and and I have so much respect for her and her advice x
FLClover
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5 years ago
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You’re very welcome @Locksley! I’m just glad it’s helping someone 💖.
I also want to thank a lot of these ladies, but I’ll do it in a separate post 👌🏻