Hi, I’m new to the group. Last year I had a brain haemorrhage and that’s when they found my brain tumour. I had it operated on last June and have been left with many side effects which have tapped straight in to my previous traumas. I applied for and got 6 sessions of counselling with the aim for me, to address the grief and hurt I am feeling. Just before session 1 my mother died unexpectedly.
The day before her funeral my dad told me that his pituitary tumour, operated on in January, was incomplete removal and he is to have Chemo. As a result of this I didn’t need to address my own needs impacted on by my brain tumour. My last session yesterday has left me feeling even more traumatised as what I have opened up I have no idea how to close. I know funding was for 6 sessions but how can I make sense of everything when I feel retraumatised. Each time I think about the therapists door closing to me makes me feel beside myself.
I don’t really know what I want to hear from others apart from perhaps hope that all of this hurt, stemming from years back, will get better
Thanks for 
Hi Rambler554 and a warm welcome to the Online Community although I am so sorry to hear about your cancer journey and about your mum and dad.
I lost my mum unexpectedly back in Nov 2020 so do understand in part the stress this brings. I have been on my incurable cancer journey for 23 years now. I have had some full on treatments (hit my community name for my story) and lots of hurdles that I have had to negotiate but my main focus has always been to push through and look for that small nugget of gold in life……. It can be hard but it’s all about persevering.
A cancer diagnosis on its own is hard but it’s the other stuff that life throws at us that just makes the journey to be so stressful and challenging but I do hope you find the community a safe place to ask your questions and when it comes to support there is nothing better than talking with others who are on the same journey.
The Community has dedicated cancer specific support groups so can I recommend that you consider joining our supportive Brain tumours group as this would be a safe place to talk with others who may have had the same treatment.
You may also find our general Life after cancer group a good place to unpack stuff along with other group members about the post treatment challenges and share methods of getting through this.
If you'd like to connect in with a group click on the Green (Bold) links 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].
The Macmillan Support Line is open 8am-8pm (timings may differ across services) 7 days a week on 0808 808 00 00 or via Webchat and Email too. This service provides cancer information, practical information, emotional support, benefits/financial guidance or just a listening ear and our Cancer Nurse Team in our Ask an Expert section may be helpful but do allow a few working days for a reply.
You have done lots of talking, over my 23 years I still think that 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 these folks are amazing.
Always around if you need further help in navigating the community.
All the very best.
Hi again, the cancer journey does strip away so much but based on my 23 years it is within everyone's ability (however small) to make inroads to rebuild..... whatever this may look like.
It's never going to be simple but at the same time if we don't move forward we go nowhere....... and let's face it.... do you want to stay where you are right now?....... where one door closes there are others to open....we just need to push them
I am sure we will bump into each other on the Community again but i al always around to help out as best as I can ((hugs))
