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Emotional after effects of Breast cancer

Stalina
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Hello I was diagnosed with HER2 + BC in 2020 and had 2x lumpectomies and 6 cycles of chemo followed by 14 cycles of TDM1 IV target chemo which I did tolerate better than the first round. I had my last cycle March  2021 and have physically made a slow steady progress. However mentally and emotionally I am still really struggling. I’m not sure if it’s the hormone target therapy  Exemestane (Aromasin) I am on for another 3 years or it’s the menopause or if it’s trauma based anxiety and depression. I find I’m not sleeping properly and have feelings of despair and sadness that engulf me daily. I wake up full of dread and this then continues to sweep over me on and off through out the day. It’s in the pit of my stomach and fills my with dread. I sob on and off sometimes through the day. I don’t know if you have experienced any of these symptoms and if so do you have any recommendations. I’m on Trazadone for depression and I have regular counselling and I try to meditate and breath my way through these awful times. I think I’m just looking for someone to tell me all these feeling are normal x

  • Hello  

    Thank you for reaching out to us here at Macmillan. I'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis, it sounds like you have been and are going through a lot with this and the treatment you have been having. You mention struggling with how you are feeling - mentally and emotionally and that you are struggling to sleep and have experience feelings of sadness and despair. These are natural feelings to have  you have been through and are still going through such a difficult time and have taken on a lot of varying emotions, you can only take so much and crying is a natural physical release of the emotions that you have been holding.

    I see you are having regular counselling - how are you finding this  do you find it is helping to talk through how you are feeling, are they able to give you ways to try and manage how you are feeling? You also mention taking Trazadone do you find this helps at all? Are you in regular contact with you GP for reviews to ensure the medication is the best for you? 

    Do you have any support around you at all? Family or friends who know how you are feeling and can support you the best they can? 

    With regards to issues with your sleep I would like to let you know about Big Health through this you can access help with sleep through Sleepio and help with worry and anxiety through Daylight. 

    We are here to support you  we have our helpline 0808 808 0000 which is available 7 days a week 8am-8pm we provide a place to talk through how you are feeling, a listening ear where you can be open and honest about how you are feeling about everything. We have clinical nurses who can provide support with any questions you many have about the treatment and the impact it may have. You mentioned that you're not sure if the way you are feeling is from the hormone therapy - this would be something to ask our nurses and they can provide guidance around this. We also have a money and work team if needed too. If you are unable to call we also have webchat and email support. 

    It would also be worth taking a look at some of our booklets which you may find useful too. Our How are you feeling booklet provides information around varying emotions when you have cancer and there is also our Talking About Cancer booklet which may also be useful. 

     I can see you are part of the breast cancer forum, I hope that you find it useful place to visit, it may be worth looking at some of our other posts and forums for further support too. 

    I hope you found this helpful, please do reply if you require any further support or reach out to our helpline and chat service too. 

    Kind regards,
    Katie 

    Katie, Information and Support Adviser

    Remember you can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or by email.

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