Post treatment news

Hello Figgywig,

While I'm not at your stage yet (on week three of treatment) I think your reaction is entirely normal and understandable. For one thing, your recent months have been about diagnosis and treatment; now your focus becomes getting on with life post-treatment. Also, it's perfectly easy to imagine how even the best news -- no cancer -- cannot totally erase the trauma and the anxiety about whether cancer will recur. It's the classic "waiting for the other shoe to drop" feeling. I think this is how I will feel if I'm lucky enough to be in your shoes. Sure, your family want to celebrate and so they should -- it's incredible news. But that doesn't mean you can easily erase all that has just happened and be carefree. I hope you can feel a bit of joy, but be easy with yourself if other feelings creep in sometimes. And if it feels odd to explain the feelings to other people, talk to the wonderful people here. They understand only too well! Cheers and hugs to you.

Thank you Lululeo, I feel.slightly less odd and more settled about my feelings now. I trust you get through the next 3 weeks okay and the time after treatment ends and receive the best news too in due course.  Your reply has really helped

Hello Figgywig 

And this is where what others feel and what you feel is all out of sync.  First of all, I am really happy to hear your results but wanted to commiserate with you that 'getting back to normal' after a cancer diagnosis takes a long long time; everyone (understandably) is so happy for you, but what is going on in your head takes much much longer to heal.  And the majority of people, if they haven't experienced a cancer diagnosis, just don't get it. Why would they?  But many others on here have had exactly the same experience so please don't feel you are alone.

I hope your healing and recovery continues well, and please don't be afraid to share how you really feel with those close to you; they may not fully understand but you have kept them in your particular picture.

Big hug

Irene  

Hi Figgywig firstly congratulations on your results and being cancer free. I think how you are feeling is quite normal, I felt numb and indifferent. I think when you get the all clear is when you start processing everything that has happened instead of being in auto pilot going through treatment. The outside world expects you to be happy and go back to normal and in my experience that is a process. Sending hugs.xxx

Hi Figgywig ,

Firstly congratulations on the great news I’m so pleased your treatment was successful.

Secondly I had this exact same feeling when I was discharged following my 5 years surveillance! I expected to feel elated, a kind of punching the air ‘I’ve done this’ moment but exactly as you’ve described I felt completely flat & really struggled to work out why. I also felt a kind of guilt & felt really unappreciative, I felt it was cause for celebration but just couldn’t muster up the right energy to do it! I’m sorry you’re feeling like this but I just wanted to reassure you that you’re not alone in feeling this way.

Nicola 

I am not going mad or being totally ungrateful after all!  Irene, Bungle and Nikki you have really helped with your kind helpful replies.