While fear of cancer recurrence may never go away completely there are ways to manage it. In this video you will hear from Kym about how she copes with her fears of cancer recurrence.
To all the ladies especially newly diagnosed- I was early breast cancer 6 years ago 2.5 cm aggressive. Had chemo herceptin etc. Early septicaemia from a flu virus caught straight away blood test through treatment after sore throat. Lowered immunity. Recurrence fear gets better each month and year! First two years maybe the worst for worry. I worried for nothing. It’s hard but try to enjoy your life as per normal and felt like a bit of denial as if it never happened helped an obsessive like me! Lol. Life is so short i recently lost a friend and my dad too. - So try and do whatever makes you happy and going into nature works wonders! Best wishes to you all! X
Thank you for sharing your story. I can relate very well. I was diagnosed in April, 2009; and, even though I've just passed the 10-year mark, my fear of recurrence is always simmering on the back burner. Best of luck and health to all of us!
Me too! I was dx in 2007 finished all my treatment in 2008 chemo mastectomy and radiation. But still I fret and it has now been almost 12-yrs. It will never end and we just learn to accept it.
What a great video. My breast cancer was discovered following a chance mammogram I had a double lumpectomy in my left breast.A follow up appointment revealed more cancer so 3 weeks later I had a mastectomy. I was prescribed Tamoxifen for 5 years however I took it for 12 years in all by my choice with my doctors' agreement . The breast cancer team were wonderful ,nearly all woman so lots of empathy. I have been blessed to see my children married and grandchildren growing up for which I am eternally grateful.
Thanks so much for sharing this with us. I fear a reoccurance and I wish I could stop that mindset. I pray everyday to get it out of my head trying all sorts of positive things but your video has helped me. God bless you x
Thanks for sharing Kym. It is very brave of you to be so honest. I have had two illnesses where I think recurrence will come back so know exactly where you are coming from. I hope and pray yours never returns and that one day you will think to yourself I haven't thought about recurrence at all for months or years! That is my prayerful wish for you! It is a real fear and like you say I bet many women feel the same. All the best to you.
Thank you Kym for sharing. I am 2 years post diagnosis, and its still a tilt-a-whirl of thoughts and emotions, and the fear is real. At least I know it is somewhat normal! I have found the BCNA online network a great help with being able to read others stories, suggestions and recommendations to deal with side effects. It's nice to know I'm not alone.
I found that accepting breast cancer as a chronic illness has eased the fear of uncontrollable reoccurrence. It's not as frightening if one stays observant and take sensible steps to treat the condition when it troubles you. So many people have illness such as hypertension which lead to their demise, yet our attitude to cancer is filled with dark imagery and we all want 'it' removed and to stay 'clear' of it forever.
This comment is odd. A chronic illness? I’m a 3 1/2 year breast cancer survivor and if you’ve ever had breast cancer you would know that it can kill. There are many types and weather it has spread , etc. Breast cancer is terrifying. Ask any survivor. Comments like this are not very educated.
Thank you so much for your comment. This eases my mind. You make it more logical for me. I’m 6 months out from surgery. I keep fearing it will be back.
@@maryfrances835 keep going, time passes. I'm at 5 years in October this year. I reckon that I can cope with anything now. If you ever need a friendly shoulder ....X Julie.
I am so happy you did not have more cancer. I am also scared to death because I had breast cancer removed 6 months ago I am considered stage zero now and I'm on hormone blockers for 5 years but the fear is starting to sink in especially since my mother died of metastatic breast cancer. She had cancer 28 years and ended up with five different kinds of cancer. She died in agony and I am so scared that it will happen to me. There's not a minutes peace is there??
I'm newly diagnosed with breast cancer, and I'm terrified! I haven't had surgery yet or treatment. It's taking so long to get things moving. Seven months ago I first noticed a bloody discharge from my breast. January I saw a new obgyn. Seven weeks later my mammogram. Two weeks later biopsies. March 7th I got the dreaded phone call. Three weeks later I saw a surgeon, was not impressed with him. Three weeks later MRI. I had blood work done. I could've seen my new surgeon today, but noooo they haven't received my MRI disc in the mail yet. So hopefully next week I'll get to go. The oncologist can't do anything for me, until the surgeon gets my MRI disc. It's terrifying, frustrating, depressing, and causing me severe heart palpitations. I've had to double my blood pressure meds. I'm on antidepressants, I'm going to need hormone blockers for ten years when I start them. I saw one video the doctor said you can't take the blockers with Zoloft. So many things can go wrong with the meds 😭🤮💔 I understand your fear! I'm right there with you. God bless you, Jennifer
@@jcatlover2251 also, I am on generic meds for celexa.(depression for years) and my hormone blocker is anastrozole.again, please let me know REAL OFTEN how you are doing.I live in VA Beach, Virginia
@@sheilacarter4741 Thank you! I'm in Ohio. I have to have three more biopsies done, this time with an MRI. Then another appointment with my surgeon in two weeks. I'm still scared, but praying helps me to stay calm. I hope you are doing well! Jennifer ✝️🙏🏻❤️
@@jcatlover2251 I had 10 biopsies in total.that was the worst part.please let me know how you are doing whenever you feel like it.I get blood work every few months but I don't know what the oncologist is looking for.they haven't said.looks like they would have given you all of the biopsies at once to get it over with and get on with your treatment
You were lucky Monday you go to dr. Thursday you have mastectomy. Wow, that is incredible. I had to wait for weeks. But, you are right. It’s in the back of your mind. And every pain is panic. I had a leg soreness and was sure it was cancer. But, it was one of the pills I was taking for my cancer.
2 yrs since my BC diagnosis. 5 yrs since diagnosed w/thyroid cancer that has spread to my lungs. At the age of 75 one or the other will get me. Scared all the time with repeat scans for both. It's exhausting mentally. Tried so therapy for anxiety but that was useless. When they invent a pill for fear I'll be the first in line.