Breast cancer: really struggling with moving on and angry at the cancer for changing my life

I had lumpectomy and lymph node removal,   all clear but oncotype score  high so needed chemotherapy, radiotherapy and now on hormone treatment -  anastrozole and ribociclib,  had neturophil sepsis  on first cycle so ended up in hospital,  the  ribociclib  dose has been reduced and although the side effects some days can be  very bad I am starting to learn how to manage them.  I am now  really struggling  with moving on, angry at the cancer for changing my life, although I still have monthly appointments with oncology I feel like my safety blanket has been whipped from underneath me.    My family have been very supportive but now chemo has finished seem to think Mum/ Grandma is back to her normal self  and I'm screaming inside with all the emotions,  I live on my own and not lonely but alone some days,  may sound silly but there is a deference.   

This all sounds like doom and gloom,  but just had my first year mammogram  and so relived the letter has just popped through the door that x-rays appear entirely satisfactory,  so good day today 

normally quite a private person but decided to join the group today 

  • Hi kat-twelve and a warm welcome to our forum, 

    We are glad that you decided to join the group today and that you had the courage to share your story with us as I am sure it will be inspiring for others who have had a breast cancer diagnosis and who are currently going through something similar. 

    You've certainly been through a lot and it must be hard some days to have to deal with those side effects but it sounds like you are managing to control them. The struggle you describe with moving on is one that many members of our forum will be able to relate to, the anger that the cancer changed your life and that you have to adjust to a new normal, that things will not be the same as before you had your diagnosis. You are definitely not alone though feeling this way and I wanted to share with you the Life Beyond Cancer section of our website which focuses precisely on this, on how your mental health might be affected for example in the long term. I hope that you will find it useful. It's true what you said and I have seen it often mentioned on the forum that once chemotherapy or any treatment is finished, loved ones sometimes think all is fine and you're back to your normal self but this is simply not the case and can be difficult for others who are not affected by cancer in the same way to understand. On this forum, everyone will understand that some days you can feel alone and with the impression that not everyone really gets it. I hope that you will find some support on here and that you will get talking to others who are or have been in the same boat. 

    Fantastic news though that your first year mammogram has shown that X-Rays appear entirely satisfactory - this is something to celebrate! I hope that you will continue to do so well. It must have been a relief to get such positive news. 

    Should you ever need to talk to one of our cancer nurses, they have a free helpline you can call on 0808 800 4040 - it is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm so don't hesitate to get in touch with them. 

    I will now let other members come and say hello and share their story with you. 

    Best wishes, 

    Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator