Sad after operation cancelled

Hi MLD78

A very warm welcome to you.  I am sorry to hear you are going through such a worrying and anxious time.  The Coronavirus situation really does impact unfairly on cancer patients.  I just want to offer you support and understand your concerns.  The fear of the unknown always pops its's head out into all the spaces it can find.

Perhaps a conversation with your medical team and/or you GP might help your husband and yourself to make sense of the decisions being made right now and how they look to proceed going forwards.  It sounds like you have an extremely supportive GP.  I find it helps me to write down any questions I may have before I speak to them as dealing with cancer can put our senses into overdrive and it can be difficult to think clearly in these highly anxious situations.  Also there are groups in the community for family and friends of people who have cancer and also a carer's group too.  If your husband feels like joining the online Community he could join groups he identifies with where he can receive support from those with similar experiences to him.  

Understandably your medical team are making decisions putting safety first for you but that does not lessen the impact a cancer diagnosis has and all it entails.  

I hope the above helps and please come back whenever you need to chat.

All the best xxx

Hi, I have had 4 chemo's and was due for my operation on the 16th March.  This was cancelled due to my bloods being low.  The operation was then due this week but the hospital have postponed it until the summer sometime.  I therefore resume chemo tomorrow after a break of 6 weeks.  To be honest, I would rather look after myself at home than go into hospital for 5-7 days with the threat of CV.  Its a very frightening time for everyone, but it won't last for ever.  Look after yourself and stay safe. x.

Thank you for your reply.  I like your image of the fear of the unknown.  I'm trying to study and finding it difficult with the thoughts that do go through my mind.

Hi, thank you for your reply.  Yes, you're right, it won't last forever.  I must keep remembering this!  Keep yourself safe.

Hi MLD78

You are more than welcome.  

Yes, anxious thoughts really do make it difficult to concentrate and can be very distracting in these circumstances, which can bring alot of uncertainty.   It is good that you have your studies but at the same time it can be counter productive if you cannot focus on them when your mind is filled with all sorts of fears and projections including the "what if's".  For me, what i have found useful is to break things down into manageable pieces and refocus on what I can do rather than focus on what I can't.  This is really one day at a time and sometimes one hour or even one minute at a time - whatever is manageable and manageable is the the key word here. 

It is normal to feel what you are feeling in your particular circumstances and feel a lack of control around what is happening along with the various thoughts and feelings you have around this but by breaking it down a level of manageability can be found which provides a platform to cope from.

Best wishes xxx