Have to Stop Reading Message boards,in a trap

Jenny, all of that depends on your orginal dx.  DCIS or IDC, ER, PR, HER status, did you get a sentinal node biopsy, your age, family history, microcalcifications, etc.  The list goes on and on.

But yes, you can read WAY too much into these boards.

Jenny, its a step of faith to be sure.  This is a difficult time once treatment is finished and you don't see your doctors and/or their nurses at least several times a week.  Its as if they've pulled the safety net out from under you.  I used to say it was like being walked to the curb by all your support staff and watching them wave to you as you pulled away, saying 'good luck with that cancer thing.  Give us a call if anything new pops up.' 

It takes a while to get your bearings back.  After months of doctors appointments, you now have all this free time.  You life before diagnosis was turned upside down and put on hold while you made room for the time needed for appointments, infusions, tests, etc. 

Its time to start claiming your life again.  For me, it was making an effort to stop hiding in my house.  I had to make an effort each day to get out, back into the land of the living.  Even if it was just to run to the post office to buy stamps.  Start gradually doing the things you thought nothing of doing before bc.

Its time to focus on staying healthy for the future.  My muscle tone was depleted after chemo and I couldn't even walk a half mile anymore.  I decided that I was going to now focus on regaining my strength do I could travel if I wanted without worrying about not having the stamina.  I have changed the way I eat even though I had a healthy diet before.  I've stopped eating so much processed foods, started being more concerned about reading labels.

I focused on what I COULD control and learned to let go of what I couldn't control.  Its not easy but you will get there.

By the way, I was diagnosed at stage 3B and I'm not five years out and life is good.  I don't agonize over recurrence so much anymore.  Its a process.  The first year or two, each little ache or pain will be a cause of fear that the cancer has returned.  My cancer may return and I want to be sure that the time I have now is used in a good way.  Not lived in fear.  After all, is a life lived in fear really any kind of life at all?

Jenny, please don't obsess.  You have a wonderful prognosis, and if your bc was found by mammogram, that means that your breasts are not so dense that bc doesn't show up.

Knowing what I know, being metastic, if I had your scenario I wouldn't give another moment of time worrying about mets.  Aromatase inhibitors are pretty tough, not as bad as chemo, but I wouldn't take them if drs said they aren't necessary. 

With your stats, you can probably do the best for your future by keeping yourself healthy, exercise, and eat fairly low fat.  There have been lost of studies showing the effectiveness of healthy living.

Remember, whatever time you spend worrying about BC is time that BC has taken from you.  Step AWAY from the internet!

 Jenny..we sound a lot alike! I question everything...want to know the big picture, etc, etc...and since I have been diagnosed I have learned to not look at the pic but rather take it one day at a time.. one step at a time...or you will go insane with worry and the "what ifs"!!

Trust your doctors but remain open to asking questions if you don't understand something. I feel that I am very fortunate in the fact that I had no lymphnode involvement, and my margins were clean after my lumpectomy!! Technically I am cancer clean but am still taking chemo as an added insurance against any active cancer cells throughout my body!! So, I have focused on how fortunate I am and am trying to move through chemo first.. then radiation.. then getting back to myself again.... rather...on to a NEW and improved healthier ME!!

I know it's scary...cancer is...but you dont have to live in fear every day...YOU have the control over what you want to do in life... spend it worrying all the time.. or enjoying each day to the fullest and getting everything good and positive out of life that you can!!

Btw....my cancer was genetic.. so I am at a very high risk for it coming back...I do worry some.. but I am determined to NOT let it rule over my life when all I can do is finish my chemo and radiation and try to be as healthy as possible. "IT" has already robbed me of my hair and energy...I will be damned if it will take the rest of my life away from me!!!

I wish you a peaceful and worry free life....and  I sense that you have the strength and courage to throw worry away and get out there and live life!!!

HUGS

~Belinda~ 

Jenny, I think it's normal to trawl the net when you are first diagnosed. I stopped all of that once I found this site and my May 08 chemo-sisters. Read the threads here only when something crops up and don't go looking for bad things..what we have is enough!! I have never found the info here seriously contradictory (to the point of confusion)..more like a balanced and comprehensive perspective. I wouldn't even go out and buy a cancer book now. Rather spend my money on treats! As the other girls have said, this is a process. We have been disempowered and shaken, and then we regroup/rebuild. I tell you what..I would rather have this illness than bad diabetes or heart disease, or lung disease. Even after all I've been through in the last 11 months, I still feel on top of this thing. And that is thanks, in no small part, to the girls on these boards.

Snappygoddess,  I hope I did not give you the impression that I was criticising your comments.  I was not and there is no need to apologise.  I have posted panicky notes on this site and have benefited from views offered by fellow sufferers and try to respond if I see that someone is struggling.  It is hard, however, to find the right words and I do worry I will offend someone inadvertedly.  With best wishes Nena

Jenny - I think we all want a black or white answer., am I or am I not going to have to go through this again?  And, if I do, am I a dead woman walking?  

I agree that too much info can be troubling.  This is the only site I check out, and not so much for my cancer issues, but to keep in touch with the gals who are on here. 

 We're all walking in the same sandals (or snow boots, up here) and these women aren't going to pat us on the head and tell us we have nothing to worry about (like so many do), but they will support us and understand us, and respond to our fears with warmth and wisdom.

II hope you continue to check in here for support and comfort - or hook up with someone in your area who can make your life easier for you to live.

(((Hugs)))!