How to psychologically recover

I do feel a little indulgent posting about this, when so many are having a worse time of it ( for now , I always say that, not tempting fate)

Back story- husband diagnosed out of the blue, very few symptoms apart from a loving nagging wife (me), with Oesophageal cancer - July 2020. Nuclear chemo, major surgery , nuclear chemo, 'good' histology. disease free for 18 months ( finger crossed forever).

Now the indulgent bit- how on earth do recover mentally from the whole world wind. I am relatively okay- or at least at the moment I am.

Him- he says he's lost all the 'certainty' in life. Due to the whole thing he has retired from work. Then his mum pops off in February this year ('just' old age) He feels quite 'got at' , like all his life ballasts have been removed. He has done group stuff at maggies, but what we are trying to do I find a way through the psychological recovery. . We know time and adjustment, but like most humans we want it to happen right now!He has hobbies, friends etc. We are really trying to 'live' with mad holidays etc, BUT...
So, I guess what I'm after is 'tips' on what others have experienced AND how they got or are getting through it.

Hilts

Parents
  • Hi Hilts, 

    I can relate to this a lot, my dad was diagnosed in August 2020, had surgery and told cancer free in April 2021. Now it is looking as though the cancer has returned.

    My first thought was how is he going to even try and process this for a second time, we all thought we were done with the waiting for updates, more appointments, more scans, more worrying. Then in the next breath I remind myself I am lucky that he was able to get the all clear the first time and we've had more time with him than we thought we would have. Then some days I am angry at the world for making him go through this again!

    I'm sorry I don't have any tips, but I certainly know what you mean.

    Jade x

Reply
  • Hi Hilts, 

    I can relate to this a lot, my dad was diagnosed in August 2020, had surgery and told cancer free in April 2021. Now it is looking as though the cancer has returned.

    My first thought was how is he going to even try and process this for a second time, we all thought we were done with the waiting for updates, more appointments, more scans, more worrying. Then in the next breath I remind myself I am lucky that he was able to get the all clear the first time and we've had more time with him than we thought we would have. Then some days I am angry at the world for making him go through this again!

    I'm sorry I don't have any tips, but I certainly know what you mean.

    Jade x

Children