Hoping for understanding at how I am currently feeling

[Sherrell]

Re: Hi I'm new here Hi, I have just completed 12 weeks of chemo after having 1/2 my left lung removed which had a 3 cm cancer, I then chose to have chemo after 1 cell remained after my lymph nodes was removed. It has been 3 weeks since my last chemo, and I feel no better, if anything I feel worse. The depression and anxiety are my biggest problems. Each morning I wake up depressed and spend a majority of the day crying, for no reason. I am so fed up with feeling this way and desperately need advice. This is my first time on this site, hope I have written this in the right place. Would appreciate any help anyone could give me, I am getting desperate now. Thank You Looking forward to any suggestions or advice.

[edie]

Hi Sherrell I am sorry to hear that you are having such a hard time. Chemo and cancer can make you feel awful and weak and depressed. These feelings are not unusual and I strongly suggest that you find someone to talk to. If you call the Cancer Council in your state they may be able to provide some suggestions and direct you to people to help. Also, the hospital where you are having treatment might be able to assist as there are counsellors who specialise in helping people with cancer. I really feel for you as the time of treatment can be a lonely time. Also, support groups are not for everyone but they can be a good place to share feelings with people who have been there and understand. Have you talked to your GP? They might be able to suggest someone to talk to. These bad feelings need not last and there are ways through it. Please please make some calls as there are people who can help you. I am sending my very good wishes to you. Edie

[Traveller_In_Wa]

Hi Sherrell, I'm sorry to hear you're not feeling great. I can sympathise with feeling worse emotionally and physically after treatment. I went through a year of chemo and radiation about 5 years ago and I actually found after was somewhat more difficult then during treatment, especially regarding my anxieties and depression. Someone above also mentioned, but I went and got free sessions through the cancer council. It was great, as the sessions are specialised to cancer as I found seeing other counsellors not really understanding my situation as I was relatively young, 20 when diagnosed. Also, there are many support groups out there you could look at, but here is a great start :) There is always the expectation that once you've finished you're treatment everything will go back to how it was before, including how you feel. Sometimes that is the case for some people, often for others, it's not. Dealing with having cancer is a major thing and it takes it's toll on your body and your mind. I wasn't the same as I was before, but, looking back, I now feel I am better. Feel free to email me, I found just having someone to talk to who had an understanding in what I was going through made such a difference :) Chelsea

[JJ42]

I have just joined Cancer Connect and as a survivor of breast cancer for 20 years, with a second scary experience (different type of cancer) about 18 months ago that required radiotherapy, I can really relate to the emotional roller-coaster that anyone who is diagnosed with cancer is forced onto. I had a complete breakdown after my treatment for breast cancer ended and despite a good prognosis from my oncologist I was absolutely convinced I was going to die very soon. I was depressed and suffered severe anxiety and had panic attacks. It took me a full year to recover enough confidence to work again and that was only with the help of a fabulous support group. I truly credit them with saving my life otherwise I think I would have 'pointed the bone' at myself. I believe the reason I broke down was because I put on a brave face while undergoing treatment because nobody every asked me how I was really doing. Things are much better these days, but 20 years ago there was no recognition of the emotional trauma I was going through. Although the oncologist, registrars and chemo nurses were very concerned about my physical health they never evinced any interest in what my support network was. I was in fact a sole parent with a disabled teenager whose father was far more interested in his new wife and her children from a previous relationship than he was in taking on some of the responsibility of caring for our child. I urge anyone who is feeling overwhelmed to get help, whether it's from a psychologist, a counsellor, a minister/priest or a cancer support group. I highly recommend support groups because everyone else there 'gets' it! Most cancer patients don't want to upset their families and make them even more frightened than they already are (then you have to deal with their fear as well as your own), but it is absolutely vital to be able to be real and hear that other people have been through or are going through a very similar experience. Sherrell, I hope that things have improved for you now that you are a bit farther away from your diagnosis and treatment.