coping with the uncertainty and low mood days

I am having 5 days radiation treatment next week after a lumpectomy for grade 1 cancer. Have been told that the lumpectomy was successful and all cancer gone which I am extremely relieve but I get very low days. Can;t help thinking that after all treatment is finished I am very much on my own, even though I know the Breast Support Team is always on end of a phone.  All these questions haunt me.  Will the cancer come back?  Will it be caught in time gain?  Is it likely to appear somewhere else in my body?.  I know this all sounds very silly but I just want to move on away from all this.  Would value any support out there.  Many thanks,  Jan.

  • Hi Jan.  I can understand how you feel and these feelings are absolutely natural. I have been through surgery and chemoradiation 18 and 16 months ago respectively and still have the feelings of it returning, I have found they are less often if I keep myself busy with distractions such as, meeting friends, gardening or taking regular walks. I think we all find our own ways to cope and I find time is a good healer.

  • I don't think it sounds silly at all. I think those are very normal feelings to have after a cancer diagnosis. I had thyroid cancer three and a half years ago and while it is a pretty mild form of cancer and I was told "we got it all" as soon as I woke up from the operation, I did have moments over the following year when I asked similar questions to you. What if it reoccurs? What if I am one of those rare cases where it reoccurs somewhere outside the neck? What if they missed something?

    I do think those feelings become less common as time passes, if that's any reassurance.

  • Oh thank you for replying . I am hoping in time and support from family and friends will make  it easier.  Best wishes Jan 

  • Jan 

    hour not on your own lovely I had breast cancer last year early stage like you they say early stage but like you say it’s still cancer in our bodies and think I will akways live with the fear of return I don’t think about it as much now I’m one year on it deffo gets better with time good luck for radiotherapy love Lara 

  • Dear Mary  thank you  for your response. Thank you for not accepting it was silly to think along these lines. I am hoping I can slowly return to normal thinking. Best wishes Jan 

  • Thank you lara. So lovely to know that I am not alone with these thoughts  love Jan 

  • Hi Jan,  I understand how you feel and what you are going through.  I was diagnosed with breast cancer October 2020 and had surgery and radiotherapy.  On the one hand I have moved forward and getting on with my life.... but, I can't forget.  To some extent I am living in fear ....what if it returns, will I find it etc.  Not sure the 'what if's' will ever go away and wish there was a way of knowing for certain  but there isn't.  Hope mow time will help.  Take care and stay strong. xx