3yrs post treatment still struggling

Diagnosed with breast cancer March 2020 beginning of lockdown ,it was a very lonely,isolated and difficult journey. 
Didn’t need chemo just radiotherapy and now on 10 yrs of letrazole. 
I am still struggling with my mental health,always worried about reoccurrence and health anxiety is crippling. 
I have had counclling and it works for a short time but then I’m back down the rabbit hole. 
Has anyone got advice on getting out of this hole ,I am desperate 

  • Pattie 

    I am a little less time than you had BC July last year got 1 st check soon 

    sorry you are struggling think we will always have fear of reoccurrence, it’s a bullet that webt in to us it’s been taken out but the scar is still there .

    I haven’t been to bad with thinking to much in to it but deep down it’s akways at back of Mind 

    I really hope you will feel better as more time goes on 

    love Lara ️x

  • Hi Patti, I was also diagnosed in lockdown. Stage 2 Her2 negative. Had lumpectomy and radiotherapy. Put on letrozole on diagnosis and my tumour shrank by 50%while waiting for surgery. The side effects were terrible so switched to Exemestane. This was better but not much. I put on lots of weight, hot flushes and shivers, joint pain. After talking things over with my oncologist I stopped the drug altogether after 2 years or so. At age 68 we felt my quality of life mattered. But a workmate who got BC just before me died this morning, and that had freaked me out a bit. She had always been told she was treatable not curable, but still.,,,,,,,  I feel tired, depressed and afraid much of the time. Lockdown plus GP surgery not really working properly even now means I have never really had any follow up from my GP. Though the cancer centre in Edinburgh is great and they listen if I call with any worries. It’s tough though. 

  • Patie67

    Hi pattie

    I like you was diogmosed with Breast cancer in May 2020. I had lumpectomy  and all my lympth nodes removed from under my right breast, as this was the affected side. I had to have chemotherapy 8 sessions,and 15 sessions of Radiotherapy.i agree it was made harder to deal with by covid,as we had to do it all alone.  Like you I'm on Letrazole for 10yrs. Because I had to have my lympth nodes removed it csused Lymphedema  in my right arm, wrist and hand. It is mild  but can't lift anything heavy, or have bloods taken or injections on that arm anymore.  I have had a right bowel resection in 2015,as I had a flat sessile polyp that contained pre cancerous cells,I also have vin 3 which  I'm under the gynecologist for I  see him this September again for check up. Yes it is a worry and it does get you down at times I must admit, but I try to look at it all in a positive way ie...I'm lucky  I found the breast tumour,and im lucky the polyp was picked up on my colonoscopy, which I hate,but have had 39 of thrm so far,have to have themfor the rest of my life  ive been told . Even had to have one done during chemotherapy, but  just so grateful to be still here. Tomorrow is never promised to anyone,it's a precious gift,so try to remain positive ,do all the things in life that you can do,all  the things that make you feel happy. Say thank you that all your problems were picked up ,and were treatable and curable,some dont get picked up untill its to late,so we're really  very lucky indeed,that's a positive tbought to keep thinking and smile about. Hope this helps you to move forward  and not worry as much as you are. Positive thoughts like this always helps me,when I have a wobble and a down day,we're only human  ,and we all get these days sometimes, but putting those positivet houghts straight into your head on those days  really helps.