Do all of you think about a recurrence sometimes to where you get afraid of every little pain you m

carkris

missrenee said:

I try not to worry, Megan
but we're only human. My onc. has a 2-week rule. If something is bothering you, hurting, etc. and it's not debilitating, give it 2 weeks. If it goes away--great--just another one of those aches or pains. But, if it doesn't--come in--which as you know I'm going through right now.

For me, at least, life has forever changed. Some for the bad, some for the good. I'm much more patient, try to keep things in perspective more and not sweat the small stuff so much. But--the other side of the coin--I've had breast cancer, there is no cure, it could re-surface at any time. Some days I can totally stay in the moment and enjoy life. Other days, doubts and fear creep in. That's just how it is. But I try to keep it in check, feel my feelings and then move on.

I hope you have a blessed day today!

Hugs, Renee

I am along with sirod and
I am along with sirod and CC. I joined this group after my second primary. My first in 1994. I have had many aches pains that resolved. I also had a few bone scans that were negative. I give it Hester Hills two week rule. . If it is still there in two weeks I will persue it. (of course not if it is really bad) Most times it resolves. Most recently I started working out and my neck was bothering me, I was concerned as it really hurt, but now two weeks later it is much better. I am correcting my posture and working on doing exersizes in a way to not strain my neck. Sometimes I am concerned because I am not concerned. I know that many times it is not anything and it seems when I have needed to , I have called attention to the problem. I have always been the one to find my issues. I tell myself that like Scarlett, I wont think "that" for the two week rule.
for me managing my life with the least anxiety has always been an issue. Harder to deal with than the physical. Perhaps because I am a nurse. So I have set these rules in place to keep me sane and they seem to work. I am careful and sensible with my care, dont deny unecessarily but dont obsess either. If I start to I employ my distraction techiques.

DebbyM

Lighthouse_7 said:

Hi Megan,
I also still have these fears. I'm 2 years and I just wanted to recommend the book After Breast Cancer by Hester Hill Schnipper.
It covers all the questions that we have in such detail that I use it often to go back and read something I may have forgotten.
One of the things she mentions is the "two week rule". SImply stated (by me, not her, she is much more eloquent) is if a pain is lasting more than 2 weeks then check it out by your doctor. Sometimes if we give it that amount of time we realize that it goes away if indeed it wasn't anything more serious.

If I may, I'd like to send a short paragraph from the book. I sure hope I don't get in trouble for stealing, but I am putting it in quotes

"it will be a different you,however. In the beginning, you probably were impatient to "get your life back" and did not realize that your previous life was lost to you forever. Although you can experience even more-intense joy and delight than ever before, you will never again be carefree. There is a bittersweet quality to all important markers and events. I remember being asked during a support-group meeting, "What are we supposed to celebrate now?" The only answer is "Everything."
How you celebrate is up to you, but celebrate you must."

I thought about it a lot at
I thought about it a lot at first, but, I don't think about a recurrence as much now. Sure it is still on my mind, but, I don't want to live in fear or let it steal my happiness.


I hope Megan that you will feel better and eventually, put those thoughts out of your mind as much as possible.


Hugs, Debby

Megan M

24242 said:

Pains
I wanted to share with you advice I was given by my cancer pain specialist since I suffered greatly and on much medication trying to stop pain. I didn't want to waste drs. time and she said I wasn't. It is important to have quality to our lives no matter what.
She told me to let pains linger for no more than a month and if they are still a problem then she advised me to get them looked at. We owe it to ourselves to listen to our bodies something me might well have done all along instead of being the greatest Mothers, Daughters and Friends let alone wives.
It is harder to find lumps that no one seems to care about but me but I too have come to terms with that and doesn't stop me from checking the areas that are bothering me.
Everyday most humans I have decided face their fears and live our lives everyday this is truly no different.
Been gone a long time from the board and miss the soul feeling I get when I read the posts.
It does get better
Tara

Thank you so much!
I've read your posts over and over again and I can't tell you how much they mean to me! You've all put so much thought and wisdom in what you wrote that I want you to know that you truly have made me feel better!

I do hope that with time, I will feel less anxious and not worry about every new ache or pain. You are all truly amazing and I love each and every one of you!


Thank you again from the bottom of my heart to the top,


Megan

natly15

Yes, Megan I do.

Yes, Megan I do.

Lynn Smith

natly15 said:

Yes, Megan I do.

Yes, Megan I do.

When I get up
When I get up in the morning my lower back hurts.Like a sprain.I am fine after getting out of bed/move around.I don't sleep on my back but sleep on my right side.I never move from that position all night so I believe my back pain isn't due to a recurrance.I am fine after I get out of bed and move around.Lately I have been down on my knees or stooping to clean floors so I believe it is a back strain.

My next doc appt I will bring it up but not going to make a special appointment.If it was something it would hurt ALL the time.Not just first thing in the morning before getting out of bed.

Lynn Smith

starseed

Yeah, me too, Megan
Every once in awhile I get this sharp, stabbing like,nano-second long pain in the top of my left breast. (lump was taken out from the bottom)I talk to my breast/body and just remind "it" that
we're NOT going there again and I ask that my own natural killer cells "pick up the pace". I just had a mammo/ultrasound last week and it was good. While I try not to dwell on it, I did breathe a huge sigh of relief along with doing several loud YEAHS with fist pumps. To be quite honest I think about the arimidex more. As in another post, I think about the long term. I was told I only have to be on it for 5-7 years,(DX and surgery was in 2010)but I worry about my bones. I work part time and am on my feet all day walking or standing, I bowl twice a week, I try to hike once a week(weather dependent) and I practice my Tai Chi. I do take supplements, with my oncologists blessing--as it were--but if I add anything to my supplement list I have to tell him.

The thoughts are there but I keep them "away" from my every day and remain positive.
I rule!

Kylez

aysemari said:

It DOES get better
Megan,

it's like you took a big fall and at first, you are a little
shaky on your feet but you will walk again, with confidence,
it just takes time.

Let the healing begin!!

Hugs,
Ayse

I have to agree with the
I have to agree with the sisters that it just takes time Megan. I think eventually we will all be there, to where we can go a long time without thinking or worrying about the cancer being back. Just take it one day at a time and live each day the best you can.


Hugs to you!

Angie2U

natly15 said:

Yes, Megan I do.

Yes, Megan I do.

I do too Megan, but, I don't
I do too Megan, but, I don't stay in that place very long. I do anything I can to focus on something positive and be thankful that I am in remission. I hope that in the days, weeks, months and years ahead of you, that you will start to feel better too.


Hugs, Angie