Emotional affects after cancer

 Caz83 

Thank you for reaching out to the Macmillan Online Community.  You are always welcome to post here.

We are so pleased to hear that you have received excellent care after your surgery and chemotherapy.   May I ask, do you have support around you at this time, perhaps family or a trusted friend?  Perhaps, once I reassured you, your feelings are common, and understandable, having lot's of opportunities to share your thoughts will be welcome.

It is common to have many different emotions when you are told you have cancer, during your treatment, and once treatment has finished. These can be difficult to cope with.  Common emotions may be shock, fear and anxiety, sadness and depression, anger, guilt and blame, and loneliness: many people miss their hospital teams, and the close contact they had with their teams.  The change of routine around visiting hospital, can also have an impact. 

For many people, after treatment, there may be physical changes and side effects, this can bring uncertainty about the future, and it's understandable that these feelings can endure for some time after treatment has finished.

 Caz83  we have a booklet about your Feelings After Treatment which you may find helpful.  This link will take you the the PDF version, or you may wish to order a hard copy from Macmillan Orders

I am wondering Caz83 as you mention depression, have you had a chance yet to mention this to your GP?  It may be an option to let your Doctor know how you are feeling, especially if you are thinking counselling may be an option for you.

I will add some extra emotional support options, as well as your GP and chatting here.

In Your Area gives you the option of looking locally for the right emotional support for you.  Some cancer centres and organisations run short courses for people living with or after cancer. Your specialist nurse, cancer doctor or information centre may be able to give you information about courses in your area.

Help to Overcome Problems Effectively (HOPE) is a course to help people after cancer treatment. It was developed by Hope for the Community and Macmillan Cancer Support. This course is run in small groups. It is free and takes place at different locations across the UK.

Macmillan also delivers an online HOPE programme, which is a 6-week self-management course based on an online platform. You can learn more and book onto an online HOPE course.

Another option for a course to help with the challenging emotions at this time is CAN-EMPOWER

CAN-EMPOWER is an online resource that has been developed with people who have experience of cancer and health professionals. It has coping tools and techniques that people have found helpful in managing the emotional and psychological challenges of living with cancer. 

 Caz83  I am hoping, that knowing the amount of resource, to support cancer patients after treatment, will reassure you, it is a common challenge, that many patients work through.  We could give you more options regarding support after cancer, but, I don't wish to overwhelm you - you can always come back to us, here, or call us on 0808 808 0000 between 8am and 8pm on any day.  

Take care and best wishes

Thank you so much for your reply. I am very puzzled by these feelings which seem to be so dominant and not at all what i expected.  I thought I would now be jubilant and ready to get on with life! so it is very reassuring to hear that these feelings are common.  Thank you for all your recommendations.  I shall follow them up.  I do have support and friends but when I talk about my feelings it seems a burden and also irrational to them so I don't like to mention it.

Thank you for your support

Caz83  you are very welcome.  Please feel you can come back here whenever you would like.

I am wondering, if you would like to explore the Life after cancer forum.  Here you may chat with other patients, experiencing the same challenges.

Take care and best wishes