Recurrence-Would you share your emotioal journey with us????

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Sadie-Rose
Sadie-Rose Member Posts: 222
Recurrence-Would you share your emotioal journey with us????

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  • Sadie-Rose
    Sadie-Rose Member Posts: 222
    edited March 2008

    I finished my treatment for tnbc a little over three years ago. I know my risk begins to go down, since I have passed the window for the highest risk of recurrence. Still, I have read posts from women who were more than 5 years out who have a recurrence.

    Beyond the medical treatments you must endure, can those of you who had a recurrence talk about the emotional impact the second time around? How were you given the news? What were your first few days like? Was it easier the second time or much more difficult emotionally? Does the intensity of fear go down as treatment progresses or does it increase?

    If you are someone who has had a recurrence of breast cancer would you share your emotional journey with us?

    Thinking of you all tonight.

    Warmly,

    Sadie

  • Sadie-Rose
    Sadie-Rose Member Posts: 222
    edited March 2008
  • Shirlann
    Shirlann Member Posts: 3,302
    edited March 2008

    Honey, there is a special thread for recurrence and metastasis.  Just scroll down a little farther.

    The gals there are just great and it is a font of good information on how to handle the challenges of this nasty beast coming back.

    Hugs, Shirlann

  • Sadie-Rose
    Sadie-Rose Member Posts: 222
    edited March 2008

    Hi Shirlann,

    I was aware of the other thread. I was looking for a different discussion and I don't think I was very clear. A few weeks ago I opened a discussion about the hot spots during and after treatment. Briefly, I talked about an emotional dip at the end of treatment and how this can be a very difficult time.

    I have wondered how I would handle the news of recurrence. Once I got over the shock would I be more grounded this time because I already have my team in place? Is there a pattern for difficult times during a second treatment?

    Is there anyway to prepare for the news?

    Warmly,

    Sadie

  • chumfry
    chumfry Member Posts: 642
    edited March 2008

    Sadie, I received two separate diagnoses of BC within two years of each other. Both triple neg, but the second one was definitely not related to my first one. (First was medullary, second was IDC)

    Like everyone else who has BC, I was really afraid of it coming back. In fact, I still am. But when I actually got the news, I know it didn't hit me as hard as it did the first time.

    I went through a second mastectomy and a second bunch of chemo, and it just all seemed easier to me the second time around. I think it helped that I knew more about what was going on and what was going to happen.

    It still sucked, don't get me wrong! Yell But it was not nearly as bad for me the second time. I think my attitude was: "If I did it once, I can do it again." In some ways, dreading the possibility of more cancer is worse than actually fighting it again.

    You know those people who tell you how brave you are and that they're sure they couldn't possibly go through surgery, chemo, whatever? And you try to tell them you're not really brave, it's just something you have to do. And that you're sure they'd do the same if faced with the same situation?

    It's exactly the same with a second diagnosis. I was upset and angry, but I felt no hesitation. It was like, "Well, this next six months is going to SUCK! @#$%&amp;" <grin> But this time, I knew more about everything, which seemed to help me focus more on getting to the finish line.

    Don't know if this helps any to ease your mind. I hope you never have to go through it again. But if you do, you'll get through it just fine.

    --CindyMN

  • Sadie-Rose
    Sadie-Rose Member Posts: 222
    edited March 2008

    Hi CindyMN,

    Thank you so much for your reply.  It is helpful for me to look ahead and prepare for the best and difficult.  I appreciate your answering my question.

    Warmly,

    Sadie

  • Sadie-Rose
    Sadie-Rose Member Posts: 222
    edited March 2008

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