After treatment

Hi Debmer, and welcome.

I feel exactly the same. I have returned to work after treatment finished in March this year and at first everybody was kind of on eggshells and very gentle and now it's almost like nothing ever happened and nothing has changed! I find this good and bad - good in that they obviously see me as fit and well and bad because there are still some things that I struggle with and not just physically. For me a lot has happened but I do kinda feel solace in the normality that surrounds me if that makes sense.
Just wanted you to know that I understand exactly how you feel but I am trying to take a positive from it too xxx

Thankyou for your reply. 
Im just at the stage of now transitioning back to work. Although into a new job as my manager was very discriminatory towards me and not supportive at all.

I’m am glad people see me as ‘normal’ now or how I was before but in my head I’m just not over it yet- like I’m not ‘normal’ just yet. 
Though at the same time I couldn’t stand the pity looks I would get.

I haven’t had my first follow up, it’s next month (4months after operation) so don’t know what to expect with that which I think is effecting me also.  

Did you have the same treatment as me? X

Hi... I had the Chemotherapy and 25 radiotherapy followed by 4 brachytherapy.  I think possibly the fear of the unknown may, as you say, be affecting you regarding your first follow up.  I'm sorry your manager was so awful to you.  I was very lucky in that respect.  It will take time for all of us to recover mentally from our treatment and our diagnosis and sometimes I wonder whether I will ever feel the same as before  xxx 

Hi Debmer

I replied on the other post you made which I saw before this one-message to self is to check the group properly before wading in, but I need my coffee first! 

I’m quite far out from my own treatment, but I’m not sure from my point of view that I’m the same person as I was before. I think it changes you-in some ways good, other ways not so good. But you are not far out of your experience and the early days can be particularly difficult I think.

You should be aware that a cancer diagnosis gives you protection at work under the Disability Act, so employers should make reasonable adjustments if you require them to enable you to carry out your role. This protection extends beyond any treatment period, so please don’t be afraid to speak up if you feel that is not happening in your new job.

At your follow up appointment, I would expect the doctor to have a chat with you about how you’re feeling physically and if you're having any issues. They would likely then give you a physical examination to check that your healing inside is fine/as expected. 

Sarah xx

Hi Deb

i was diagnosed at the beginning of August and I am having my hysterectomy in October.

firstly, how was the op and recovery?

I too will be exactly like you. I am already worrying: will it be in my lymph nodes? If it’s not and I get the all clear will it come back? Where? How long etc I’m already driving myself crazy.

im thinking this is a normal outlook for anyone who’s suffered with a cancer diagnosis?

I can also understand how people then stop asking/wondering how you are as they think medically and physically your clear…… However, emotionally you are still suffering and feel like this support has now stopped!

Do you mind me asking what stage you were when you had your hysterectomy? 

linz xx

Hi LB22 and welcome to the group!

Hopefully Deb will see your post and come back to chat to you, but you may also want to make a new post to introduce yourself to the group.

I’m presuming your cancer has already been staged if you’re having a hysterectomy in October, since this is only done for early stage cancer, but it can be useful for you to add some information to your profile to let others see what has brought you here and saves you repeating yourself in answers to questions. 

Yes, I think anyone who’s had a cancer diagnosis has a lot of the “what if?” questions particularly at the start of the process, but it does get easier as things go along. Try not to get bogged down with thoughts of recurrence before you've had any treatment at all, as it can drive you crazy! I’m presuming you've had scans to determine it’s not in the lymphnodes at this point? 

Sarah xx

Hi Linz, 

Did you mean what age? I’m 38. And I’m luckily enough to have already had my children, I know many people haven’t.

Or if you meant stage- my scans showed it was stage 1b1 and roughly 2cm. The scans didn’t pick up anything in my Lymph nodes.
After the operation and examination of what was removed it was staged at 1b2 and 2.5cm. Lymph nodes removed were all clear.

Are you having a hysterectomy or  radical hysterectomy? 

The operation was quite long but I was lucky as I was not in much pain after. Although I think this may be rare as I was told I’d be in a lot of pain and was offered strong painkillers constantly which I didn’t need.

I thought it would be quite easy to get up but jeez I was wrong! I found it difficult and had to really prepare myself and rest so I had enough energy to get up. 
I came home with a bag full of medication!

I found the catheter quite annoying and couldn’t wait to get it out. I had it in for 5 days so my bladder could recover from the stress of the operation, I was worried my bladder wouldn’t work and you have to wee 3 times all over a certain ml. I did it lol!

Any questions please ask away I will answer honestly and best I can.

Deb x

Hi Deb

im also 1b and I’m 40 with 3 children so in a similar situation to you.

im having a radical hysterectomy but with removal of ovaries too. I wanted everything out! 

ill go straight into menopause so that’s something to look forward to!!

im so scared that even though my MRI was clear of everything else, I keep thinking they’ll get to op and it will have spread! 

thank you for sharing your story. 

life can be so shit sometimes xxxx

Linz xx

Hi Linz

Did you just have an mri scan and no Ct or pet scan to check for anything else?

Sarah xx

Hi 

just an MRI