First Year after diagnosis - in remission but still struggling

WorkingMom10

Hi, I really need some advice! I completed 6 months of weekly taxol treatments in April and my onc has said I am in remission. While I am happy about this, I still struggle at times with the reality of having stage 4 breast cancer. I am 49 years old, have a wonderful husband and teenage son that will be a senior in high school this fall. I am on tamoxifen now and have still had soreness in my hips and spine where I had surgery and bone mets. It's so hard to come to terms with being afraid that every ache and pain might mean the cancer is coming back. I'm also struggling with knowing that there are many trips and other things I wanted to do that I might not be able to do anymore. I have heard that the first year is the hardest and am trying to get better emotionally.

I have seriously considered taking anti anxiety or anti depressants. If you use them, which ones do you use and do they help? I also take naturethiroid after having my thyroid removed a few years ago.

I'd really appreciate any other ideas for living with this disease. I don't want to constantly have moments of fear and sadness anymore....

Christine

Lauriesh

i have been Ned for over 6 years and my anxiety kept getting worse instead of better as time went on. I finally went to a psychiatrist who prescribed lexapro, which helps with both depression and anxiety. But the best thing he did was recommend a therapist. I only saw her for about 6 months, but it has made a huge difference for me with my anxiety.

I used to also take Ativan for anxiety. That is a quick acting drug that you can take as needed.

The thing that helped me the most from the therapist is she asked me how would I be living my life differently if a cure was found for cancer and I no longer had to worry about recurrence. She recommended that I start doing those things now. For example, I would never let my dh talk about the future. I now told him it was ok to do so. There were other small things like that, but in the long run, it did help. ( a long with the meds)

Lauri