Emotional and physical issues

Jenzworld2005

Hello my name is Jennifer I'm 46. In Feb 2017 I was diagnosed with IDC and in April 2017 I under went a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction. Everything went fine. I'm now cancer free and don't need chemo or radiation. But I'm have issues with anxiety, panic attacks and the physical changes I'm going through. I don't want to leave my house, I have anxiety about leaving or having people over. I get physically ill when out in and about. I feel people stare at me. I feel like I have three heads when I leave. My clothes fit differently. The emotional and physical issues,I was not warned about. My chest with the expanders look like I have breast but physically and emotionally I feel so different. Returning to work on June 19th is a huge anxiety and sets of panic attacks just thinking about it. I started seeing a therapist to help me understand why I'm going through this.

Did anyone else suffer from anxiety or have emotional issues dealing with the physical changes? I feel so alone.

Moderators

Jenzworld, welcome to Breastcancer.org.

We're sorry you're here and having such emotional side effects of breast cancer and its treatment -- but you've found the best place for support! These feelings are all very normal and very common. We can assure you, you're not alone in how you feel, and you're sure to have many others weighing in with their experiences shortly.

In the meantime, you may find some pages on the main Breastcancer.org site helpful:

• Side Effect: Anxiety
• Side Effect: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Breast Cancer and Your Job

We hope this helps and we look forward to hearing more from you soon!

--The Mods

mistyeyes

You have gone through a lot of changes. How you feel is normal. Check the links that the moderators supplied and I am glad that you are going to see a therapist.

wallan

Hi Jenzworld:

Hugs to you. I am sorry for everything you are going thru. What you have endured is traumatizing. You are definitely not alone in how you are feeling. I myself underwent a mastectomy in 2004 for IDC and then again in 2017 on the other side for a new diagnosis of IDC. This time I was told my cancer is very early stage with no node involvement and I do not need chemo or radiation. My family doctor the other day told me the pathology is "reassuring" and the oncologist told me if I was 70 years old, she wouldn't even have put me on anti-hormone therapy because of the low risk of recurrance. Since I am only 54, she put me on Arimidex "just in case". So, you would think I would be reassured. However, I feel high anxiety and was just put on meds for panic attacks. The panic attacks were absolutely debilitating. I would not leave the house. I would not do anything in the day. The good news is the medication has helped the panic attacks to resolve. I am going to see a therapist too and taking really good care of myself. So, its great you are getting some help. There is light at the end of the tunnel.

By the way, I too feel the self-consciousness of my body too. I am undergoing reconstruction, and things are lopsided. Its getting warmer outside and I feel I can't wear anything too summery because then it would be obvious I am lopsided.

If you want to chat, please feel free to PM me.

Good luck to you.

wallan