im a survivor and im still scared?

Question

i have just got out of a acute mental instution because i worry to much about my family and this breast cancer stuff i just want to know why if i will always think this way about the breast cancer? I dont understand its always on my mind any answers i would really apreciate it. Thanks

Answer 1

The first time I went through breast cancer I just laid down thinking I was going to die. Nothing happened then so I decided to live. I would get anxious about tests but on the whole, I just decided I was going to get on with my life.

This time around has been very complicated. My husband died. I felt a lump on my neck but I wasn't in a position to do anything about it while he was ill. Right after he died I saw a doctor and then had tests and found out it was a Stage 4 Breast Cancer that had metastasized. I was devasted and cried a lot about my husband and about me. I still cry, but I did get on an antidepressant which has helped a lot. I am not ready to throw in the towel. I talk to my family and they are talking to me. That helps. Periodically we cry. But, I am trying to live my life as best I can.

Let yourself grieve, then get on with it. There is not a lot we can do about having cancer, but where you can take care of yourself and enjoy life, go for it.

Answer 2

The longer you live with the problem the more other people will worry for you...get a support group behind you and let them worry...It sounds weird but there is a limit on how often the cancer affects a person during a day. There are appointments, tests, outcomes, bloodcounts, hair loss, weight gain/loss...doctors, nurses, pamphlets, booklets, items used for different cancers (such as pillows for under the arm in lymphectomy)...reminder phone calls, plus the dont do this work for family members because you have cancer...

Answer 3

Try living your life in really small pieces, you will find you can enjoy it more that way. The threat of cancer (or of a cancer returning) is very real, but it is not going to affect you directly in, say, the next thirty minutes; so decide not to worry about it AT ALL for 30 minutes! There is certainly nothing about reality that you can change in 30 minutes, so take the next half-hour off!

Repeat as necessary!

Another GREAT way to help yourself is to direct that energy towards educating and helping others who have cancer. It is so much easier to believe "everything is going to be okay" if someone is telling you who IS a survivor...