When does it end??

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Ericaalaine
Ericaalaine Member Posts: 11
edited June 2014 in Life After Breast Cancer

Hello All,

I am new to this site. I have viewed some posts during my treatment but finally decided to join. I got diagnosed last Decemeber 2010 after finding a lump during a shower. No one was in my family had ever had breast cancer and I was only 32 so I didn't expect it to be anything. Also, I had a 10 month old little girl. Well needless to say it was something....so I freaked out.  Regardless, I  was diagnoised with Triple Negative Breast Cancer and luckily no lymph nodes  were involved. I had the lump removed 3 days before Christmas and sort of thought it was over. Great first Christmas for my daughter huh? Well, it wasn't I had to have chemo and radiation. After working through it all and receiving a tremendous amount of support from everyone I was finished. Its been 8 months since chemo ended and my hair is long enough to wear normally, but I miss it everyday!

Fininshed?? When does it ever finish? It seems that I am constantley worried about it coming back, and everytime I have to have a check out I have some sort of panic attack. I have my first MRI checkup coming up and I am really frightened. I have been going to accupuncuture and I think it has been a great help, but when does the fear stop? I am obsessed with the scar tissue and constantly have a hand on that breast feeling for something else. The scar tissue really freaks me because I forget and think maybe its another lump.

So my question is.....how does everyone deal with this? Do you all panic everytime you have to get checked.

Comments

  • Rose12
    Rose12 Member Posts: 95
    edited March 2012

    So sorry to hear your story. I am newly diagnosed too. I am getting ready for chemo then radiation. I personally feel my whole life has changed, and live in fear of the unknown as well. There is no prediction as to what is in store. Just one step at a time for me. Everything changes. I have Xanaz for my panic attacks. The support is wonderful on here as is all the great feedback and knowledge. I had no lymph node involvement but because I have a high score from Onotype DX I am doing chemo. I am only ER positive. Everything else was negative for me with high scores. The doctor did tell it could come back. I guess I will have to be monitored. I am not happy with the whole story but I there is nothing I can do about it. It is what it is, and that is how I look it. I have no control over it. I have accept each outcome and trust I am in good hands with the doctors helping me. God bless you. We are all in the same boat rowing.

  • kelleysgroi
    kelleysgroi Member Posts: 227
    edited March 2012

    Ericaalaine- you will find that so many of us feel the same way..frightened!  I am triple negative also..and have been told we have the highest incidence of reoccurence..however..if I give in to that fear then BC has won..I will not let it win!! It has taken too much of me and my life away already..I will not devote any more time to it.  A 38 year old teacher from our high school died of a brain anuerism last weekend..never saw it coming..life is very fragile and can end any time..we have to live it to the fullest every minute!!!

  • RaiderDee
    RaiderDee Member Posts: 150
    edited March 2012

    Erica, I promise, it does get better.  I am triple negative too and almost 3 years out from diagnosis.  I can't explain it but every day you get past your treatment, you start thinking less and less about it.  I will never forget what I went through but I also don't think about cancer every minute of every day anymore.  I'm 45 years old and it took about 2 years for me to get my life back.  I just got home from playing softball and having a beer at the bar who sponsors our team.  I promise it does get better.  The best way you can show cancer that it hasn't won is by simply living your life. I will always have the scars (BMX and recon for me) and I will always remember what I've been through but I'm still here living life on my terms.  I realize that not everyone is able to piece their lives back together like I have but it's the only way to get the upper hand on this shitty, shitty disease.  You had cancer, it doesn't have you.  Tomorrow will come with or without you.  Only you can decide how you will deal with it. Everyday you wake up in the morning is one more day cancer can't take away from you.  Live in the moment for yourself and for your family.  I promise with all of my heart that it does get easier as time goes by.  Good luck and be well,

    Dee

  • Susie123
    Susie123 Member Posts: 804
    edited March 2012

    I was diagnosed at Christmastime the year before you. I still do worry about recurrence, but not as much as I use to so it does get a little easier with time. Going to an oncologist appointment still freaks me out. I think it always will. I've always put dentist and dr appointment cards on the fridge door so I'll remember them. In the case of the onco, I've learned to throw those away. I know the office will do a reminder call the day before the appointment and I don't want to think about it until I have to.

