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Depression after breast cancer

Joevs41
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Hi,

i was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017 and went through a full range of treatment, chemo, mastectomy, radiotherapy and 18 months of herceptin. I’m now taking tamoxifen. I feel like it’s only now hitting me what i’ve been through as it’s making me feel incredibly depressed. I’m only 41 and I feel like i’m Watching my life pass me by, I no longer have the energy and motivation that I had before diagnosis. It feel like a vicious circle. People don’t seem to understand and I feel like everyone else has moved on and doesn’t want to hear me talking about my cancer journey. I’m still waiting for reconstruction surgery and this is also making feel like my life is on hold until that has been done. Can anyone tell me, if what i’m Feeling is normal or whether I need to get some help.

Parents
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    Hi ya ...

    Bless ya .. it's so confusing for your brain, coz one half says you should feel ecstatic you've come through a nightmare ... the other is confused and feels guilty you feel really low ...

    The only way l can explain, is like when wer babies learning to walk ... there's someone guiding every step ... we let them lead us ... even later when you learn to take a few steps there's someone there to catch you if you fall .. pointing you in a direction ... then one day, you look round and your alone ... where to go is up to you ... but it's scary without those who held you ... stand / walk / fall is down to you .. 

    Someone has got you to this point .. and you look round and no one is there ... no wonder your feeling low ... a part of us thinks everything will be the same ... in truth, nothing will ever be the same again ..

    Cancer changes us .., it screws with our bodies and minds .., but you have a choice now ... make a new "you" a kinder more understanding you ... one that like that baby will take one little step at a time .. untill you are o.k to walk where ever life takes you ... the one thing cancer gives us, is the chance to make a difference... accept change ... and look at every day like a gift ... cancer has taken so much from you .. tell it you won't let it take away your future .. it can be even better ... 

    Those people around you, they think once cancer is "gone" they feel we shouldn't need to talk about it .. makes those without it, uncomfortable ... it's such a heartbraking word ... most of us here have that with love ones .. they can't understand WHY we want to still talk about it and not put it all behind us ... truth is cancer is now a part of our lives .. we need to talk about it ... maybe that's why l feel at home on here .. we know .. we've all got the tea shirt .. we listen .. so even if you get low days .. I hope you at least can understand why .. then when you work it all out .. live .. love .. laugh ... it's all there waiting for you ..

    Chrissie

     

  • Offline in reply to Chriss

    You always come up with the right words chriss......xxx

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