Hello I've just joined!

Sorry about spelling and lots of smiley faces! I'll put my glasses on next time.

Hi Katehere 

Welcome to the forum and sorry to hear that you have been diagnosed with breast cancer and that you needed two mastectomies.

There's a paper by a Dr Peter Harvey called "After the treatment finishes - then what?" which perfectly what the post treatment world is like.  I've read it myself and it's a great article.  I'm sending you the link and when you feel up to it why not give it a read: After the Treatment Finishes - Then What? (workingwithcancer.co.uk).

Wishing you the best  of luck with your radiotherapy.

Best wishes

Daisy53

Thanks Daisy, that's  really encouraging and kind of you. I will defo look at the link. This site is so useful,  because  during  treatment  you receive  lots of encouragement and help from the fantastic team, now I'm  booked in for radiotherapy it's  kind of well, off you go after that you're discharged apart from surveillance! I didn't  find  any of it traumatic, kind of floated through it - but for some reason now it's  hit me like a brick! Or, could be the oestrogen suppression tablets. Anyway,  thanks again  x x 

Hi Katehere, 

Welcome to the forum. You have been through a lot in a year and especially having to have two mastectomies.  Be proud of yourself for getting through that.  I am the same as you, get a lot of encouragement from everyone, people telling me I am so strong etc.  But you still feel alone sometimes and have no idea why.  In my case I should be very happy.  Even though I have to have another op as they did not get clear margins. My bc was downgraded to grade 1 and was told if all clear I might not need radiotherapy.  So why do I not feel ecstatic, just despair.  Maybe it’s your brain still trying to process everything that we have been through,  I don’t know, and I haven’t even started on the oestrogen suppression tablets yet.  But we just have to plod on and get through whatever treatments we have left and know that we have done all we can and move onto enjoying our lives.  I wish you all the best for your radiotherapy.  Keep us informed on how it all goes.  Take care. Sending hugs x

It’s a real jumble of emotions isn’t it.
Finishing one part of the treatment you think you’re going to jump for joy, but can feel really low.

We are all amazing to get through- those drugs are something else- the operations are a HUGE thing to have - but we all get on with it in our own ways.

This forum really helps.

yes people mean well when they say you’re strong- it’s hard for them to know what to say— but I know you want to reply - I’m not - not here by choice, just the cards I was dealt. But keep smiling- you will get there!

xx

yes perhaps the tablets, its like we keep you busy feeling ick to make you better, and when we are done dragging you into hospitals, here have some chemicals that mess with your whole system, bye! no real support

sorry its so hard i must admit the pills are scaring me most as they seemingly go forever and no one says they are a joy or easy to be on.

there needs to be a check in on this, but its back to self advocating to mitigate side effects.

and i think we are not joyed by endings of things because deep down we know its not really ever over ️ but somehow we have to find a way to not pick up this baggage we have every day and carry it with us.

we know its part of us now, but we need to decide when we need to examine it or carry it, but i try to choose not to examine it daily, hard at the moment looking like an extra ina pirate movie every morning sleeping in a big silk scarf.