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Fear of cancer returning never far from my mind, is this normal? Also, I'm trying to find out the long term impact of chemo. Can anyone help?

Carole63
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Hello all

I'm hoping to find more information about the long-term impact of chemotherapy on my body. I've been in remission for nearly 8 years now from breast cancer and I have a few health niggles. I've tried the obvious Google search to research known changes that chemo causes but I'm struggling to find much research based stuff. Can anyone recommend any helpful sites or studies please?

On a slightly different note-is it normal to live in almost constant fear of it returning and of suspecting that every illness/pain is due to it returning?

thanks for reading x

  • Offline in reply to gruntifen

    Hi David

    Thanks for taking the time to reply. Yes, I agree overthinking is a human curse. I'm glad to hear you've come out the otherwise and you are approaching life with renewed zeal.

    All the best,

    Carole

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    Hi Carole

    I had cancer 20 years ago and now it is back again. To my surprise the side effects are minimal over the long term. Also it depends on what regime of chemo you received. Along the 20 years I forgot about my cancer. My treatment  in 2004was ABVD so your treatment and long term effects might differ. 

    you need to work on your fear foof the future as normally you have a 10% chance of cancer returning in my case. Thee NHS has wonderfull documentation on various cancers and the answers might be in there. What cancer do you have?

  • Offline in reply to Non_hodghkins_lymphoma

    Hi

    Firstly I’m so sorry to hear that your cancer has returned. I wish you all the best for the future.

    I’m in remission from breast cancer which had spread to my lymph nodes. I had T-Fec. I will check out the NHS- thanks for the suggestion.

    All the best

    carole 

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    Hello I too have the same feeling I find it hard to do things I used to love , I don’t walk well &am in constant fear of falling I used to love my garden would spend hours out there but now every thing tires me so after just a few mins 

  • Offline in reply to Foxielady

    Hi

    Also starting to get terribly tired. My Doctor adviced me to rest rather than force myself

  • Offline in reply to Foxielady

    I'm so sorry to hear that. I hope you've got a good support network around you? Be kind to yourself.

  • Offline in reply to Non_hodghkins_lymphoma

    I hope you listen to your body and rest when you need to. 

  • Offline in reply to Carole63

    Trying to listen. ĹLuckily done 4 of 6 sessions. How is it going?

  • Offline in reply to gruntifen

    David, this such good advice & a great way to look at it. As someone who has just finished 18 months of (successful) treatment & is now constantly worrying about it coming back, it's helping me to try and shift my thought process. It's getting there slowly xx

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