TREATMENT ENDS-NOW WHAT?

cydnee

TREATMENT ENDS-NOW WHAT?

cydnee

I JUST FINISHED UP 8 ROUNDS OF CHEMO AND 17 ROUNDS OF HERCEPTIN.  I HAD DOULBE MASTECTOMIES WITH RECONSTRUCTION.  I HAD MY OVARIES REMOVED FOR FEAR OF CANCER RETURNING.  I'M ON AROMASIN AND MY BODY ACHES ALL THE TIME.  I'M 35 YEARS OLD AND I DON'T KNOW HOW I'M SUPPOSED TO GET BACK TO NORMAL.  IT NEVER LEAVES MY MIND.  HOW DO I GET BACK TO NORMAL?  HOW DO I FEEL SEXY AGAIN FOR MY HUSBAND?  PLEASE HELP?

Stack

cydnee

my guess is i will be on your mind for quite some time. i also had the masts, chemo, recon. tamox, and now arimidex. i finished my treatments 3/06 and there is hardly an hour that goes by when everything doesnt pop into my head. and the aches and pains from the meds are awful, but for most, bareable. it will get better, but slowly. as for feeling sexy again, i would bet your hubby is just greatful that you are here. i have given in to what my hubby says,  "all that matters to him is that i am here to grow old with him."  i am now 42 so i hope i am here with him for a long time to come also. take care, and take one day at a time

Paulette531

Cydnee...I don't think we ever get back to normal as we knew it before diagnoses, but I believe we find a new normal. I believe BC forever changes us.

You will find your way, it may not be how you were before, but you will slowly gain your momentum back.

If you read back in some of the threads, and there are a lot on this forum (moving beyond cancer) you will see what others have done and how their journey moved forward. Also, on this forum, read the mojo thread, it will give you a lot of info on intimacy, some hilarious, some sad, but a lot of info. 

EachDay

Cydnee, first of all...congratulations on completing all of your treatment!  That is a monumental achievement!  As for where do you go now?  All up to you.

I'm only 6 months from finishing all my tx (chemo/rads/herceptin) and going through the process of reclaiming my life, rediscovering who I am.  Some days aren't so great, most of them are good.  It takes time, and patience and there is much to be said for getting to know yourself.  I've done support groups, I've talked with my primary care physician.  I read a lot on subjects I didn't know anything about, I have done some cognitive thinking/work to help me understand what I want, where I want to be.  If you think it took you 35 years to get where you are now, you can see moving forward doesn't happen overnight.  It can be a very rewarding time in your life and if you are feeling good about yourself and excited about life that has got to carry over into relationships, sexuality, etc.

Embrace it if you can and I'll be sending you many warm thoughts.