Feeling like your old self after again

Renee53

Hi I am new to this site I had stage 1 grade trip neg BC finished chemo Aug 2011 and Rads Nov 2011 how long until you feel like your old self again.

Do any of you feel tired still 9 months out from chemo and 8 months out from rads and do have aches and pains not bad but different.  And most of all do you all worry about recurrance as much as I do.

Thanks  Renee sorta in a fig over this TNBC

GrandmaV

Renee53, Hi and welcome.  I've been done with chemo for 5 months and rads 3 months, so I'm a little behind you.  I'm not sure we ever feel like our old self again.  I'm still doing herceptin and am on femara, so I have those se's, but I am feeling better.  The fatigue held on for a couple of months, but I am feeling better now, but will never be the same, but I feel that that's ok.  I got tinnitus from carboplatin that is likely permanent, and still have some neuropathy from Taxotere, but that's slowly resolving. I think all of us suffer from post traumatic stress disorder.  There has been some discussion about that on some of the threads here.  I had steroid psychosis after my 3 round of chemo and all the steroids pumped into me and am still on anti-depressants from that.  But I've had some good changes too.  I no longer take life for granted and things I used to worry about, don't seem so bad.  I used to make jewelry as a hobby and now feel it was a waste of time.  I am happy to have hair again.  My hair came in very curly and I hope it stays that way.  I love the wash and wear hair do.  I am worried about recurrance, and even some who are many years out from treatment have said they still worry about that, so you're not alone.  I hope none of us have to deal with this again.  Best wishes and hugs

 edited to add: You might want to check out  the threads on this forum:  http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/7

Renee53

Hi GrandmaV nice to meet you

DX tripple Neg Breast Cancer stage 1 grade 3 March 30th 2011 went thru all my treatment pretty good I have had more trouble since treatments are over.  Had similar treatments but since trip neg no hormone therapy.

We all have to stick together we sorta become our own family of sister with this horrible disease.

Thank you

Renee53 

GrandmaV

It's nice to meet you too Renee53, and you're right this does bring us closer together, like a family.  It helps to have someone to talk to, who knows exactly how you feel.  hugs

Timbuktu

So glad to have found this thread.  My last infusion of CMF was March 15, 3 months ago.  I'd thought that by now i would feel "normal" but i'mnot even close.  I went on arimidex April 15, 2 months ago.  I'm tired and aching and depressed as anything.  all i do is eat and I don't excercize so I keep gaining weight, which is the worst thing for recurrence. 

My daughter wanted to go to Europe with me this next week and I just can't do it.  Depressed, no stamina, etc.  The spirit is willing but the body won't allow it. 

Fear of recurrence is constant.  I never touch the remaining breast because i'm so scared but i did tonight and felt some awful lumps that have me in a tizzy.  Took a xanax to get through.

My get up and go has gotten up and went.  I just pray the cancer has too!

GrandmaV

Timbuktu, I'm the same way.  Every ache and pain is "Oh,no".  So then I just try to ignore it, cause I realize that it's probably the femara.  I have my bilateral mammogram coming up in August and the closer it gets, the more a feeling dread comes over me.  But I'm grateful for all the treatment I have had and grateful for each day.  Are you from the midwest?  I ask because I grew up in a little town in Southeast Kansas and heard that saying "my get up and go has got up and went" all the time. 

Renee53

Hi I am Renee

I worry about it coming back alot.  I am 1  out from diagnosis.

I do eat right and  do exercise maybe you should try just walking like 1o minutes every day and cut sugar out I found that helps alot. Summer has lots of good fruits and veggies which makes it easier to eat right.

Do you go to any support groups they are a wonderful thing others like us so we know we are not alone and they become friends.

We all get depressed with this card we have been given but we can do things for ourselves to make it better.

God Bless you 

Renee53 

Elizabeth1889

I finished chemo just about one year ago and I finished rads 10 months ago. I am just now starting to get my energy level back somewhat close to what it was before treatments. This second year after my BC diagnosis has been rougher in many ways than the first year. During treatments, I had felt an adrenaline rush and I knew I was fighting BC with all of my might. My emotions took a tailspin when treatment ended. There was too much time to think and I worried constantly about a recurrence. I still worry about a recurrence, but lately I have found myself enjoying life and looking forward to the future while forgetting about BC for short periods of time. Just tonight, I told my DH that my garden was a metaphor for my life. Last year, I did not have the strength to plant a garden. I just let the weeds take over and they stayed there looking sad and lifeless until the spring when I uprooted the old stuff and planted lots of veggies and flowers. Definitely an improvement over last year. Of course, I still have bad days, too. Thanks for being here for me during the good times and the bad.

Renee53

Thanks for a post that lets me think my feelings are somewhat normal.  You just don't know what to expect after treatments end and the safety net is gone.

I had my 3 month check up today and asked whenmight i expect to feel like my self and she said 1 year to 18 months after the last treatment rather it be chemo or rads before you truly see a difference in yourself. 

I exercise. work, junk hunt I have a little junk booth at a store here in in town and keep my mind as busy as possible but like you said for short periods. Then back to the old worry and think to much rut.  I know it will get better as time passes

Take care be safe and well so glad we all have each other to vent to

REnee 53