How do you deal with life after treatment?

I have finished my Tx. waiting to have pet-scan and starting on tamoxifen preparing to return to work with constant hot flashes, aching bones  and no sleep  I am not sure what to do I went threw my tx. with few side effects but now I can't stop crying tightness in ches,t unable to consentrate. my family have been so supportive I hate to tell them how Iam feeling. I feel guilty for complaining any suggestions

KrisLiz and likepink:

I am not on tamoxifen, but had my ovaries removed a couple weeks ago - so I know the feeling of the hot flashes/night sweats, also the fatigue and trouble concentrating.  My MO put me on Effexor - which is an anti-depressant, but has been proven to work well in controlling hot flashes (and being an anti-depressant , it has a couple other positive side effects!)

I have learned with my family and close friends that if I am having a bad day, I say "I have hit a bit of a rough patch today"  if they are willing to hear more, which I know by their reaction, I give them a little more.  Otherwise, I just go on about my business, then come on here...

I really do recommend a therapist.  I never really thought I needed one.  But it is really nice to have someone, unrelated, unbiased and trained to talk to. They can really help you learn how to deal with the emotions - as keeping them in is not healthy.

I found that melatonin works well for sleeping too. My MO said it doesn't effect anything else that I am taking, and that it is ok.  It helps the brain quiet down, a lot like NatureMade Sleep sounds like it does, without and groggy feelings.

(((hugs))) back to both of you!

I believe this is why this forum is so great.  I was eating lunch with my daughter today and telling her this exact thing.  We are suppose to be so grateful we made it....we survived and we did, we are AND we are sad, anxious and depressed.  I believe we are so busy telling every one we are "okay" AND we want to be "okay" but we are not.  We have changed, life has changed for us and yet now what?

I can tell you - there is absolutely no shame in feeling, how we feel.  I take the latest and greatest anti-dep/anxiety med called Viibryd and I don't know how I would function without it.  Yet here I am still depressed. 

My prayers are with you, please don't feel alone, don't deny your feelings and turn to your supporters here.

I have been strangely happy during my last few weeks of radiation.  Then suddenly the night before my last radiation I started having an anxiety attack.  I have been coming in the last few days saying "woo hoo, only 3 more to go".  Then on the last day I had to have someone drive me because the thought of going there made me sick and I did not want to go. That was Tuesday, this is Friday and the anxiety is at a low roar, but depression has set in.  

Rationally, I understand how this could happen.  But I really was planning on being happy!  I see my therapist today, one of her specialties is dealing with trauma, so I will post anything helpful.  More later. (((hugs)))

Hi everyone...here's my story which might help some of you.....I too was focused on treatment and did very well continuing to teach each day then go for rads. My last rad day I left the hospital in tears!!!! That was the end of May....decided to try some retail therapy (favourite hobby) lasted ten minutes then started crying and bubbling like a two year old. (I'm 65) decided all this was due to being on Letrozole so tried to overcome it all by exercising, eating well and getting out......didn't work.....had two huge meltdowns this summer, in fact spent most of the summer vomiting, not eating, popping gravol for nausea.

Finally, a friend told me I looked ill and if I continued along this path I would end up in hospital.....lost a tremendous amount of weight.......sooooo took myself off to my GP

who immediately put me on an anti-depressant and an anti-anxiety med, and I've never looked back. I'm eating well, starting to gain a little weight and have no more emotional

issues. I'm back enjoying my retail therapy and teaching. Hate taking pills, but if this

Is what it takes to give me QOL .....I will continue on them for life.

I got teary my last day of chemo, after I was done with treatment and walked to the car. I felt like the doctors had done all they could do, now it was up to me--and the cancer--to determine the future outcome.

I am a year post-chemo but still struggling. Mostly fatigue, problems with mental focus, but some depression too...I think the fatigue is causing the depression but it is a chicken-and-egg scenario. I'm on lexapro, but that can also cause fatigue, so the cure may be the part of the cause. I am no longer dealing with treatment (other than letrozole...which can also cause fatigue), but I am still "managing" the side effects in that every day is a struggle just to summon up the physical energy and mental focus to function at a minimum level.

Everyone tells me I "look great"; only my husband knows how much I am still struggling. Last night I slept 11 hours, and I'm on these boards because I can't focus my mind enough to work or my body enough to go for a walk.

Not trying to complain here, just want to let you know that you are not alone in your struggle, and that it can drag on, unfortunately, long after you think you should feeling 100% better.

Hi Ladies,

Glad I found this thread. As soon as I was diagnosed I withdrew into myself & went on auto-pilot. I just wanted the Drs. to take the cancer out ASAP. I'm very fortunate to have a loving & supporting husband. He went online & did lots of research, so all I had to do was listen. Fast forward to Sept. once treatment was over I started having trouble coping. I know my tumor was very small & detected very early & I feel guilty for feeling scared, especially since others have it much worse. I felt like I was waiting for the other shoe to drop. I have also been angry about the lack of a cure & October was terrible. I did not even go to a single football game to see my niece perform in color guard because it felt like all the pink was more of a celebration. Recently I have concluded that I need to return to some old habits because they should make you feel better. I downloaded Joel Osteen podcasts on my iPhone to listen to on my way to work and I need to start exercising again. I have also made a point of being grateful for the things I have. How many moms get a kiss from their 18 year old son for fixing breakfast & dinner. My DH also does this. So, yes everyone moved on just as I started to fall apart. I am feeling much better & I hope to get good news after my 6 month mammogram on the 17th. I'm grateful for this board because all of you can truly relate.



Best wishes!