TNBC Stage IIA Living after treatment

Hugs, Patrice. All I can say is, it does indeed get better. The year following treatment is rough, psychologically. 

Hi PatriceRose,

Welcome to the TNBC club. Luah is right about the first year being tough, especially right after treatment when you're not physically fighting the disease anymore.  You have some time alone with your thoughts, which can sometimes work against you.

I'm 7 years out from my initial dx and can say the day to day fear does give way over time. In fact, there are times I don't think about it at all, like that was some other person who went thru it.  On the flip side, there are other times when I fall into deep troughs of fear or what I call "post traumatic cancer anxiety".  I find myself often thinking every little back ache or cough is due to mets, and sometimes avoid getting tests done because I hate the idea of someone looking inside me and finding gobs of cancer (or an alien baby).  

In all cases they've turned out to my nothing, and the miraculous thing is my symptoms almost always go away once I get my results.  If there's one thing I've learned its that it isn't productive for me to do that because the fear becomes a block to enjoying life.

Four things have kept me sane;  

1) Lurking on BC.org TNBC threads on survivorship.  

2) My oncologist Dr. Linda Vahdat and her NP Diana Donovan.  They are just as deft at managing me as a person as well as a cancer survivor.  I see them every 6 months.

3) Seeing an awesome therapist who specializes in breast cancer survivorship.  Usually your onc will have some recommendations.  

4) Xanax:) Fyi..that stuff is super addictive, so easy does it.  

Wishing you happiness.

PatriceRose:  I am 9 months post diagnosis and 4 months post chemo.  I am really struggling with my emotions right now and seeing a counselor bi-weekly and taking an anti-depressant.  I just went back to the gym and have been doing yoga and easing myself back into being active.  I struggle every day with my own thoughts and fears but I know it will get better and I am thankful that I'm here and healthy.  No one can tell you for certain where they'll be in 5 years and the average person does not ever think of their own mortality.  But as soon as someone says "you have cancer" your mind turns to the worst case scenario.  At least that's what happened to me.  Hang in there.  You're not alone in your feelings and fears.