Anxiety

Hi Rachel, I can empathise with you regarding the anxiety. I am 61, my two daughters and one son are in their 30's and I have three grandsons aged 4 months, six years and eight years old. My husband just thinks that because I'm in remission I should just put the anxiety out of my head. I have a very rare and very aggressive cancer which is resistant to chemo and radiotherapy so I will have scans and consultations every three months probably for the rest of my life. Oh and by the way it usually returns within the first two years! How can I put it out of my head?? I want to see my grandchildren grow up and I don't want my family to be upset if I'm not here. My mother has dementia and is really hard work. Her dementia is mainly her short term memory but she has always bullied my sister and myself and expects us to be on hand all the time. This was how she was even before the dementia. I hope you get some information soon. Deb

I think it's the not knowing how good or bad the news will be that's the worst and brings on the worst of the anxiety  Time does seem to drag from one test or scan to another. Trouble is no one other than the doctors can tell you for definite and they do like to plan before they start treatment. My scans and tests were to decide what grade it was and what sort of hysterectomy it would be and where it would be done. It's a major operation (or really more than one) as they consider whether or not to remove lymph nodes as well as your uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries and cervix. They also did 23 biopsies of other bits during mine as well as remove lymph nodes. They are making the best plans for your treatment and everything is discussed in a team meeting so they get things as right as they possibly can for your specific case 

My sister who has had breast cancer gave me some useful advice that she was given. Get yourself a book and a box. Write your fears in the book and then put it iaway in the box. Also write down questions you feel you need to ask to take with you to consultations. The box helps put away your anxiety even if it's only temporary.