-
Journey vs Ordeal
I am wondering if anyone else gets annoyed when others refer to breast cancer treatment as a journey. A journey may be described as moving from one place to another. However an ordeal is defined as a horrific experience, often painful and protracted. For me it's an ordeal. It will forever take up rent in my mind.
-
ER+, menopause, and severe depression
Good evening all, I had a stage III ER+ diagnosis in 2004, so incredibly fortunate to be 18 years' NED last February. Here's the thing, I refused oophorectomy because I was terrified about quality of life by going into instant menopause at age 35 after having extremely high estrogen since birth I guess. I spoke with a…
-
For those of us with BMI over 35
Having a BMI over 40, and dealing with recurrence and family history of breast cancer makes me feel isolated. Out of my family members with BC, mom, and two sisters and a cousin, I am the only one in my family with BMI over 30. I feel those of us who are plus size don't fit in to many of the discussions here, especially…
-
Podcast: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder After a Cancer Diagnosis
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder After a Cancer Diagnosis December 19, 2018 For nearly 25 years, Kelly Grosklags has dedicated her practice to minimizing suffering through her work in oncology, palliative care and hospice. An experienced therapist, Kelly is a licensed clinical social worker and a board-certified diplomat in…
-
Anxiety in the middle of the night, how to get past it?
Background - I think I know why this is happening ..... 3.5 years after diagnosis. The why is because a close friend just got diagnosed with a rare, lethal cancer, bile duct cancer. The stats are not good. He had an extensive surgery and is recovering but the long term outlook isn't good. I am scared for him and his wife,…
-
Depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation
In May 2021 I was diagnosed with DCIS & subsequently had a lumpectomy. In 2009 at age 52 a complete hysterectomy was performed because there was a 25% chance I had uterine cancer. Instead of being relieved, I was furious. A week after the hysterectomy I experienced the most traumatic event of my life: I felt that another…
-
Struggling
Today should be a good day. And for the most part it is. But I am struggling with anxiety and depression. I was diagnosed in May of 2021. I am done with all the treatments and I only have my exchange surgery left. I am on tamoxifen. But here lately fear keeps rising. Like today my knee hurts. I’m pretty sure I hurt is a…
-
"Friend" calls and asks to be put in my will WTF
Who needs friends like that? Seriously, a drunk friend called and said she was broke and would I put her in my will.....since obviously she thinks I'm heading for my grave. I had Stage 1A, lumpectomy, clean nodes, radiation, Letrozole.....doing great life goes on. :) Career, life, health is going well! What the hell is…
-
Why am I feeling like this?
Yesterday I had my follow up onco visit after my first CT after surgery and treatment. I am in remission. I am very grateful especially because I am a single mom to an 8 year old boy. It feels like I should be super excited and jumping over the moon, but I just feel nothing. Is this normal after this ordeal?
-
Information vs. reassurance
I've been a member since 2018 here and in a kidney cancer FB group, which is where I found this. In both groups, I've seen such a wide range of emotional reactions to cancer diagnoses and even just the possibility of cancer before any confirmation, everything from unquestioning acceptance to curiosity to mild nervousness…
-
Just Need to Vent
Sorry if it sounds like I am whining, but I really just need to vent and if the post rambles on I am sorry about that as well (chemo brain is not fun) I guess I really just need to vent to someone, anyone really. I am just so tire of pretending like everything is okay and my life does not feel as though it is imploding. I…
-
Where did my motivation go?
I’m a pretty resilient person and have mostly taken my diagnosis in stride. Now that I’m just taking Herceptin every three weeks and the “tough stuff” like chemo, surgery and radiation are done, I’m feeling indifferent and unmotivated even when my rational and logical side tells me that the rewards/outcomes will be good…
-
Antidepressants please share your experience
Hello you all. I hope everyone is doing well. I have a question. I have never been a sad person. High anxiety at times but never sad or unable to enjoy life. Until now! Since a diagnosis in May I have struggled with sadness and depression and fear. I took anxiety pills as needed for a while but that did not really help the…
-
Immediate Counseling Services?
