Fear of recurrence

Hi MrsChristmas

Your not alone with that feeling. I am struggling everyday worrying about recurrence. I finished treatment this time last year surgery  chemo and rads now letrozole. I worry about every little ache and pain, its torture.  Not sure how to change this, maybe its just a time thing. 

Xxx

I had a lumpectomy in December 2020 and the worry of the cancer coming back is always there to some degree.  From what others have said I think the worry lessens over time and then spikes a bit when we are due our annual mammogram.

I asked one of the breast care nurses how common it is for breast cancer to re occur and her response was that for the vast majority of us it doesn't.  So I just hope that I will be one of the vast majority and I try not to think about it too much.  

The chances of someone who has never had breast cancer before getting breast cancer are quite high (from what I read and hear)  so I try to think of it along the lines of my chances of having cancer again are probably no higher than the chances of someone getting it for the first time.  People who have never had cancer before don't worry about their high likelihood of them ever having cancer so why should I.  Not sure if this makes sense to you but it makes sense for me and helps - hope it helps you too.

xx

Hi GodWilling. I'm sorry you have gone through this too. I liked your thoughts on this and am trying to be more positive. Best wishes to you 

Hi Pusheen. Thank you for your reply and I'm sorry to hear that you too have been through a stressful time. GodWilling has commented below and has shared her thoughts which are really helpful. Take a look. Best wishes to you 

Hi thank you yes I agree that was very helpful advice, wise words.

Thank you both  xxx

Hi

It is a very normal reaction to having had to cancer and because of this, Dr Peter Harvey wrote this article.  It really does sum up what most of us feel after treatment and is a great resource.  

Don't think that you're unusual in how you are feeling as I think in one way or another all of us who've finished our treatment feel it to some degree or another.  I'm 4 years down the line now and look back at the end of my treatment and  my thinking at the time that there didn't seem to be any point in planning for the future because of the cancer.  Time is a great healer and after the first clear mammogram, the feelings of worrying about recurrence reduced. Each time I have one now, I think 'another year off worrying about it' and only really start to feel a bit of trepidation at the start of the month when I'm due my annual mammogram.

I hope this article helps a little.

Best wishes, Lesley