Hello, I have stumbled across this forum following being diagnosed with skin cancer last year. I had my second wider incision just before Christmas. I am a mum of two wonderful supportive daughters and an equally supportive husband.
My journey was great when I saw professionals face to face and I cannot knock the treatment I've received. However, there were long gaps between appointments where it seemed like I was forgotten.
What is difficult for me is my sudden change in mood over the last two or three weeks. I've been so down, tearful and even not wanted to leave the house. The scars are healing, but I'm finding my mental health really difficult at the moment. Is this normal?
I've reached out to my wellbeing at work and a bupa councillor has suggested that I might have been firefighting during my treatment and need to find ways to be at peace with my mental self. I need time to recover. My doctor has also said I might be suffering with PTSD?
I love being outdoors, so been gardening and trying to do walks around where I live.
Any thoughts would be really welcome.
Thank you
Hi Mum53
Welcome to our community I hope you find it both informative and supportive.
It sounds like you are quite a long way in to your journey however I think many would reflect at times it feels like we were waiting a long time between appointments. On odd occasions in my wife's journey we had times when we got really quick appointments and that could be even more worrying of course - still for her the cancer has been stable now for over 10 years so living with cancer rather than any alternative.
If is certainly not uncommon to go through treatment in what might be described as fire fighting mode, running from one appointment, one treatment to the next. When that programme ends we can feel at a bit of a loss. We do have a guide here after treatment that might be helpful.
You might like to look at our group that specialises in Skin cancer forum as I am sure there will be others in a similar position to you.
<<hugs>>
Steve
I love gardening and used to walk three times a day with my dog but not well enough at the moment. Having chemo every three weeks. Soon be Spring.... look for buds on shrubs and trees... they may lift your heart. Best Wishes
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