My first post on here. Long story short. Was diagnosed with cancer in 2018. Had one round of chemo but had to stop due to a skin reaction, this was not before I lost all my hair which was traumatic in itself! Had 28 rounds of radiotherapy with no issues. My cancer was staged at 3c with +ve lymph nodes.
I have been physically very well for the past three years. I've had followups from various hospital consultants either face-to-face or more recently telephone contact. They all ask questions about my physical health or check me over physically but my gripe is this; why does no one ever ask 'how is your mental health?'. This is one massive oversight in my care pathway and the only area I struggle with daily and nightly.
I had excellent health up to my diagnosis. I enjoyed 35 years in the Nursing profession offering not only physical but friendly emotional support to my patients. I am so dismayed this has not been reciprocated and I just feel so lonely. I recognise I still have not come to terms with my diagnosis.
I am aware that my cancer will return; cancer never goes away even if you do ring that bell post radiotherapy treatment which I refused to do!
I was assigned a Macmillian Nurse who was too busy to care, I even had a session with a counsellor who never even followed me up when I deferred from counselling due to my radiotherapy sessions.
I cannot share my thoughts and feelings with my family as gosh they have so much to contend with themselves. There is no way I would burden them. So I just keep taking my SSRIs daily which my Doctor quickly offered me when I asked for help.
Enough said.
Hi again , I don’t know if you have seen my reply to your first post - click on the link below to have a look.
