What happens next

Well Done Sunflower - Good to hear that all your treatment is over.
Its strange when the hospital appointments come to an end - they become a kind of lifeline support as we plan our lives around them.
then when the treatment finishes its as though someone leaves go of our hand....................but stay brave - i didn't have rads so i dont know how long the side effects last from that therapy.
However, I would say go with your body - it has been through so much in the last year..................it deserves to be pampered so listen to it and rest if you are tired.
The most important step of chemo and rads are over - it is all about eating good food and getting healthy fresh air into the lungs now.
- try and stay positive - focus and realise what a great milestone you have reached................ be nice to yourself !!

best wishes,
rox

Well done ! Yu've been through a lot.

I'm only at the end of first chemo, so don't mind me, but I have noticed a lot of cancer information mentions tiredness and feeling down once treament is over. So, others will know more than me, but this seems normal. (My radiotheraphy booklet from St Lukes in Dublin says the same thing).

RoxAnn is right, be kind to yourself. I'd also add- talk to someone about feeling down. I know it's hard when you are tired or lacking motivation, so don't beat yourself up about it, but if you can find the time to find a counsellor, or just a good listening ear, it might be just the thing you need.

You've been through an awful lot, you've had to fight and be brave, and your body and mind are probably just saying 'that's enough now, lets rest'!, but it can really help to talk through the whole thing with someone.

Warm best wishes

xx

Hi Sunflower, I know where youre coming from. I finished all my treatments at the end of Jan, including radiotherapy. I felt exhausted by the rads, and this only slowly improved over the next couple of months. I think the shock of the whole process only hits us once all the busyness of treatment ends.
I felt really down at this point and quite demotivated, which was when i first posted on this site. Its hard to beleive you can start to feel better, but i do feel so much better now, joining a local BC support group really helped too.
don't worry that you feel like this, it seems to be fairly normal, but finding someone to talk to who really understands could help you to start on the road to recovery. Finding friends who you can laugh with helps too!
One thing that really boosted my self esteem, was ordering some pretty bras and a swim suit from one of the mastectomy underwear suppliers. A bit of retail therapy !!
Take each day or hour at a time and allow yourself time to get used to what has happened to you and your body, a major assault, which you have survived.
There were many days when i felt really crappy and got fed up with well intentioned people telling me to stay positive. I'll never use that phrase again. but things do get better, I'm proof, and although things can never be the same as before BC, life can be good.
take care, sending you web hugs,

Hi girls. thank you every much for the words of encouragment. When all is finished i thought that i would have been able to to do what i could to this time last year. i was asked when i was going back to work last week!! unfortunally I lost my job ( my job si year to year) and I knew that I wouldnt have one but I take it as a blessing cause I would be putting myself under preasure to go back.
think I will do a bit of that retail thearpy and organise some sort of short course for sept to keek me busy.
talk soon
thanks

Hi there Sunflower,

Firstly.... CONGRATULATIONS!!!! You did it!!! You got through a really tough year that was loaded with physical and mental challenges and came out the other side.

As for feeling down, etc. this is totally normal. I kind of felt like I was cast adrift once treatment was over. Its a big change to go from weekly and daily contact with medical staff to nothing at all until yr 3 monthly checkup. I know I felt really weird. And I was also very frustrated by how slowly my energy came back. I would say to expect it to take 6 months or maybe a year but everyone is different. Some people bounce back really quickly, others find it comes back very gradually. Just keep trying to do more and more each month without pushing yourself too hard. Listen to your body.

I also found that I got pretty paranoid about my general health for a while after treatment ended - a headache was brain mets, post-Taxol aches turned into bone mets, etc. It took a while to find the balance of looking after myself without thinking the cancer was back all the time.

I had visited my local cancer support centre during treatment and talked to a counsellor who recommended saving a few of my sessions for after my treatment. It really helped to be able to talk to her a few times.

Finally, I would try to start putting things in your calendar that you can plan towards and look forward to. This helps get you back in the swing of living a 'normal' life that isn't centered around chemo days or allowing for 6 weeks of post surgery recovery, etc. If you can afford a holiday or mini-break, book it for later this year. Mark it it big red letters on your fridge, make lists about what you want to buy beforehand, or things you need to do. Arrange to meet some friends for dinner next month, or plan to have them around for a meal or takeaway.

And if you can, I recommend doing things like holding a coffee morning, walking the mini marathon next June, collecting at your church gate, etc to raise money for The Irish Cancer Society or your local cancer centre. It'll make you feel good to be helping others and giving something back. And, I'm embarrassed to say it, but its true so you may as well take advantage of it - as a recent cancer sufferer, you will get more sponsorship!! Yes, I know, I am awful!

Hugs,
Flo.

Hi Flo
thanks for advice.how are you keeping? this fourm is brill. It is great getting all the info and support from ladies who have been through so much. Your right about getting more sponsership from people when you already have had the cancer. I have a walk /run on new years day and I would hope to do it. It is for the local cancer group who provide a taxi service to hospital app.
I dont really miss the contact with the medical staff as i know i am only a phone call away from them. I miss the other people that I have met along the way.
the tiredness has hit me big time from the very begining. But I have learned to except it and work my day around it. When I know that it is normal side effect and others have had it it is a bit easier.
thanks again
Sunflower