Which is the worse part of cancer treatment?

For me the worst was the stereotactic biopsy, closely followed by the time between that first flagged mammogram in mid-April to the treatment plan in early August. That waiting, worrying, vulnerability...All those tests and dx that really were not comprehensive... that sucked. Being told over and over how unlikely it was to be something serious, only to be told it was getting more serious after every subsequent test...

I'm one week post bmx and DIEP. This recovery is no joke but I'm better mentally than I've been in months.

hi there for me it was the chemo before I had port put in I had first put thru vein in hand burned like he'll. But different for all. Also fear of recurrence for awhile but I claimed healing in Jesus Name. Praise God now this yr a 25 yr Survivor. Oh I had implant expander but body rejected it had very high fever rushed to hospital and was removed. Wear prothesis in bra. msphil idc stage2 0/3 nodes 3mo chemo before and after Lmast got married was engaged at diagnosis then rads 7wks then 5yrs on Tamoxifen.

I think I understand the “shame" issue, and I think it is an individual experience and valid. Speaking for myself, I am 68; I have spent a lifetime finding my spot in my world. I am extremely tall, overweight (could be more so, but still...), and a different drummer sort, slightly introverted but with a good circle ofclose friends. Now it seems a spotlight has zeroed in on me; I am exposed.

On the one hand I think I have a healthy outlook on the cancer and the aggressive battle I am in; on the other hand, I feel like I have forced the attention of others on myself I know it's not my “fault" but it is there nonetheless - sort of a “sorry to bother you, but I am fighting cancer.

I agree with you, Melmax. If I could have kept my hair, no one would have known I am fighting cancer. I would be just another face in the crowd. I hope to be that way again soon.

For me, the worst part of the whole fandango was the fear and grief, and putting my family through it too. I hated that my husband and kids were thinking of a possibly future without me, and were dreading losing me to cancer. Thank you, God, that I've been given many years with them post-cancer and am hoping for many more.

The worst part of treatment was rads. After the cooing, cozy nest of the chemo room, with kind nurses and warm blankets, I found rads to be cold, humiliating, and awful. Lying perfectly still for 20 minutes every day, while the x-ray machine hummed its deadly tune, cooking my skin and tissues...I hated it. But it kicked cancer's butt and I'm grateful for that.

The emotional part is the worst for me. Prior to getting my diagnosis, 5 years before, I lost 40 lbs and cleaned up my diet. Why? Of course to feel and look better, but also, my mother died of ovarian cancer at 68, I didn't want to end up like her. I feel like karma slapped me in the face. I had an extremely early DCIS/IDC, 3 mm, no node involvement..... lump/rads/letrozole, genetic testing came back negative, I was 61, I should feel lucky and grateful.......and to some extent, I am. I was doing better, now with this pandemic, I am feeling worse emotionally again. I miss my job as a teaching assistant, going to the gym, then getting a coffee or maybe do a little shopping. All of that is gone. I know we will get thru this, but I do feel a lot more sad again. I then feel guilty for feeling sad, as I know I got off easy! My husband tries to understand, but he always downplays and minimizes it, so I just tell you ladies on here. Oh yeah, my in person support group had been cancelled till maybe May. I will be ok, trying to keep busy, but this just plain sucks some days.

I am on my second year of Femara. The most severe side effect is that my blood pressure shot up. Since you had all 3 AI, did you notice any difference in the side effects?

#1: Dealing with Medical Leave paperwork requirements from my job and trying to get forms and information from the State of California EDD. Due to the pandemic all offices are closed and everyone is working from home, so no one has the proper form (which has to be an official wet signed hardcopy and thus mailed to - no pdfs (wtf?!?!?). Plus so many have been furloughed there's no one to answer the fricking phone or reply to en e-mail inquiry.

#2: Everyone (including myself) second guessing treatment decisions.

#3: Old demons thought slain years ago rearing their ugly heads- mainly old eating disorder, panic attacks, and ruminating SI- basically reverting to old ways of exerting control and managing extreme anxiety - seems to have been triggered by the multiple biopsies and surgeries. Same thing happened postpartum.

It was bound to happen. It's 20fricking20.