Paranoia/overwhelm

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Hello everyone. I’m nearly 6 weeks out of chemotherapy and been taking letrozole for a few weeks now. I have an appointment on Monday for my first ovarian suppression injection. They have also said they will do a blood test and ECG. 

I have recently had dental sign off (save for a filling) for Zoldronic acid to commence in a few months. 

I also await an appointment re commencing abemaclib, an appointment for a bone density scan, an appointment with plastics re reconstruction and a new start date for radiotherapy. 

I am feeling so overwhelmed with all these further tests and appointments. I’m so scared and paranoid when I get a call about the appointments that they need to tell me something bad. I had a voicemail from my oncologist the other day asking for a call back and I broke down in tears so scared he’s seen something on my ct planning scan. My oncologist speaks in such a quiet soft slow voice everytime he calls he sounds like he’s about to deliver bad news.

The other day when I went to the dentist he said he could not do the filling because the system was down and he needed sight of my X-ray. He said it in such a soft slow voice again starting with I’m so sorry and my mind immediately thought what have they seen on my X-rays, is mouth cancer. I mean what the hell is wrong with me. 

I keep hearing/reading it’s hard after active treatment because you don’t have as many appointments and you’re left alone but i’m the complete opposite I have more appointments still to come and it’s so scary and overwhelming, I’m very much not being left alone to get on with my life. 

I just wanted to know does anyone else feel like this? I’m already paranoid I’m the only one that has this many appointments after chemo. I feel it’s all getting on top of me now. 

  • Hi  , I’ve been rattling around this site for nearly 7 years and I can safely say that ‘overwhelming/ overwhelmed are commonly used by the posters here. Also paranoia/ scanxiety/ worry/ fear/ anxiety etc. 

    I was worried sick myself when I got a call from my GP surgery at 8am one morning, the day after a routine dexa scan (which had been at 4pm), to make an appointment . I immediately thought the radiologist must have seen bone cancer. Eventually had a telephone consultation days later, just to be told that my osteopenia was a bit worse but didn’t warrant any treatment. Really?? All that worry and a disrupted holiday (we were in Wales and moving between rentals on the day of my telephone appointment), just to be given, well, pretty much no news! 

    Your feelings are valid and very understandable. In a way, you’re back in the limbo land of early in the cancer experience, waiting for tests, appointments and results. They’re all important in sorting out the next stages of your treatment. But your resilience is no doubt much depleted by the treatments you’ve had so far. Might it help to phone the MacMillan helpline? Just to talk through your fears with someone not connected with it all. Just a thought. 

    Sending love and a big virtual hug, HFxx

    HappyFeet1 xx
    Don’t be afraid to cry. It will free your mind of sorrowful thoughts. – Hopi
  • Thank you so much for your message. I’m glad I’m not the only one. 

    Gosh that must have been so worrying, I would have thought the same is it bone cancer. Jeez they know how to scare us don’t they Pensive

    Yes I have been thinking maybe I need to speak to someone about it. Just feel everything is getting on top of me at the moment.