Anxiety

Hi there.   I can’t even sleep due to anxiety.  I was diagnosed with hert2 postive in the left breast in nov 2020, had lumpectomy, chemo, radiation and then phesgo injections.   I finished treatment in Feb 2022.   Then discovered a swelling under collarbone in June, turned out to be triple negative, only had surgery last month.  I had pet scan , got clear margins but couple of nodules near by.  I am so annoyed, feel the delay had made it worse.   Waiting for chemo on this now.    I thought I was getting my life back after finishing my treatment.  I am so heart broken.   

I am sorry if I depressed you but what I wanted to say was, you are not alone, this is horrible and heart breaking.     

I hope you bothCannyannie and Salme will be able to find some sleep now. 

I too had TNBC in 2015. I did have chemo which left me with permanent neuropathy and radiotherapy.  I can understand your feelings about not wanting to have chemo again. My husband and I have discussed this and have similar feelings. However, I have read many recent posts on this site which suggest improvements in chemo.....smaller doses, more input from patient etc so perhaps it wouldn't be so severe a second time. I suggest you have that discussion with the oncologists but don't let them make decisions for you. They must have good reasons and evidence for their proposals to allow you to decide.

It is annoying that for both of you the cancer has come again so quickly but my surgeon actually told me to be vigilant and expect this possibility.  He said that the success rate for survival with the first cancer means people  often develop another cancer because whatever conditions in our bodies caused it may still be there. If another cancer is found early, it can be treated successfully again. As your cancers are a different variety, they are likely to be ' new' and not secondaries from the original. This is exactly as my surgeon explained it. So far my cancer has not returned but I have a prescription for an annual mammogram/ ultrasound for the rest of my life. That's reassuring.

I wish you both another sucessful recovery. I think you may have to be prepared for some unpleasant days with treatments and I cannot reassure you this will be the last time, but you should be encouraged by the number of posters who have also had a second cancer in recent times and who are now recovering well.

This is the side of BC that friends and families often fail to understand. If you need support, a space to express your anxiety,  your anger or just laugh, try the Awake thread on general discussions. The contributors there have experience from newly diagnosed to cancer many years ago......they will empathise, share experience or offer advice. You may find a space like this helpful.

Take care and keep in touch with your progress.

Love Karen

Hi Salmi,

Thank you ever so much. It is so comforting to know that people actually care and take the time to read and reply to each others posts.

I hope that your chemo goes well. I will be thinking of you.

Hi Karen,

Many thanks for your wise and reassuring words.

This is such an emotional roller coaster.

Thank you so much karen  for taking time to reply.    My oncologist said i have locally advanced cancer, i feel very confused with what they are saying sometimes, consultant said secondary first, oncologist said locally advanced, i have made myself ill reading about it.    I wanted to write to both of you Karen and Cannyannie together but not sure how i do that.     Its good to hear that people with second cancers are doing well.    I felt i was doomed.   

I have read your post again, i so relate to it, your chemo might be different this type and might be easier.    Depending on the PD1  result, then they will decide on the type of chemo for me.    They said i could have immunotherapy with chemo.      It's so scary, i am so scared too.  Anyway you want to talk please let me know but here to help.