So Alone

I think how you are feeling is absolutely normal. The diagnosis and treatment affect you in so many ways. No matter how well you physically recover (and that takes time) you live with the experience and the ongoing worry about the future. I think that’s particularly true of TNBC, partly because it’s an aggressive cancer with fewer treatment options, and partially because most people think all breast cancer is the same and that you will therefore be ok. Even if they do understand, they may be frightened of engaging with it.  It might be worth looking for a different counsellor? 

I have metastatic TNBC and if one more person says “can’t you just [insert inappropriate course of treatment or wacky idea here]”, I may throttle them! 

Thank you for your reply, honestly I feel people think its just a wee illness I've had, and if I hear one more "just stay positive" "stop getting down" and the amount of people that expect me to be back at work, I'm am made to feel guilty. I'm also worrying about money as my benefits claim has still not been dealt with and I had applied in January

One of the Community Champions will probably respond soon with a pointer to the help MacMillan can provide in navigating work and benefits issues - hope you can sort these things out. 

Hi Rocky12

Welcome to the forum and sorry to hear that you were diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer.  Plenty of us of felt what you are feeling at the moment.  I think unless people have been through it as well they don't really understand what's it's like to have a cancer diagnosis and the time it takes to recover from the treatments.  Might I suggest that you read the following paper.  It's called "When the treatment finishes - Then what.  It perfectly sums up what the post treatment world is like.  I've read it myself and found it helpful.  If you have access to a printer why not print it out and give it to your family members so that that they can understand what the post treatment world is like.  Here's the link to the paper: After the Treatment Finishes - Then What? 

If you give the Macmillan helpline a ring on 0808 808 00 00 you can talk to someone about your money worries and they'll be able to advice you on how to access grants.

Wishing you the best of luck with everything.

Best wishes

Daisy53

Thank you so much for the link to read, I have read it and there are so many things in it that I can relate to, my husband has started reading it also and he says it is making things clearer and easier to understand for him.

Hi, I am feeling exactly like you.  Unless you have experienced this you don’t understand.  I would chase up your benefits as it’s normally around 4 months.  I am not able to work either and am being referred to OHS.  Do what you think is right for you.  Take a day at a time. 

Glad to hear that you and your husband found the article useful.