General anxiety

It's great that you have been focusing on home life and, I guess all you can do is try to find someone who really hears you and understands and acknowledge that the anxiety is there. Ideally, I am guessing that will be healthier for you if it is someone in your real, face to face life so you can start to live a more Integrated life, I am finding this cancer journey very isolating as others seem to fear it more than me to an extent so I feel I have to gag myself, but if you can find someone who lets you express yourself freely, that has to be healing. If not, then you have this site and people who will always listen and accept. 

I truly hope you find what you need. X

Hello again Muse,

I had actually thought of you the other day and wondered how things were going. 

I totally understand the anxiety post treatment. I am a year post radiotherapy and still having some problems with my tummy. Am reintroducing foods now and finding that my tummy is still quite delicate with some foods. Whenever I get any twinges or tummy effects- straight away I panic and think that it could all be back. I know it isn't. I am still seen every 12 weeks. I keep a food diary and toilet diary and go through it with the hospital and every "twinge" can be linked to something I have eaten. Fibre can still be an issue. 

I think anxiety is natural and in a way it keeps us safe. Having something like cancer makes you very aware of any sensations in your body and it is easy to attribute these to negative reasons. My practice nurse said to me I needed to get to know my post treatment body and get used to the different sensations. 

I think after the trauma of going through a cancer diagnosis and all the treatment, that anxiety is very natural. The thing that helps me is getting out in the fresh air/going for walks in nature, talking about my worries to family and friends, and also some time out from here and anything to do with cancer- so focussing on other things. 

I am a year post treatment now and am only starting to really get back to myself. I still have moments where the anxiety is lurking but not as much as the early days. 

If I wasn't getting so much support from my CNS team and wasn't having the checks I think I would probably consider a few sessions of counselling. These can be arranged with Macmillan if needed. I found once treatment finished there was still a lot of processing to do and once I got on top of that, the anxiety felt more manageable.

Jane

Hi Muse 

I totally agree with yourself and Jane. Every twinge and I'm wondering is it back.

It may be worth having a look at this group

 Life after cancer forum 

I have also recently bought this book as a few weeks ago I felt I was struggling 

The cancer survivors companion by Dr Frances Goodhart and Lucy Atkins.

Just started it but think it will help with feelings and emotions. Lovely to hear from you Muse.

A x

Thanks for book recommendation- am going to have a look