Hi Everyone,
This is my first time posting on anything like this. Long story short my name is Louise and I am 44 years old. Diagnosed with breast cancer January 13th this year. Mastectomy and reconstruction using my stomach March 4th. Started 4 months of adjuvant chemotherapy on Wednesday 15th April and I am already struggling.
I hope this all comes out as I hope. I dont have a big support system, no real friends apart from work friends, I have had mental health issues all my life, I struggle to go out anyway let alone when im feeling constantly nauseous and stiff. The last 4 days have been the longest of my life as Im spending at least 12 hours asleep in bed and then the remaining 12 hours trying to keep myself awake before going back to bed. Im on anti sickness meds and im aware my symptoms right now are minimal but not having anyone here, to go for a walk with, to even want to go for a walk, I just feel very alone and scared. Im feeling stiff because im staying in and not really moving but I dont have the energy to move and this whole thing feels like a massive exacerbation of my mental health issues which is making me struggle with how am I going to cope for another 16 weeks when im barely even coping with 4 days. I am a strong person but I dont know if I cant do it.
Hi Louise3011 and a very warm welcome to the Macmillan Community but so sorry to hear about your diagnosis.
I know from experience having been on my cancer journey coming up to 26 years with two very rare, hard to treat types of Non Hodgkin’s Lymphomas (one incurable) that navigating this journey can be such a stressful and challenging time but talking with and getting support from people who have walked or are walking the ‘exact same' journey can help a lot.
The Community actually has dedicated Support Groups (Discussion Rooms) for each cancer type so can I recommend that you look to join and copy and paste the text from this post into a post in our dedicated……..
…….. support group. This group is a safe place to talk to others with a similar diagnosis, treatment experience, to ask questions and get support.
