Will the paranoia ever go away?

New to the group so please forgive me if this sounds crazy....

I am on my 2nd cancer (1st was Thyroid no treatment needed after surgery and 2nd Uterine again no treatment needed after surgery)....Will my life ever be "normal" again? 

Comments

  • brissance
    brissance Member Posts: 192
    edited July 2016 #2
    You Beat it 2x... wow

    After the initial shock and you can take it in and not faint...   Your life will be as normal as you make it.  You have cancer, in your case, you probably have beaten cancer.... twice.  (What an awesome string of luck...  )   Think about the half full glass... you beat it 2 times.  

    Caner is not a death sentence any more, many of us (like you) beat it...  others survive with it in a very nice fashion.  

    So you are normal, my diagnosis of the "C" word knocked me on my keester, having that diagnosis twice would tick me off.  But, gather your strength and think about Vegas, with your luck, you will own the casino.

    Seriously, I send you nothing but good wishes and prayers for continued good health.  Lots of support from the dear ladies on this site.  God bless you, Stacy

    Best to all, Patty

  • EZLiving66
    EZLiving66 Member Posts: 1,482 Member
    I don't know if you can ever

    I don't know if you can ever go back to "normal" whatever that was.  Cancer changes your life.  Twenty-three years ago, our then-19 year old had thyroid cancer.  She had two surgeries and then radiation.  My life, and hers, have never been the same.  Now, I'm the one who was diagnosed with cancer and physically AND mentally, I don't think I'll ever be the same.  Every little ache or pain is put under a magnifying glass - "Is it back?"  The effects of the chemo continue to linger.  

    I hope you can find a new normal and can mold it into a decent life!!  That's what I'm trying to do.

    Love, 

    Eldri

  • Double Whammy
    Double Whammy Member Posts: 2,832 Member
    edited July 2016 #4
    Time

    I had endometrial cancer that was early stage, low grade and surgery and follow-up was the only treatment I needed.  Sounds like the same as your cancer.  I also had breast cancer at the same time.  That one required surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.  All of this was in 2010.  My paranoia lasted for what seemed like forever, but became less as the years went by.  I'd say the first 2 years were the most paranoid for me.  I no longer need to see the gynecologic oncologist for the uterine cancer thing and I can't tell you how happy that made me.  I was compliant and kept all followup appointments as recommended.  I still see my medical oncologist for follow up of breast cancer and she says I will see her yearly now for the rest of my life.  It's just a social visit as far as I'm concerned now.  I don't believe I am anymore paranoid now than I was prior to my diagnoses.  Cancer did change my life as I volunteer at my cancer treatment center and keep in touch here because every now and then someone like you with the same type of endometrial cancer as I had will have something I can address.  These are good things I believe.  And now, as time has gone by, I think I can offer some encouragement.  You have been through 2 cancers which both have good prognoses.  Nonetheless, there were 2 of them and you can't help but wonder what next?  All I can say is that it is perfectly normal to be paranoid and it does get better, but you just have to accept that being paranoid is part of the process - until it's not.

    Suzanne

  • Kvdyson
    Kvdyson Member Posts: 789
    Why worry

    This is also my second surprise cancer diagnosis. The first was malignant melanoma in 2004. Surgery and then check-ups was all that was needed for that one. This second one needed surgery, chemo and radiation.

    My mother died from lung cancer but she was a smoker so that was not a big surprise. No one else in my immediate family has had cancer. I've always been pretty careful about what I eat, have always stayed active and maintained a normal weight, stayed out of the sun, etc. I'm awaiting the results on my genetic screening test to see if the results shed some light on why this keeps happening to me.

    Until those results tell me otherwise, I do not worry since apparently it is completely out of my control. Cells divide normally or not. Worrying about it just zaps the energy that I could be using to live my happy little life. I try to make each day count because you just never know what tomorrow may bring.

    I hope that you can get back to your normal, too. There is a reason that you went through those surgeries. Remember what that reason was and keep that in your line of sight at all times. That is your focus. Don't ever give it up! Kim

  • EZLiving66
    EZLiving66 Member Posts: 1,482 Member
    Kvdyson said:

    Why worry

    This is also my second surprise cancer diagnosis. The first was malignant melanoma in 2004. Surgery and then check-ups was all that was needed for that one. This second one needed surgery, chemo and radiation.

    My mother died from lung cancer but she was a smoker so that was not a big surprise. No one else in my immediate family has had cancer. I've always been pretty careful about what I eat, have always stayed active and maintained a normal weight, stayed out of the sun, etc. I'm awaiting the results on my genetic screening test to see if the results shed some light on why this keeps happening to me.

    Until those results tell me otherwise, I do not worry since apparently it is completely out of my control. Cells divide normally or not. Worrying about it just zaps the energy that I could be using to live my happy little life. I try to make each day count because you just never know what tomorrow may bring.

    I hope that you can get back to your normal, too. There is a reason that you went through those surgeries. Remember what that reason was and keep that in your line of sight at all times. That is your focus. Don't ever give it up! Kim

    Kim, I love your attitude and

    Kim, I love your attitude and I agree 100%.  Why worry when there is so little you can do about it?  By the way, you are REALLY lookin' good!! 

    Love,

    Eldri

  • janaes
    janaes Member Posts: 799 Member
    I have had cancer twice also.

    I have had cancer twice also.  I had hodgkins lymphoma twenty three years ago.  I had totally gotten on with my life.  It was such a shocker to find i had cancer again.  Ive really learned that life is very unpredictable.  I wish you the best as you process this new information.  When i found i had cancer tiwce i felt desprate to find others who have had cancer twice.  Finding this group has helped me so much to feel not alone. I hope you find it helpful

  • Kvdyson
    Kvdyson Member Posts: 789

    Kim, I love your attitude and

    Kim, I love your attitude and I agree 100%.  Why worry when there is so little you can do about it?  By the way, you are REALLY lookin' good!! 

    Love,

    Eldri

    Thanks, Eldri!

    Thanks, Eldri! I feel great, too. It's kind of a shock to think back on how emotionally devastated I felt after learning the news last year. It's pretty amazing how the human mind can eventually bounce back after trauma (with a lot of help and support of wonderful people like those on this group)! 

    How are you doing? You look great and your hair looks so wonderfully full! Do you have any big plans for the rest of the year? 

  • EZLiving66
    EZLiving66 Member Posts: 1,482 Member
    Kvdyson said:

    Thanks, Eldri!

    Thanks, Eldri! I feel great, too. It's kind of a shock to think back on how emotionally devastated I felt after learning the news last year. It's pretty amazing how the human mind can eventually bounce back after trauma (with a lot of help and support of wonderful people like those on this group)! 

    How are you doing? You look great and your hair looks so wonderfully full! Do you have any big plans for the rest of the year? 

    Thanks for the hair

    Thanks for the hair compliment - I'm kind of liking my new curly hair - LOL!!  Although I'm thinking of going back to being blonde instead of white.  My husband has dark hair and very little gray and sometimes I think people think I'm his mother even though I have a LOT less wrinkles! Ha ha!!

    No big plans coming up except spending as much time as we can at the lake.  We both love it up there and can't wait until we can retire for good - maybe next year??

    I also am amazed at all these women on here who live their lives with cancer taking it one step at a time and actually being HAPPY!!  I know I am!!!

    Love,

    Eldri