Forum Discussion
Wobbly nearing the end of active treatment
19 days ago I had my bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction, last Friday I saw the oncologist, yesterday I saw the plastic surgeon and today I saw my breast surgeon.
At the end of the appointment he said see you in six months. Right from the start I always knew that this time was going to be a challenge for me. That when the steady forward motion of appointments slowed to a trickle I would find it challenging. As I left his office I felt OK. I had lunch with a friend but when I got home I had a little cry.
I've put in place some plans and strategies to help me through the rest of the year, which I'm determined to devote to recovery. Plus I've got a list of other activities to play around with to try to reclaim my life, and reduce the stress which has dominated it in recent times. I recognise that I have to find a new normal. But right now I feel a bit bereft and a little frightened. Life will go back to normal, but do I want it to? I can't have been through all this for nothing can I? Can I make something better rise from the horror of the last six months? How long will I feel this way?
At the end of the appointment he said see you in six months. Right from the start I always knew that this time was going to be a challenge for me. That when the steady forward motion of appointments slowed to a trickle I would find it challenging. As I left his office I felt OK. I had lunch with a friend but when I got home I had a little cry.
I've put in place some plans and strategies to help me through the rest of the year, which I'm determined to devote to recovery. Plus I've got a list of other activities to play around with to try to reclaim my life, and reduce the stress which has dominated it in recent times. I recognise that I have to find a new normal. But right now I feel a bit bereft and a little frightened. Life will go back to normal, but do I want it to? I can't have been through all this for nothing can I? Can I make something better rise from the horror of the last six months? How long will I feel this way?
55 Replies
- And then there's the mental clarity side...
- I'm looking forward to going back to work but just worried that I'm not going to be able to hack it. I know my usual working pace is full throttle (and my manager is always commenting on it)...I know that I won't be able to do that but just not sure how I will stop myself unless it's by collapse!
- @Joannie It's funny but I'm the other way round! Circumstance after circumstance has prevented me from working. The happiest I've been in the last decade was the 16 months I worked in a contract position. Finally after everything that had happened I was going to try to find work in February this year. But no, BC had other plans! I'll try again next year.
My active treatment is drawing to a close. I'll consider it done when the revision surgery is completed. But personally I won't consider my treatment finished until the day after I've taken my last AI. And at this stage that is ten years and two days away. - Hello @Beryl C, @Romla
Im not aware of a BCNA resource and will check tomorrow.
There is a resource called 'Living well after cancer' produced by Cancer Council Victoria, see link below
https://www.cancervic.org.au/living-with-cancer/life-after-treatment/living-well-after-cancer - Oh to be able to say that my treatment has ended!!!
- @"Beryl C." @Romla I'm looking forward to the Plan B conference in August that addresses this topic.
- @"Beryl C." An excellent idea as is so often spoken about as many feel quite lost after the flurry of active treatment. I think there is a BCNA resource available to print online too @Giovanna_BCNA
- I think this is an excellent topic for a Beacon Issue 'So What Happens Now? Getting on with Life When Treatment Ends - How?'
