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 Junction, I don’t know if you have seen my reply to your first post - click on the link below to have a look.
Hi desperate I'm so sorry to hear of all you have been going through and continue to go through. It's terrible that serious health issues have been put on the back burner due to Covid. I was just wondering about your query, do you mean SSRI's as in anti-depressant medication? Bev
Hi desperate (Pam). Some people cannot tolerate SSRI's but there are different forms of antidepressant medication. You could ask your GP to advise further. You can always ask to be referred to an oncological counsellor. After treatment I was referred and found it really helped in terms of coping strategies and being able to talk through the bombshell diagnosis and uncertainty of the future. Dealing with cancer without anyone to talk to can be overwhelming. You can also always call the Macmillan Support Services for emotional support. Most services are open 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week, it's free to call on 0808 808 00 00 . Bev x
