Im taking a very small dose of diazepam to help me sleep and take raw edge off things. Do people in general take anything through the whole cancer journey that really helps. I just cant understand how strong people are.
Hello again zxcv. Everybody's different. In our house I'm not the BC patient, it's my husband. He has Asperger's Syndrome so a very different worldview. For him it's not the fear element of having cancer that's an issue; it's the being behind with the schedule he had planned [because of all the time getting treatment and fatigue from chemo] that's making him quite depressed and fragile. The side effects on 40 mg Fluoxetine ['Prozac'] were so bad he's doing better on 20 mg.
Probably most people have quiet moments of wobble and weepiness, lockdown is no help for most, I find now that things that wouldn't have upset me in January do now.
For many people talking to the right kind of person helps - have you tried the Macmillan phone line?
And for many certainly on here, the old thing of 'laughter is the best medicine' If you look on the 'How are we all doing?' thread you will see many of us are trying to make each other laugh -join the club!
Most people do feel more confident once they have got into the swing of treatments with results coming through a few weeks later to inform and guide both doctors and patient. Everyone agrees that waiting for results is tough.
I had a few bad reactions to treatment for breast cancer, so when it came to bladder cancer & my bad reaction to MMC I didn't want to take anything. I've had much counselling, & still refuse any medication for fear of side effects. I think sometimes you sort of learn to live with it, although you will still have your moments even after many years. Believe me I've done more than my fair share of kicking & screaming, sleepless nights, depressions, panic attacks ... It's easy to go out there & put on the performance of a lifetime, or try to be strong for family, when inside you're screaming. Apart from that I've got to admit that the best support I've ever had is from my friends on here, I'd never have coped without them. We all have to do what we do to get by, you will one day feel good about yourself again x
