Hello all,
Last year I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and it was a really tumultuous time in my personal life too.. I was made redundant at the same time and was so busy keeping going. I used all my strength focussing on the treatment and getting a new job. I felt that if I kept going, tried to do everything I needed to, It would help control the situation. I don’t think I fully took time to understand or process what was happening. Skip forward a year and I’ve been told my treatment was successful which is fantastic and overwhelming. Now, because of lockdown I’m forced with coming to terms with it all and feeling everything I put aside just to keep going. I truly thought I was going to die and now I’m emotionally overwhelmed and anxious about the future.
So, I thought it would be good to get on here and say hello to others going through the same thing and maybe learn a thing or two about coping with these feelings.
Hi and welcome to the Online Community.
Well done and congratulations on getting through treatment and that it has been successful. But yes, parts of the journey does rob us and the whole lockdown has magnified a lot of our insecurities and fears....... but that fact you are on the Community says you are looking to move forward.
And it is all about finding the way forward. Often people say the trying to live the ‘new normal’ but it’s not what I would have chosen to be my normal and I am certainly not ‘trying’ to live, I fact I am living well despite the years of treatment........ but after the dust has settled (see my profile) I became happy and content.
I have not found the ‘this is the way forward’ leaflets yet, lots about treatment and getting through but what about the other side?
As a starting point have a look at this great paper. I often post this as a discussion starter as it does highlight the post treatment milestones.
Where are you on the journey?
What have you still to deal with?
What have dealt with?
We do have our Life after cancer group where these questions are unpacked so do have a look.
Follow the link I've created above, join the group, then hit ‘start a discussion’ and you are ready to go.
You could then copy and paste the information from this first post into your new discussion or you can just join in with existing ‘Discussions’ by clicking on 'reply'.
It’s always good to talk, so can I highlight the Macmillan Support Line on 0808 808 00 00. This service covers Emotional Support, Practical Information. Financial Support and Work Guidance mostly open 8.00 to 8.00
Always around to chat.
