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Do I pretend to feel 'ok' when I don't?

Midgemo
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Hi everyone, I had breast conserving surgery in early December and radiotherapy two weeks ago for Invasive Ductal Carcinoma and I'm on my second month of Anastrozole. Overall I think I'm doing quite well and I'm trying my best to keep active and 'move on' but there are times when I feel very tired and sad and a bit sorry for myself too. I've noticed when I get asked how I'm feeling by some people that they don't really want to hear the truth at all. Today when I said I felt very tired and low I got told in no uncertain terms that I had to be positive, that my results were good, and that my treatment was over now. The person who said this had BC many years ago herself. I felt hurt and shocked by this response but I was able to say that it was still fairly early days for me yet. However I've begun to wonder if I'm not 'being positive ' enough. I think I'm generally quite positive but sometimes I just feel sad about having had cancer and I'm afraid of recurrence.  Perhaps I should just say 'I'm fine'  on the down days. Have any of you had similar experiences to this?

M

 

Parents
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    My surgery and treatment was 2020 and it was a long time until I felt better and positive and not so tired. Also for your body to get used to Anastrazole, I'm taking those too. I'm now waiting for reconstruction surgery but it was 2 years until I felt able to face it. It does get better but it takes time  to get over the physical and emotional side of it all. Take it easy 

    Silver

     

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    My surgery and treatment was 2020 and it was a long time until I felt better and positive and not so tired. Also for your body to get used to Anastrazole, I'm taking those too. I'm now waiting for reconstruction surgery but it was 2 years until I felt able to face it. It does get better but it takes time  to get over the physical and emotional side of it all. Take it easy 

    Silver

     

Children
  • Offline in reply to Silverdays

    Thank you Silver it's good to know that my feelings and experiences are normal. It's so difficult to know whether it's the emotional aspects of the diagnosis, the surgical recovery, the radiotherapy, or the Anastrozole that's causing me to feel flattened and down. Possibly a combination of all really. I think the Anastrozole makes me feel like im wearing a lead coat...my body feels heavy and tired.  I didnt feel like this until I started the tablets. I just just hope that it will get better over time.

    I wish you the best of luck and a speedy recovery with your surgery. Take care and stay strong.

    Mx

     

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