  • debbie6122
    debbie6122 Member Posts: 5,161
    edited March 2012

    ericaalaine- Sorry you had to be here but glad you found us. You will get lots of support here which really helps when you are feeling anxious there are many women here who are years out of tx (treatment) and doing very well. You will get lots of good support and good advice too. My daughter was dx (diagnosed) with BC before i was she is triple neg had a tumor over 6cm had a MX (mastectomy) and reconstruction did 6 rounds of chemo and rads she was barely 30 when she was dx it was also during the christmas season she is 5 years out and doing really well.

    I know its really hard to not be worried about every ache and pain i know i have been there too, but i realized that if i waste my life worrying about somthing that may not happen then i wasted a lot of time for nothing its easier said than done but maybe some xanax will help it did me. I hope by being here and talking to all of us you will see that you are not alone and  how well most of us are doing. Please keep us posted you are in my thoughts and prayers

    Gentle hugs

    Debbie

  • Ericaalaine
    Ericaalaine Member Posts: 11
    edited March 2012
    Wow! Thank you for all of your advice! It is very beneficial to hear from so many survivors! It is amazing how many people are diagnosed with this disease! Do anyone of you have any special diets that you follow? I was already a vegetarian (a lot of good that did meEmbarassed) but am trying to cut back on the cheese and dairy products. It just seems since there is no cause , I don't know what the solution to prevent it. My accupuncurist suggests veganism, but I love cheese!
  • kelleysgroi
    kelleysgroi Member Posts: 227
    edited March 2012

    Ericaalaine- I ate very well and exercised every day prior to my dx..I did extreme workout like p90x on a regular basis and made sure my diet had "a variety of colors" and I still got BC..now I try to eat well but I will not deprive myself if something looks yummy!

  • changes
    changes Member Posts: 622
    edited March 2012

    I asked my oncologist this question when I was a couple months out, and he said most people tend to calm down at the two-year point. For me, that has turned out to be true. I just gradually got more used to it, and started worrying less. Now, when I have a headache, it's just a headache and I'm no longer convinced it's brain mets. My last oncology visit caused me almost no stress - each time it gets a little easier. There is no way to "fast forward" through the adjustment process - it just gradually happens.

    As far as diet goes, I have tried to follow the Anticancer diet (but I cheat a lot). I had a terrible diet pre-cancer, and in my case I'm sure it was a contributing factor. But you can do everything "right" and still get cancer.

  • jenn3
    jenn3 Member Posts: 3,316
    edited March 2012

    Of course when I was initally dx'd in early June 2009 I was obsessed and worried.  Then in December 2011 I was dx'd with brain mets.  I was worried again.  Between the 1st dx and the 2nd I lived in the land of denial, which I really enjoyed.  I now use Xanax when I have a bad day and just take it slow.  What Dee said about enjoy life and everyday you wake up is everday that you've beat it.

    (((hugs)))

  • summergirl1
    summergirl1 Member Posts: 182
    edited March 2012

    I understand how you feel Ericaalaine, I just finished almost a year of this,I was diagnosed in May 2011 with BC , had MX with recon followed by chemo and radiation which ended 3 weeks ago, and I swore I would not become one of those people obsessed with reccurence  but it is hard it has been such a traumatic experience for us all that is is only natural that we are scared, but every time I get the feeling I tell myself that none of us know what tommorow will bring my favourite saying was always   " live every day as if its your last" and we have to or we will drive ourselves insane,  I am trying to start doing all my normal stuff again to help me forget all this , I do have some appts coming up but try to put them out of my mind for now anyway, we will all get past this feeling someday Im sure Cool

  • edwards750
    edwards750 Member Posts: 3,761
    edited March 2012

    Ericaalaine - I was dx in January 2011; I went through a lumpectomy followed by RADS treatments and am now on Arimidex. I was scared out of my mind when I had the first mammogram since the DX. My BS asked me why I was so nervous..Seriously? It was fine and so far, so good with Arimidex. My next mammmogram is scheduled for next month and I am already anxious about it. It is my nature to be a worrier so having bc has just made me more nervous. I hope there is some truth to the 2 year statement. My mother was dx in her late 60s some 20+ years ago and she was told you might be home free after 7 years. To be fair a lot has changed since then in treatment, research, etc., so hopefully I can feel more confident before it is 7 years since my dx. I agree with others who say you have to live  your life and do  your best not to allow bc to control it. We are all branded with the C word and the fear factor that goes with it but we are still alive and doing everything possible to fight the disease and the recurrence. Keep that in mind. You are doing everything you can. It is in God's hands. Diane

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