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Anxious: been recently diagnosed with breast cancer

Fluff1
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Hello 

I have been recently diagnosed with breast cancer and am currently going through a series of scans to determine treatment.

I am freeing extremely anxious I have trouble eating and sleeping.

I am really scared of what my treatment might involve.

I feel inadequate because I feel like this.I feel I am letting everyone down because I am not coping 

I am even anxious when I go out.

People say try not to think about it! I say

You try it for a while and see if you can turn your brain off.

I have just tried to follow a video to calm me but didn't work for me

I just wish I could stop feeling like this

Thank you

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    Hello Fluffi x im so sorry you’re having a pretty rough time of it x of course you’re going to be thinking about it , who wouldn’t ? When I got my diagnosis it was over the phone as I was on holiday , for the next 2 weeks my mind was In Overdrive and I googled every possible scenario ; which to be honest didn’t help . When I got home and had face to face consultation at which point everything was explained , the plan of action was discussed and agreed and date for breast conservation surgery was made . I came out feeling so much calmer because I now knew exactly what was going to happen . I think and hope that you msy feel better once you know what you’re up against . Of course I don’t know what will happen in the future but I’m trying my best to just take one step at a time. I wish you well and how you feel is how you feel , you’re not a robot and you’re definitely not inadequate!

  • Offline in reply to Tuckertom

    Thank you Tuckertom.

    It's good to know I am normal. It is the waiting that is the worst part. I think as you said once I know the plan of action I really hope I feel better.

    Sending good wishes to you

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    Thank you so much

    Sending best wishes to you

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    What you say sounds very familiar.  I was diagnosed with breast cancer in November last year.  Waiting for results of scans is really nerve racking but I also found the MRI scans in themselves quite difficult.  I understand what you say about being scared about what the treatments involve.  However not all the side effects of treatments happen to everyone eg I did not feel sick when I had chemotherapy.  I get what you say about not wanting to let people down.  You feel they really want to hear that you’re doing fine and that nothing is too bad.  However I doubt that that there are many people who sail through the treatment unscathed.  All the patients that you see walking around hospital look as they’re coping but you have no idea what’s going on inside their heads.  I am told that medical professionals are used to seeing people struggling to cope so if you come forward as the next person I’m sure it will be like water off a ducks back.  All the times I have come forward to ask for help I have never regretted it…I think it s natural to feel anxious in other areas of your life eg you mention going out.  Your whole equilibrium has been disturbed and there is bound to be a ripple effect beyond the cancer.  Counselling might be worth considering and also medication if the anxiety becomes unbearable.  I hope this helps.  Good luck!

  • Offline in reply to Hopecalm

    Thank you so much for your reply. I must admit that by writing this post I do feel better. I have decided to keep some notes as I feel this might help me. If it get too much I am going to ask for some sort of help as I need to realise that I am not letting anyone down by not asking only myself.

    Sending you best wishes and thanks once again 

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