I had a suspicious spot on a CT last week, so I am having another on Wednesday. I have been extremely anxious since I found out about needing another scan. I have scheduled a therapy appointment with a new counselor for next week, and my MO has called in an Ativan prescription for me. But I feel like I need to talk to a…
-
New 10-episode podcast series with Dr Charlotte Tottman
Hi there, My name is Dr Charlotte Tottman. I am a Clinical Psychologist specialising in cancer-related distress. I also have my own lived experience of breast cancer. We launched my 10-episode podcast series, Upfront About Breast Cancer: What You Don't Know Until You Do with Dr Charlotte Tottman in October, 2021 with…
-
Spiraling and irrational- other types of cancer
I’m seeing a counselor, but put in a call to be seen by a cancer psych. I had endometrial thickening before BC dx, but was swept into the BC current before I could do anything about it. Now on Tamoxifen it seems very important to get that figured out. I arrived at the medical building where my new gyno is, and knew I had…
-
Feeling so alone
I have been reading on this site for some time now but haven't really participated much, not really sure why other than maybe trying to protect myself a little as I don't have a lot of support and have been trying my best to get through all this on my own (telling myself I have to be strong not only for myself but for…
-
Most women will get breast cancer, Its not a big deal anymore
Do I have this all wrong? I told a coworker and that was her reply. Is this no big deal and a walk in the park for most? Am I wrong for crying and being depressed at times? Has anyone else encountered this before?
-
NYTimes: Mind and body form a two-way street
The Devastating Ways Depression and Anxiety Impact the Body Excerpt - “In studies that tracked how patients with breast cancer fared, for example, Dr. David Spiegel and his colleagues at Stanford University School of Medicine showed decades ago that women whose depression was easing lived longer than those whose depression…
-
Stressing over recurrence
Hey yall! I'm 17 months from diagnosis. Stage 1A. Triple positive. Ki-67 55%. ATM mutation. BMX. Attempted chemo- allergic. Herceptin and now Tamox. Also, total hysterectomy. NED. Lately I find myself sort of obsessing over the possibility of a recurrence. I'm looking up stats, reading posts about recurrence here, and have…
-
OMG They Found the Cure for Stupid
Yes it's true. There has been a new and miraculous cure discovered for stupidity!!!! Who would have thought....YIPPEE. I can now put it in an email and send it to all my stupid friends and relatives that have sent me emails about the latest cure for cancer. Yes it is a vegetable you have never eaten, a tea you can't stand…
-
Cancer changes everything! anyone that kept living normal?
Maybe I just need to vent or maybe I'm just mad! But I feel like cancer has changed everything!!! I look to see if a lotion contains hormones, I am terrified to have a few glasses of wine, I'm scared to eat certain foods for fear of feeding the cancer. And trust me I ate healthy before cancer, I was never a big drinker,…
-
Welcome to The Worry Bar
I'm doing an online Zoom MBSR (mindfulness-based stress reduction) class from gilda's club. Last week the class was about accepting thoughts vrs have an aversion to thoughts. That resonated with me and now I have a coping mechanism that is taking shape and seems to be reducing my scanxiety and FOR (fear of recurrence) When…
-
Online mental health programs for cancer survivors
Hi everyone :) I wanted to share with you the free online mental health programs that my team of cancer researchers and psychologists run for cancer survivors. We realise that the cancer experience does not simply stop when treatment comes to an end. The aftermath of cancer can be horrible and can take a major toll on…
-
How do you control the fear of recurrence?
How does everyone cope with the fear of recurrence? I was diagnosed in dec 2019 at age 26 with triple negative IDC stage 2 grade 3. My cancer was tough and it put up a good fight, it was extremely aggressive but finally knocked it out with AC and had a complete response at time of surgery. All my treatment is below if you…
-
The Hermit Club
Hey all.....just got done reading a great thread under this topic about feeling like a hermit through this process, was wondering who else out there feels like cocooning themselves right now? I'm mid treatment with my chemo, and have basically isolated myself somewhat because I feel that all my energy is expended just…
-
Anyone in NYC/North NJ want to recommend their psych?
Please feel free to PM me if you don't feel comfortable posting here. I'm having a really hard time finding a psychiatrist who takes insurance and knows anything about BC drugs (specifically as pertains to interactions with antidepressants). My breast center lost their psych and hasn't replaced her. Thanks.
-
Pinktober Revolution
We support the efforts to bring awareness to breast cancer during the month of October, but we are frustrated by Pinking and Pinkwashing. Please, join us as we seek to improve knowledge re: breast cancer. Vision Statement:To bring full awareness of the reality of breast cancer to the general public; the surgeries, the…
-
How to forgive family/friends who disappeared during cancer....
Hello, I would love advice on how to forgive and move on in family/friend relationships. I was diag. with bc for the second time Oct. 5. Had a double mastec. 10/26 and am having the expander reconstr. now. It was such a shock to have bc a second time when I was nearly to my 5 yr. mark! It is amazing to me that friends I…
-
PTSD and fear
Hi there: I just had my checkup at the cancer clinic - it’s been almost three years since my second diagnosis. Just a few weeks ago, I was told I had definite symptoms of PTSD caused by breast cancer trauma too by a local psychotherapist. I am now enrolled in a trauma group for PTSD which starts in a few weeks. Since my…