New year celebrations v low mood

I remember going into Christmas and new year in 2022, I’d just finished chemo in the November and was going in to have mastectomy and diep reconstruction in the January and I really struggled to be upbeat, and was finding everyone and everything annoying. So hard. Oddly I’ve felt quite mixed feelings this new year too, I think going through something like this changes you, then other things happen that we have to deal with, sometimes it’s hard to be upbeat, especially facing the unknown. Then there’s the expectation of being happy this time of year and that forced fun grates sometimes xx

Thanks for your reply. Its strangely comforting.to know its not just me. I know others will be feeling it too. Its quite therapeutic to just share it and get it off my chest. I hope you are also able to feel more upbeat soon, if you are also experiencing low mood etc xxx

Hi

You’re in pretty much the same position i was in this time last year - I’d had my surgery and my chemo was due to start in the first week of Jan. I felt trepidation - just not at all sure how the chemo would be.  

I felt Christmas was a good time to see family - but also just a bit irrelevant - I was just too focussed on dealing with what I had coming.

It might sound silly but if I’ve not been sticking to my usual healthy diet - that brings me down. I just feel a bit grubby and lethargic - I find chocolate in particular does me no favours.

Hopefully as you get back into your more healthy and active routine you’ll start feeling a bit more positive

Good luck with the rest of your treatment. 

Hi Susan. Thanks for your reply. Your comment re the food doesn't sound at all silly. I do find that when I am not eating my usual healthy food, my mood is impacted. We are what we eat. So eating all the rubbish that I have indulged in over the festive period has absolutely done me no favours. I hope you are on the right side of your trearment now and looking forward to a better year for 2026 xxx

Thanks. I should have added the chemo was nowhere near as awful as I feared and I now feel great. You’ll be through it before you know it x 

I, for one, am definitely happy it's all over now and am feeling excited about all those lovely things you've mentioned like healthy eating, routine, nature and exercise.

There will always be time made for low moods, for a bit of indulgence etc., but I've decided to try and make these the pit stops rather than the full ride.

Here's to taking great care of ourselves in 2026! x

Hi Claire25 Claire25

I read you post and thought - yes, I know exactly how you feel! I have been fairly positive since diagnosis too, apart from the very early days when we don't know how bad it is and the extent of the spread etc. 

I am usually a very sociable person and I found it hard this Xmas. Other people are p*ssing me off very easily at the moment. My sister and a couple of friends had a catch up before Xmas and the 2 friends just literally moaned about their trivial problems for 3 hours! I asked them questions and offered advice but they didn't ask me anything about me, even though they knew I was going through chemo and I had one left just after Xmas.  On their way out they said - oh yes have you just got one more chemo? Like it was a complete after thought. My sister (who is amazing by the way) thought it was very odd too. We have put it down to them being self centred. 

Then at my husband's families house on New Years Day - the same thing happened (we are not close to his family to be honest don't see them much compared to mine - who have been amazing) - but literally nobody asked me anything and I was there asking everyone how they were, how is work going etc??

Anyway - I have come to the conclusion that we should surround ourselves with positive people that we like to spend time with - there are definitely plenty of those. 

Claire25 what is your next step following surgery?  I have radiotherapy to come in February now chemo is done. 

Hi

Thanks for your message. I too have felt quite peed off with people who usually are very considerate. I do think that its hard for people to understand, unless they have gone through it themselves. My best mate told me today that I no longer have breast cancer, as lump removed and hopefully thats me done . No its not! There is 5 yrs of drugs. A good chance of chemo and radiotherapy, let alone navigating the side effects, plus menopause and knowing I can no longer have vagifem for gynae stuff or ever have hrt. Anyhoo, I am going to just let those comments go over my head. They didn't mean to minimise it and people just don't get it, unless in it. I am hoping to find out the results of pathology next week, then next steps. Fingers crossed

Yes and have avoided a fair amount of socials too .. now have added guilt and anxiety for eating too much sweet stuff and have also got gynae issues that I need checking out and am hoping its just meno stuff rather than anything more sinister .. I know we have to adjust but yes the thought of the new normal with further drugs and treatment is daunting .. just finished radio to the axilla and breast and collarbone due to a macro in one sentinel lymph .. so don’t even know if it was all removed .. I guess that we can all try and feel positive and move we get into January we get on with it .. but yes Xmas was quite tiring and I think it’s normal that we would find it harder due to the ordeal of it all .. good luck and happy new year xx 

Don't forget the lifetime of worrying that every little ache, pain, lump and bump is recurrence!