Hi everyone, I don't know where to start to look for help really.
I discovered I had breast cancer a year ago. I had surgery to remove the cancer and some very severe chemotherapy and radiotherapy which finished in January this year.
I tried to be positive and proactive throughout it all...I have great family and friends, work were brilliant, I had a lovely set of wigs, body lotions etc
My biggest aim ,apart from being well, was to get back to work.. I was deputy head at a big primary school and absolutely loved my job.
I was excited to go back on a phased return after Easter this year but totally unprepared for the exhaustion that came with it. I was very quickly bone tired and my brain couldn't function as quickly as it used to. I didn't feel I could do the job properly anymore and despite all the support and encouragement I had from work, I decided to retire. After 37 years of teaching, 20 of them at my current school, it was a huge decision but I felt, and still feel, it was the right one.
Am overwhelming sense of depression, feeling useless, being a failure has suddenly come over me and I can't shake it. I feel like I tried my best but cancer has taken away my job which was a huge part of my life. I'm really tired and haven't much energy to find another job at the moment but am frightened of being isolated and worthless now. I feel as if everyone is getting on with their life...which is as it should be...but I've become nothing. Friends have been so supportive while I've been I'll....I don't want to put this on them aswell. Not sure where to turn to.
Thank you for reading 
Hi and a warm welcome to the Online Community although I am so sorry to hear about your post treatment journey.
A cancer diagnosis and treatment experience can be so stressful and challenging but I do hope you find the community a safe place to get support and ask your questions.
I retired from teaching 11 years ago. Up until then I had been working on a full time table throughout my treatment for my rare type of blood cancer for 12 years but flet it was time to hang up the whiteboard markers.
Little did I know that my condition would become aggressive 2 years into my retirement....... but I am still hear and getting on with life...... and I don't miss the classroom (hit my community name for my story)
The New to Community area is our reception desk where we can signpost you to our various cancer support groups and other services so can I recommend that you consider joining our supportive Life after cancer group. This is a safe place to talk to others who may have been dealing with the same experiences to ask questions and get support.
If you'd like to connect in with a group click on the Green (Bold) link I have created above. Then once the group page opens click on the black banner that says [click to join] at the bottom, or the [Join] button under "Group tools."
You can then introduce yourself by putting up a ‘new post’ by clicking in the box near the top right with + New or + (Depending on the device you are using) and you are ready to go.
You could copy and paste the text from this post into your new post and as always you can reply to existing ‘Discussions’ by click [reply].
Talking to people face to face can be very helpful so do check to see if you have any Local Macmillan Support in your area, do also check for a local Maggie's Centre as there are a number of 'post treatment' courses available......I have done the Maggies 'Where no?' course and it was excellent.
I will keep an eye open for you in the Life after cancer
Always around if you need further help in navigating the community.
All the very best.
Well done Kobe, we will chat more on the Life after Cancer group I am sure.
