At a bit of a loss

I feel very alone, Macmillan's logo only seems to apply for a short time, they were so helpful when I was diagnosed with a reccurence of my cervical cancer, I know & am very grateful that I coped with it quite well with a lot of hard work & a lot of lifestyle changes, also that there are a lot of people that need their help more than I do but I now feel at a loss for anyone to turn to or contact , the oncologists assured me that it will come back no matter what I do, I will continue to try & prove them wrong but do sometimes feel the need for someone to talk to about it, my mother suffered from ovarian cancer with much the same advice but is still keeping going 20 years on which is encouraging.  I think mainly down to the mistletoe treatment which I am also on.

Surely there is a need for a second stage of Macmillan or cancer survivers help in some format to help us cope with all the damage we have to live with, a CRUK support nurse advised me that I couldn't possibly be experiencing side effects from chemo - taxol/carboplatin after more than 3 months but I am, I have constant tinitus, lack of energy & several other related problems which the consultant said could possibly last forever.

So where are people in my situation & there must be a lot of us supposed to turn?

  • Hello helens, so sorry to hear of your problems.  As your oncologist has said, some of these problems do last a long time, I had really sore skin and poor finger and toenails and tiredness for a lot longer than three months.  Fortunately the first two have resolved now, 7 months since last chemo for ovarian recurrence, though I do still get quite tired at times.  What I am rather delighted with is the fact that your mother is still around twenty years down the line from ovarian cancer, that gives me a great boost, so thanks for that!  As she has shown, there are always exceptions to the rules, so you just keep fighting and reporting your problems at your check-ups.  I have always found my team very understanding and helpful. Some of these side effects can be permanent and distressing, but there may be ways to minimise them. Do please keep posting on here, there are others who have long lasting after effects who may be able to give advice, no need to feel alone.

    Meanwhile, do take care.

    Hazel xx