Help! Constant psychosomatic symptoms

Nikita7

Hi Ladies-

This is my 1st post as I'm new to site.  I'm at the end of a 5 mo cycle of AC & Taxol and am experiencing bad anxiety that mostly consists of constant pains around the liver, underarm and other areas of my right side which is where my cancer is.  I've had every test known to man and its all clear, but I still have these constant knawing little aches and worry Has It Spread?  I know this is a very common fear but would love to learn how others are dealing with this.  I have it all the time these last few weeks.  Its awful!  Any words of wisdom??

THANKS!! 

scrapmom40

Hi Nakita7 - I don't know that I have any words of wisdom, but just wanted to say it is common.  It has not been that long since your diagnosis.  Give yourself time and it will get better.  How long, no one knows.  It is different for everyone.  I am about 1 year 8 mos. out for diagnosis and a little over a year out from ending chemo.  My hair is now shoulder length and I have just started to feel like myself again. I did start Effexor in May/June 2009 so help with depression and I think it is working.  I still get worried every time a have a stiff neck, back ache, cough etc.  I just try to be aware of my symptoms and apply the "2 week rule".  Typically whatever the sympton is, it does tend to be gone before the 2 weeks.  It is hard not to be worried.  Don't beat yourself up.  It will get better with time.  Just give yourself the time you need and realize everyone is different.  I think we have reason to feel paranoid or excessive worry.  We had Cancer and that stinks royally!!!

 If you are not on meds for your anxiety, you should talk to your oncologist and see about taking something.  I know it stinks to have to take medication, but if it helps, it's worth it.

 Take care,

 Karen (scrapmom40)

diana50

hi nakita7

this is a rough time for you...for anyone who just finished breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.  it really does take time to begin to trust your body and that the treatments worked.  i think after treatment....you are still waiting for "the other shoe to drop" but some of the anxiety is really still related to the intial diagnosis.  something that helped me was that i really did believe i got great treatment...that the doctors knew what they were doing....and that i needed to start to trust that.  it takes awhile to trust your body after all of this. additionally, your body is still healing...it really takes some time to begin to FEEL good physically.  what really helps me now; after 7 years...is that i know if i relapse..i will deal with it then.  between oncology appts i try to live my life; and know that blood work...follow ups will find any relapse...rather then try to find it myself .  however, i follow the 2 week rule; if i notice something out of the ordinary...i make an appt to see my oncologist.  i think that most oncologists are aware of our anxiety...part of their job is to reasure us ....blood work..tumor markers...scans..whatever your follow up may be.  you are not alone in your anxiety.  remember that. having cancer rocks our world and feeling of security.  however, after the treatments...we still don't feel that great...for awhile.  your body has to heal. so does your trust...your feeling of security...

i didn't take any kind of antidepressant during treatment because i didn;'t want it to interfere in chemo, etc. however, i was on paxil which helps with depression/anxiety...and now i am taking cymbalta...which helps with anxiety, depression and pain. the taxanes can cause pain...hands..feet... so you may want to check into that med. 

i have always believed that my treatment was excellent.  that i got everything they could do for me.  that has helped me.  having faith in the treatment...in the docs...in my ability to respond to the treatment...seems to have decreased my anxiety.  i live in southern california...we could have the BIG earthquake anytime...but i can't worry about something that hasn't happened yet.  same thing with the cancer...if i relapse..i will know it.  in the meantime; i try to eat good, excercise...drink water...rest.  don't be afraid to talk to your oncologist. maybe consider a support group.  hang in there. hope this helps.

diana50

Nikita7

Thanks-  I do have anti anxiety meds but pride myself on not needing them.  But I am going to start now!  Thanks for the quick response... it helps a lot.

leggo

That is so strange Nikita that you would have the exact same thing as I did after my chemo was coming to an end....the constant pains in my liver etc. I think I had every test known to man. It ended up being severe muscle spasms, probably from my contstant worry. The ladies are right...it goes away with time. I know how you feel about the anit-anxiety meds too. I ended up using muscle relaxants and the pain went away.