Hello Susie-M and welcome to the forum. 

I'm sorry to hear that you were diagnosed with breast cancer. That must have been difficult especially after loosing your Mum just a few months prior. 

I think that most of our members here will understand the anxiety and stress that comes with worrying about cancer returning. You are certainly not alone in that. Talking to others certainly helps and I hope that some of our regulars will post to say Hello and share their tips with you. 

Lots of breast clinics run a course called Moving Forward in conjunction with Breast Cancer Now. Whilst their face to face courses are currently on hold due to Covid they are holding online courses and lots of clinics are starting to prepare for courses beginning again in the autumn. It's worth having a look at the Breast Cancer Now website for more info or alternatively give your breast care nurse a call and speak to them. 

I did also see this week that some of the Maggie's Centres aroung the country are re-opening and again they offer over the phone support and are starting to look at beginning their face to face support groups. 

It's also worth remembering that the Covid19 pandemic has increased many people's anxieties and stress levels, particularly if you've been told to shield over the past few months. If you'd like to talk to one of our nurses then you're most welcome to call them. They're available Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm on 0808 800 4040 and I'm sure that they would be able to answer some of the questions you might have and offer some reassurance. 

We know that this has been a difficult time Susie but don't feel that you're alone. Continue to post on the forum and I'm sure the community will certainly try to support you. 

Best wishes, 
Jenn
Cancer Chat moderator

Thank you for your warm reply ... 

xx

Hi,

I have had Grade 2 IDC, a masectomy, chemo, radiotherapy and am on Hormone suppressant tablets for 5 years. With all that treatment and still there's a chance of cancer returning! My fear of this is so great I talked to my breast care nurse and she said she could help. I am going to have counselling, but waiting for all the McMillan centres to open or it will be telephone consultations. Everything is more difficult with Covid 19.  I can wait awhile as still coping with effects of Radiotherapy and have a dressing on my chest. Trying not to dwell on it though and looking to the future, planning to get a puppy and I think keeping busy is the answer. Friends are good to talk to but it's only cancer survivors like us that can really understand the stress. 

Best Wishes to you,

Silver 

Hi Silver 

thank you for your message and sharing your journey.  I think counselling would be great! You are right - I have plenty of friends/family who are so supportive but don’t understand my anxieity  at tines.  My daughter is a doctor and suggested medication but I’m reluctant to start on antidepressants as I really want to overcome this and look forward to a happy future.

Lovely to hear your thinking of getting a puppy - I work full time but would love a dog.  Great walking out also helps clear the mind I’ve been exercising early mornings more than ever. 

BW

Sue-m xx

Hi,

I was glad to find this post. I was diagnosed last month with stage 1 IDC and had a lumpectomy on the 18th. Awaiting results from surgery on the 30th. I'm lucky it was caught early but what has paralysed me is fear of recurrence - and I haven't even had radiotherapy yet! I'm a highly anxious person in the best of times, so I am not coping well now. I'm just so angry that BC is going to rob me of the happy, forward-looking, ambitious person I was. How do you live every day with the constant anxiety of "is this the day it comes back?" 
 

The battle against BC is daunting enough, but I don't think I'm strong enough to live in fear the rest of my life.
 

I already feel like a different person. I used to love meeting my friends for a drink and some board games, but since the diagnosis I am scared to ever have a glass of wine again. My husband says a glass here and there would be OK, but he doesn't understand the fear that something as small as one glass of wine or one piece of chocolate with refined sugar will make me think "is this what will make it come back?" 

I can handle the treatment. But I want my life back and I don't think that will ever happen. 
 

Does the anxiety ever subside? Does life get better?