a year out from Chemo and feel worse now

Tg5471530

I cant stand it!  I had chemo a yr ago (check out the bottom for my full treatment) and honestly feel worse both physically and mentally now than I did going through chemo.  And it sucks because my friends and family think that since I am not in any current treatment (probably starting AI's next wk) that I don't need their support anymore.  Everyone is like, u dont have cancer anymore, you should be fine.  They just dont get it!

misswim

I am currently in chemo, and frankly very scared for it to be over. Mentally you have to learn to trust a body that failed you, and physically you are recovering from mutilating your body with chemotherapy for a year. Give yourself a break. PM me if you ever want to talk. I am so there with you, though in a different phase right now. But I get the lack of support and the trying to find a normal.

Hugs.

Anonymous

tammy,the chemo leaves your body in a weakened state.  It affects every cell in your body.  It takes a good year for it to start feeling a little better.  You have gone thru body changes from the chemo that affect you emotionally, and hormonally.  Your whole endocrine sytem has been effected.  Everyone wants you to "get better" and "be positive" So they can feel better themselves when the tell you "oh you look so great!"

Barb

jancie

Tammy - the only people that will "get it" are those that have endured BC and the treatments.

This is a common complaint by many - we are done with treatment so we should be just fine - we should be back to where we were before BC.  It doesn't work that way.  Our bodies went through so much with chemo and radiation that it takes years and I have not met one person that went back to where they were physically and mentally prior to dx.

It took me two years to have enough energy to clean my house, iron clothes, mundane tasks.  My brain is still stupid 2 years later.  I still deal with chemo fog.

I have more energy now but if you had known me a year ago I couldn't walk 30 minutes without being exhausted.  I took naps every single day for 3 hours.

We won't be the same - we have a "new normal" but people on the outside don't understand, family doesn't understand, our husbands don't quite get it either.

Case in point - went to the dentist and I need to have a molar pulled.  2 years ago I had a root canal and crown on that tooth - this was right after chemo and to this day I don't remember going to the dentist to get that done!  Now I have a decision to make whether I get a bridge or an implant.  I was told a bridge would last 10-12 years, an implant 20 years.  And what thought went through my mind???  Will I even be alive 20 years from now?  That thought would have NEVER crossed my mind prior to BC.

Stick around here and vent all you want because we understand how you feel.

Outfield

Tammy

You've really been through a lot.  I was diagnosed around the same time you were, also state III but have been done with treatment longer.  I'm staying flat-chested, simplifies surgical stuff.  I just started working full time again. I applied for this job a couple months ago, and since I've started doing it I reailzed there is no way I could have been doing it a couple months ago so it's very, very good the process to get started was so slow.  Just could not have done it.  But I have had this big improvement in how I feel over the summer.  I hope something simliar is just around the bend for you.

I do have some permanent physical problems from chemo.  My anxiety seems to be a lingering result too. And the way I see my life is forever different.  And I agree with Jancie, people on the "outside" don't understand.  Luckily my family seems to get it, but it's hard interacting with a world that expects me to be done with this. 

Tg5471530

Thank you everyone!