How to Understand Trauma During Breast Cancer and its Treatment 

Having breast cancer has been very traumatic for me. I always thought I was a strong person, overcoming many hardships in my life, but the loss of all control has been overwhelming. Grief, loss, and fear frequently take hold.

I was disappointed to discover how little is available as far as mental health support. I’m blessed to have survived a early stage treatment plan but I needed counseling help and was told I’d be on a long waiting list- don’t bother you’ll be just fine when active treatment is over. Thankfully I have the ability to call on my faith to a greater degree. But it was still extremely stressful working with the different providers, some of whom may be burned out and also in need of support. This system of care that’s saving lives, leaves many patients scarred physically and psychologically.

Going through six months of testing and waiting for office visits and getting results before finally having a mastectomy was not only traumatic but cruel. No one seemed to really care since it was only stage 1or 2 and the tumor was "like a lazy dog, not aggressive". Surgery is done now and because I do not require chemo or radiation, it is " see you in October. " I am angry

Thank you Dr. Griggs, yes , my experience with the dx of lobular breast, the trials and tribulations, the mistakes made during my treatment..the addl surgeries, chemo burn..etc. was very traumatic. my feelng overwhelmed, scared, has come up again due recently to having symptoms the cancer may have reoccurred. Im at the testing stage.. i am going to try to reach outmore to my family, friends and other resources which will help me feel less alone and more supported.. The timing for me to find your RU-vid videos is so helpful..thank you so very much.

Thank you Dr Griggs for a very thought-provoking video! It's 6 months past my last chemotherapy and a year my last surgery, but I'm still talking a lot about my breast cancer quite a lot!. I can feel some processing going on though. Now that you mention it, it does feel as if I was trying to pick up the threads of an "interrupted story" to knit them together with the present and move forward. Talking and journalling is helping me with all this as well as, weirdly, remembering dreams. I've also just purchased a copy of 'yoga for cancer' by Tari Prinster to help bring more self-compassion in my yoga practice and not push myself too hard with it.

I helped my daughter through breast cancer twice. We both really have had PTSD after this last round. Multiple complications that were scary and then, after all was said and done, 0 cancer in pathology. We were left feeling numb and traumatized. I wanted to be happy and grateful, and I am, but it is hard to get over everything she had to go through. Trauma is real. Also my reaction is ANGER and this is not helpful.

Dr.Griggs.thank you so much!I wach you from Serbia,brest cancer surviver and trauma is real!respect and love for you 💜

Thank you, Dr. Griggs, for your helpful advice.

Wow... thank you!

I already had C-PTSD because of physical and sexual child abuse. I was diagnosed with HR+ cancer that had already spread to my lymph nodes. I am stage 3. I have had a left mastectomy and 6 weeks of radiation and the trauma is not even being addressed or even mentioned and it needs to be addressed. Even the notification of a positive test from the pathology lab was very traumatic and there was no mention of if I had support when I was given that horrific news. Even the body dysmorphia of a lack of a breast makes showering almost impossible. The daily radiation was very traumatic and I missed a few appointments but they were made up. I can no longer function and I have no family support because of the past childhood trauma. My therapist has been useless with the trauma and even the discussion of my own mortality.